SleepTech July - August 2018

www.sleeptechmagazine.com 

July - August 2018

www.elektroteks.com.tr

P: +90.224 443 46 28 - 29 F: +90.224 441 99 90 Nilüfer Bursa TURKEY info@elektroteks.com.tr

4 

12 

FOR/MOBILE opens at São 

Paulo Expo 

INDEX ADS 

ÜMİT MAKİNA 

– a global supplier for 

global technology in the 

mattress industry 

24 

Boyteks.............................................Back cover 

Boyçelik................................ Inside back cover 

Elektroteks............................. Inside front cover 

Elektroteks.......................................................... 1 

Metal Matris....................................................... 3 

Kırayteks............................................................. 7 

Artilat.............................................................. 5-6 

Nova................................................................... 9 

Aydın Tekstil................................................. 10-11 

Comfytex.................................................... 16-17 

Birlik Sünger...................................................... 19 

Ersan Madeni.............................................22-23 

Gemba Makina.............................................. 27 

Özen İplik......................................................... 31 

Jakarteks..........................................................33 

Nerteks.............................................................35 

Artintech.......................................................... 37 

Nobel................................................................ 39 

Allbeco.............................................................49 

Allbemac......................................................... 51 

Yılmar Sünger..................................................53 

Şiteks.................................................................55 

Histeks............................................................... 57 

Sigma............................................................... 71 

Nano Yay......................................................... 79 

Motif.................................................................. 81 

Sleepwell Expo................................................85 

Bed Covers.............................................100-101 

40 

58 

74 

Mattress packaging 

technologies 

Turkey’s packaging materials 

industry updates 

44 

Sleepwell Expo Istanbul 

counts down to generate big 

volume of trade 

Bonded foam for more 

supportive mattresses 

64 

Temperature, the secret 

ingredient for a good 

night’s sleep 

TDI, a problematic but 

inevitable need of foam 

manufacturers 

90

Istanbul | 26 - 29 September 

Hall: 10 Booth: C08

6 

From The Editor 

w w w . s l e e p t e c h m a g a z i n e . c o m 

Mattress 

matters! 

Publisher 

General Manager 

Responsible 

Editor-in-Chief 

ISTMAG 

Magazin Gazetecilik Yayıncılık 

İç ve Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti. 

Adına sahibi 

H.Ferruh IŞIK 

Mehmet SÖZTUTAN 

(mehmet.soztutan@img.com.tr) 

Cüneyt AKTURK 

(cuneyt.akturk@ihlasfuar.com) 

In the bed & mattress manufacturing Industry, it is crucially 

important to reduce inventory costs and eliminate waste. This 

also requires manufacturing correct products and selling right 

after the order is placed. 

The materials and technologies used in mattress manufacturing 

have been changing depending on consumer preferences. Material 

suppliers and manufacturing machinery producers have 

to adopt themselves to the latest forms required and demanded 

by the market. This is the way R&D professionals and market 

researches have to follow. 

The demand for organic and eco-friendly mattresses is increasing 

in many developed and developing economies. This is mainly 

due to growing consumer preference for healthier products 

and increasing concerns about health reasons, weather conditions, 

harmful chemicals, pesticides and allergies. Organic and 

eco-friendly mattresses are manufactured using organic and 

natural materials, which reduce both health and environmental 

risks. To cater to the growing consumer demand for organic 

and eco-friendly products, several mattress manufacturers have 

switched over to alternative materials such as organic cotton, 

wool, natural latex, organic latex, plant-based foams, and other 

plant materials. Some of the examples include mattress manufacturing 

companies Sealy and Simmons, which use plant-based 

foams and latex to produce mattresses. 

Along with 7 Turkish exhibiting companies we are now en route 

to Sao Paulo of Brazil to cover ForMobile show and distribute 

our magazines to promote mainly the Turkish mattress technologies 

and materials industry. With the next issue we will be at 

home for our own show, SLEEP WELL EXPO ISTANBUL SHOW. 

We wish lucrative business for all exhibitors and visitors. 

Mehmet Soztutan 

Chief of Editorial 

Board 

Editorial Consultants 

HEAD OFFICE 

Güneşli Evren Mah. Bahar Cad. 

