Elk Technologies launches Web site for VersaShield
David Perry -- Furniture Today, September 8, 2003
Dallas — Elk Technologies has launched a new Web site that gives the bedding industry an inside look at how its VersaShield flame-resistant technology works.
The site — VersaShield.com— includes test results presented in chart and video versions. The results show how bedding protected with VersaShield fared in various constructions.
"Tests show mattresses with VersaShield fire barrier fabric dramatically and consistently exceed California's open flame test requirements," the Web site says. "VersaShield is a proven solution that works."
Elk said its VersaShield fire barrier technology was developed specifically for the mattress industry to achieve compliance with upcoming state and federal mattress safety requirements. California's stringent new open flame standards will be enforced as of Jan. 1, 2005.
"With the development of this technology we have set a new goal," said Mike Kiik, vice president of research and development at Elk. "We are committed to working with manufacturers to customize solutions to achieve compliance without putting them at a competitive disadvantage. We want to do all we can with our VersaShield technology to advance fire safety for the mattress industry, affordably."
Elk's new site presents technical specifications along with benefits for mattress manufacturers. It details test result data for many combinations of materials in various mattress constructions, giving producers a quick overview of product performance in a timely and easy-to-access format.
"We want to make the manufacturers' job of evaluating various FR products easier and we believe that sharing our specific test results on our Web site offers a valuable service to bedding producers," said Frank Kelly, Elk's director of sales. "This also shows the confidence we have in the performance of our products."
Elk's VersaShield FR system was the first FR product to be publicly identified by a bedding manufacturer who has introduced FR lines. Carolina Mattress Guild, a regional producer based in Thomasville, N.C., introduced a bedding line in April that utilizes the Elk product. That line is selling well, the producer said.