Polat İş Merkezi B Blok No:3 

34197 ISTANBUL/TURKEY 

Tel:+90. 212 604 51 00 

Fax: +90. 212 604 51 35 

Ömer Faruk Görün 

(omer.gorun@img.com.tr) 

Chris France, Leggett & Platt 

Prof. Dr. Ismail KAYA 

Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Ali OZBUDUN 

Ibrahim KUPELI 

Recep SAHIN 

Advertising Sales Marketing 

Omer Faruk GORUN (omer.gorun@img.com.tr) 

Advertising Coordinator 

+90 224 211 44 50-51 

Foreign Relations 

Manager 

Editors 

Communications 

Manager 

Art Director 

Fınance Manager 

Subscription 

Accountıng Manager 

Computing 

İbrahim Arslan 

(ibrahim.arslan@voli.com.tr) 

Gizem YILDIZ 

(gizem.yildiz@img.com.tr) 

Duygu GECÜ 

(duygu.gecu@img.com.tr) 

Ebru PEKEL 

(ebru.pekel@voli.com.tr) 

Tolga ÇAKMAKLI 

(tolga.cakmakli@img.com.tr) 

Mustafa AKTAŞ 

(mustafa.aktas@img.com.tr) 

Zekeriya AYDOGAN 

(zekeriya.aydogan@img.com.tr) 

Zekayi TURASAN 

(zturasan@img.com.tr) 

Furkan YALDIZ 

(furkan.yaldiz@img.com.tr) 

LIAISON OFFICE: BURSA 

Buttim Plaza A. Blok Kat:4 No:1038 

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IHLAS GAZETECILIK A.Ş. 

Merkez Mahallesi 29 Ekim Caddesi İhlas Plaza No:11 A/41 

Yenibosna-Bahçelievler/ISTANBUL 

Tel: 0212 454 30 00


Hall: 10 Booth: B02 - C03

As a world leader in latex foams, Artilat helps you 

build the perfect mattress, ensuring a good night’s 

sleep. From cores over toppers to cooling and 

other features, Artilat is the place to be. Thanks to 

decades of knowledge in the bedding industry, we 

are able to provide you with top quality products. 

Artilat nv 

Koningsbaan 79, 

2560 Nijlen, Belgium 

www.artilat.be 

info@artilat.be 

T +32 (0)3 410 13 00 

FOLLOW US

DISCOVER 

www.artilat.be 


Hall: 10 Booth: E13

10 

Turkey’s exports increase 

5.3 percent in May to 

reach $14.3 billion 

Turkey’s exports have risen 5.3 

percent in May year-on-year, 

reaching $14.3 billion as imports 

also increased by 5.5 percent to 

$22.65 billion, the Turkish Statistical 

Institute (TurkStat) said. 

According to TurkStat data, the 

foreign trade deficit also widened 

5.7 percent to $7.76 billion in 

May. “In May 2018, exports’ coverage 

of imports was 64.8 percent 

while it was 64.9 percent in May 

2017,” TurkStat said. 

Exports to European Union countries 

in May climbed 19.3 percent 

year-on-year to $7.287 billion. 

EU’s share in total Turkish exports 

reached 50.9 percent while it was 

45 percent in the same month last 

year, according to the data. 

“In May 2018, the main partner 

country for exports was Germany 

with $1.357 billion. The country 

was followed by Italy with $885 

million, the United Kingdom with 

$858 million and Spain with $759 

million,” TurkStat said. 

China ranked first in terms of 

import volume in May with $2.80 

billion, Germany followed closely 

in second place with 2.18 billion, 

Russia third with 1,732 billion and 

the U.K. fourth with $1,439 billion.


Hall: 10 Booth: A04 - B01

14 

FOR/MOBILE opens 

at São Paulo Expo 

8 th international 

trade fair for 

furniture and wood 

industries will be 

held at São Paulo 

Expo, 10-13 July 

2018 

ForMóbile is the leading trade 

show for the Latin America furniture 

industry. During the next 

edition, which will take place at 

the São Paulo Expo Exhibition & 

Convention Center, July 10 - 13, 

2018, machinery, raw materials, 

fittings and accessories for the 

furniture and wood industries 

will be presented at this most 

modern exhibition center of the 

region. 

ForMobile, the most comprehensive 

trade fair of the region 

in the industry attracts global 

interest. 7 Turkish exhibitors will 

also display their latest products 

at this far away market to their 

premises. International suppliers 

for the wood and furniture 

industry will be coming together 

with buyers and sector professional 

at this Latin American 

continent. The show will generate 

a perfect destination for 

the related business people to 

direct connect and interact with 

the professional experts on the 

latest market innovations and 

lucrative business opportunities 

in the industry and expand and 

increase their business in the

15 

both domestic as well as international 

markets. 

ForMobile is an event of great 

repute, which brings together 

companies from domestic, and 

abroad who are involved in 

different sectors of the technology 

used in the furniture industry. 

The show is the ideal platform 

for all professionals to come and 

explore the market and get to 

know about new technologies, 

discover new trends and network 

with experts of the industry. 

ForMobile also gives unique 

privileges to the exhibitors to 

showcase their products to the 

huge audience base and reap 

the maximum profits out of their 

business. Known to witness 

the presence of a large number 

of exhibitors and visitors, this 

event helps in throughout interaction 

among all professionals 

involved in the production chain. 

Brazil has a sales value of 

mattress manufacture about 1.9 

billion US dollars. 

Turnover generated in the previous 

ForMóbile indicated rebound in the 

furniture sector 

Last year this leading fair of 

the furniture industry from Latin 

America had gathered 650 

exhibiting brands from more 

than 30 countries, 58 thousand 

visitors and many releases in 

hardware, accessories, machinery 

and raw materials; hybrid 

furniture, cult of nature and 

rusticity appear as highlights of 

the segment. 

With a highly qualified and optimistic 

audience with the expectation 

of the rebound of the sector 

in the following months, the 

7th Edition of ForMóbile – 7th 

International Fair of Suppliers of 

the Wood and Furniture Industry, 

gathered in the Pavilion of

16 

Anhembi in São Paulo for many 

releases in hardware, accessories, 

machinery and raw materials. 

The turnover generated 

during the four-day fair reveals 

that the furniture market not only 

lives a recovery phase, but also 

of increases in sales. 

A good part of this rebound was 

driven by hybrid furniture, also 

known as multifunction furniture. 

“With the increase in demand for 

compact apartments, practicality 

and convenience have become 

must haves in the design of the 

furniture. In order to be able to 

take advantage of all the possible 

area, furniture factories need 

resources, conceptual inspiration 

and appropriate hardware. This 

was one of the mottoes of this 

ForMóbile edition. 

Both the brands as well as ourselves, 

from the Organization, 

seek to provide the maximum 

of information, lectures, news 

and products with focus on this 

demand”, said Liliane Bortoluci, 

Director of the fair. 

Add aesthetic value to the furniture 

was also among the most 

recurrent themes in the event. 

The Acrylic Day, in partnership 

with the National Institute for 

the Development of Acrylic, the 

Design Fórum Móveis, organized 

by Siq Marketing, with counted 

with more than 16 lectures 

and debates, the Mostra de 

Tecidos DECORHABIT and some 

presentations such as the one 

from designer Marcelo Rosenbaum, 

pointed out the paths 

and trends for the differentiation 

of furniture, from the creation of 

the piece until the finish, colors, 

textures and materials applied. 

Cult of nature and the rustic look 

of wood and linen were the big 

bets in the sector.

17 

For small business owners, the 

fair also devoted a full day to 

professional qualification, with 

the support of Sebrae-SP and 

the Social Network Marcenaria 

Sustentável (Sustainable Joinery). 

Visitors could also participate 

in the ForMar - Resale and 

Joinery Fair, which happened 

simultaneously with ForMóbile. 

It was also during the fair that 

the promoter Informa Exhibitions, 

the organizers of the 

show, announced that the event 

would have a new venue in 

2018. So, the 2018 edition of 

ForMóbile happens in São Paulo 

Expo, largest and most modern 

exhibition center in Brazil. Another 

new feature is the new brand, 

which is innovating to convey 

the concept of balance.


Hall: 10 Booth: B03 - C07

20 

Martin Meier named 

Robatech’s new CEO 

Managing the Robatech Group as 

CEO and Chairman for 26 years 

Marcel Meyer will assume strategic 

tasks in the company from 

June 2018 onwards. 

Marcel Meyer took over the management 

in 1992 from his father, 

Hans Meyer, founder of Robatech 

AG. Hans Meyer managed the 

company with experience and 

insight, making it a successful 

enterprise having more than 

70 representatives worldwide. 

Despite rapid growth, Marcel 

Meyer succeeded in maintaining 

the culture of the family business 

in the company. Marcel Meyer, the 

manager of the operations, is a 

correct and consistent step for the 

company’s future. Marcel Meyer 

conveyed his views on the subject 

as follows: “After running the 

operational activities in Robatech 

for 26 years, I am now happy that 

the business is running smoothly. 

Now, in my new post I can fully 

focus on strategic issues.” 

Meyer stated that he would take 

on the role of CEO of Martin Meier, 

a board member who has been 

in full trust for many years. 

Martin Meier joined the company 

in 1997. Four years later, he was 

appointed as CFO. Between 2004 

and 2012 he was also responsible 

for management of the factory 

in Switzerland. Meier is in close 

contact with all departments of 

the Headquarters and international 

agencies as a matter of 

duty. He knows all the processes 

and the people responsible for 

them very well. These are the 

ideal conditions for the smooth 

transfer of company management 

and are excellent attributes for 

the success of the business. “I am 

excited to work with Robatech 

on the next steps in the development 

of Robatech, together with 

all the management teams in the 

company” said Martin Meier, and 

added that he will be focusing on 

all customers and employees of 

the firm worldwide.”

22 

Boyteks to continue 

its commitment and 

determination in 

exports 

Maintaining its 

position as one 

of the export 

champions Boyteks 

keeps its excitement 

for reaching new 

markets 

Nuri Körahmetoglu, one of the 

sales team of Boyteks, had 

been coordinating the carpet 

sales team for six years. He was 

recently assigned as marketing 

manager of the company at the 

mattress ticking fabric department. 

We met him during Evteks 

fair and made an exclusive interview 

after we congratulated him 

for his new assignment. 

Could you introduce yourself? 

I have been working for Boyteks 

since 2003. I can say that I am 

one of the first sales teams of 

Boyteks. After fulfilling works 

at sales for nine years I was 

assigned to the head of sales 

of carpets department which is 

our new investment. Working on 

this task for approximately six 

years I was given the responsibility 

of the management of 

mattress sales also after some 

changes recently took place at 

the company. We, as Boyteks, 

will continue our sales activities 

at both sides. 

What are your marketing strategies? 

How do you make your 

promotion in foreign markets? 

How many points does Boyteks 

export and what targets have 

you set for exports? 

We, as Boyteks, have been 

exporting to 104 countries which 

makes us ninth company in 

the list of exporting to biggest 

number of countries in Turkey. 

I hope we will increase this to 

110-120 countries. There is a 

huge mattress market in the 

world. Almost all countries have 

mattress manufacturing. It is of

23 

course our target to reach more 

countries. Besides, we are continuing 

our investments for mattress 

ticking markets. Continuous 

investments mean more work, 

more travel and more participation 

in international fairs for the 

sales team. The main principal 

of our strategies is to visit our 

customers in their own places 

and to promote and introduce 

our products there. We arrange 

a very heavy travel program fifth 

our 30-people of team. We visit 

our customers; we see them at 

their premises and promote our 

products. We will continue this 

way for our operations. 

Which mattress ticking fabrics are 

most preferred in the world? 

There are standard products 

and they also have reasons to 

be preferred especially from the 

standpoint of being more economical 

but the mattress choice 

preferences have changed. This 

change led the manufacturers to 

develop different mattresses. 

As a result, Boyteks started to 

offer innovative products to the 

manufacturers. Our aim is to 

increase sleep quality. How can 

we do this? This is the subject 

we always discuss inside our 

premises. People live very fast 

and intensified. They might not 

dedicate as much time as before 

and they sleep in shorter times. 

What we can add to people 

during this restless time? How 

can we increase their sleep 

quality and comfort and make 

them wake up rejuvenated in 

the morning after shorter time 

of sleep? This is all what we are 

thinking over. Our R&D department 

has been studying for this. 

Except R&D, there are d naturalness 

and recycling as well. The 

fabrics made from hemp, the 

Nuri Körahmetoglu, 

one of the sales team of Boyteks 

cotton products, organic cotton 

products, silky products or products 

made of animal fibers come 

forefront. Our investments have 

been continuing at this side. 

Our aim is to be able to offer 

products without polluting the 

nature while trying to increase 

the sleep quality of people. It 

is to be able to offer products 

without pushing the people into 

chemical masses.

26 

ÜMİT MAKİNA – a global 

supplier for global technology 

in the mattress industry 

Umit Makina supplies mattress production machinery in 86 countries. 

Active in mattress industry as 

one of the main player, Umit 

Makina keep its position by 

following latest developments 

in technology. We visited Baris 

Umit, general manager of the 

company, in their factory of Umit 

Machinery in Silivri, Istanbul, and 

asked him about his company 

and their products. 

Would you inform us about the 

story of Umit Makina? 

My father had been in the 

mattress business since early 

70’s. He participated in the 

establishment of several companies 

such as Mekan, Sabah 

and Gecem. There were only 

10 or less mattress companies 

actively operating in the mattress 

industry in those years and 

we were the most experienced 

group, I can say. There were few 

domestic manufacturer and mattresses 

had been exported from 

England and Switzerland. This 

is more or less the same period 

my father decided to establish 

his own company and made the 

first quilting machine in a small 

workshop in Gungoren district of 

Istanbul in 1988. 

What is your present position in 

the market? 

The year started better than 

the year before. We mainly 

manufacture for export markets 

which covers 80% of our whole 

production in annual basis. As 

of today, we proudly serve to 

86 countries worldwide and US 

is one the leading market for us 

over the last few years and still 

have strong business ties within 

European territory.

27 

Do you have other branches in 

abroad? 

We only have a branch in the US 

basis however sale representatives 

worldwide. 

What kind of machinery should a 

mattress production facility have 

as the full line? 

If a mattress producer invest in 

the latest equipment innovations 

available in today’s market 

they should have full automatic 

mattress production lines including 

packing to get a higher rate 

output and perfectly formed and 

made mattresses. Additionally, 

making your spring of all kind 

along with sewing machines are 

crucial to make beds with high 

efficiency and minimal waste. 

What is the minimum requirement 

for employment in mattress 

manufacturing facilities? 

Baris Umit, 

General Manager 

The mattress industry in Turkey is 

still labor intensive. Automation 

systems are gradually expanding 

in recent years. That means 

eventually more integrated 

production systems with highly 

automated and smart machines 

and less labor. 

Is there any other point that you 

want to mention? 

Major market mattress producers 

are developing housing, hospitals 

and hotel industries and 

raising consumer awareness 

towards high quality mattress 

and bedding accessories and elevating 

demand for customized 

and premium mattresses, this is 

eventually effecting emerging 

markets in positive manner. The 

market growth might be restricted 

due to high cost itself coupled 

with unstable pries of raw 

material of all kind and higher 

average shelf life of today’s 

good quality mattress however 

this industry has still got a lot of 

potential for future development.

28 

Turkish mattress sector 

is unbelievable 

Filippo Farsetti, 

shared his statement 

on Turkish mattress 

sector for SleepWell 

TV during 24 th 

EVTEKS Istanbul 

International Home 

Textiles Fair 

According to my experience in Turkey 

for 25 years, fifteen years in 

this sector and I visit many firms, 

Evteks is big chance in Turkey. I 

see that the mattress sector is 

grow up too much and the quality 

of Turkey grow too much they are 

starting to produce in very good 

way all kinds of mattress. And 

especially there are many companies 

that started to produce mattress 

ticking fabrics for mattress. 

My experience belongs to 

Boyteks. Boyteks is leader of the 

sector from fifteen years is the 

huge company and capacity in 

worldwide for mattress ticking the 

innovation and the innovating 

things that they are sending the 

market are unbelievable. 

I am working for them for fifteen 

years for Europe so I see the result 

is very nice and the especially 

for in vision fabrics the people 

start to check the innovation to 

sleep better. What is important is 

sleeping better. The quality sleep 

is something that the people start 

to care in the last ten years. Before 

we were sleeping only on the 

mattress. Now there are a lot of 

opportunity, the Turkish company 

especially Boyteks to develop the 

system to develop the quality of 

sleep. Even in Nova Group in Boydak 

Holding there is other companies 

even they produce material 

for mattress like foam, furniture. 

Even these two companies they 

are in the top of the quality and 

they are trying to follow the experience 

of Boyteks in the mattress 

ticking to give innovation to give 

something much much better to 

sleep to have mostly very good 

life. Because don’t forget, we stay 

on the bed half of our life. So this 

is very important. 

For my opinion this is big thing, 

which grows up, and the quality of 

goods you can see here is a master 

of mattress ticking really this 

is a good innovation a good grow 

up in the last ten years. This is 

what I can see, this is my opinion 

for the Turkish market.


Hall: 9 Booth: D06 - C05

30 

Aydın Tekstil excels in 

innovative fabrics for 

the mattress industry 

We have recently interviewed 

Gülfidan Yasar, Brand Coordinator 

of Aydın Tekstil. 

You have initiated a new factory, 

involved in innovative fabric 

production for the mattress 

industry in Kayseri. Could we get 

details about this new investment? 

Our new factory specialized in 

diverse range of innovative fabrics 

for the mattress industry, in 

Kayseri, started trial production 

two months ago. Our trial production 

will be completed within 

about 2 months and we will 

officially launch our activities. 

Aydın Tekstil is a company that 

has been manufacturing for 

67 years since 1957. In line 

with this new investment, we 

will become one of the largest 

fabric-producing establishments 

of the world. This investment 

assumes significance for the 

foreign markets as well. 

The global brands of Aydın Textile 

could also be regarded as 

an important asset for Turkey. 

Could you brief information about 

your R&D center? 

We have a Ministry approved 

R&D center. We continue to work 

continuously in the center. A 

series of technical works continue 

for upholstery fabrics, carpets 

and mattress fabrics. We have 

recently brought our Sleepmaker 

fabric to the market. This fabric 

has a static grounding feature. 

When sleeping on a mattress 

made with our Sleepmaker fabric, 

the fabric will increase your 

sleeping quality by eliminating

31 

static electricity. The name of our 

other fabric is Magnicare, a fabric 

that gives magnetic therapy 

overnight. When people lay in 

mattresses made of Magnicare 

fabric, they get a quality sleep 

more than imagined. 

Could you assess EVTEKS from the 

standpoint of your company? 

The Fair has turned out to be a 

successful event for us. We had 

an elite number of visitors from 

abroad as usual. Aydın Tekstil 

and its innovative products have 

become a center of attraction 

during the Fair. The Fair has 

recorded a satisfactory performance 

more than expected. 

How do you evaluate the first 

quarter we have left behind? What 

are your major targets for 2018? 

There is no negative picture, on 

the contrary, we are happy from 

2018. I think the year 2019 will 

be much better. By producing 

and exporting, we will upgrade 

the performance of our company 

efficiently. Aydın Tekstil becomes 

one of the leading upholstery, 

mattress ticking and decorative 

carpet producer in Turkey and Europe 

by constantly adding new 

products to its portfolio based 

on its technical infrastructure. 

So, we will make our presence 

felt both at home and abroad 

by participating in the fairs and 

exhibitions. 

Gülfidan Yasar, 

Brand Coordinator of Aydın Tekstil.

32 

“We constantly renew 

ourselves” 

Nova Foam is 

preferred both in all 

domestic and world 

markets thanks to its 

high comfort products 

We visited Emre Biricik, Sales 

Manager of Nova Sünger (Foam) 

on the third day of Evteks show 

and spoke about the fair as well 

as the current situation of Nova 

Foam: 

How fares the fair event? 

It runs well. This is the third day. 

We believe it will be better day 

after day. 

At the end of the first quarter of 

2018, what is your assessment 

about consumers’ demand and 

productions of the fair? 

Demands of our customers 

are rising steadily. They also 

demand new products from us, 

so we try to offer them what 

they want, right products with 

right prices, backed by faster 

services. The first quarter was 

satisfactory for us. 

Emre Biricik, 

Sales Manager 

Is there any new product either 

ready to market or in the process 

of development? 

We started to produce hyper 

foams at 142 and 180 densities. 

Major specification of this product 

is that it has higher memory 

capability to get its form back 

easily; it is both soft and comfortable. 

How many branches or distributors 

does Nova Foam have in Turkey? 

We have now about one thousands 

B2B customers. We deliver 

our products to all regions in 

the country from east to west. 

How large is your production 

capacity? 

We are producing about 60 

thousand tons of steel wire 

annually. Besides, we have a 

daily foam production capacity 

of 2,500 tons in our factory. We 

also produce foam and visco 

pillows.


Hall: 10 Booth: E07

34 

Cotton market 

fundamentals & price 

outlook 

RECENT PRICE MOVEMENTS 

NY futures experienced volatility 

in early April. Current values 

for all benchmark prices are flat 

to lower relative to levels one 

month ago. 

With the announcement that 

cotton was listed among the 

U.S. products that China could 

hit with an increase in tariffs, 

NY futures declined sharply on 

April 4th. In trading that soon 

followed, prices completely 

recovered and have since been 

relatively stable. The latest 

values for the May and July 

contracts have been holding 

near 83 cents/lb while December 

futures have been holding near 

78 cents/lb. 

The A Index was generally stable 

over the past month, trading 

between 90 and 93 cents/lb. 

In international terms, the China 

Cotton Index (CC Index, 3128B) 

decreased marginally, from 113 

to 112 cents/lb. In domestic 

terms, the CC Index also decreased 

slightly, from 15,700 

RMB/ton to 15,500 RMB/ton. 

Prices for the Indian Shankar-6 

quality were also generally stable. 

Remaining near 80 cents/lb 

in international terms and near 

40,800 INR/candy in domestic 

terms. 

Pakistani spot prices increased 

in mid-March, climbing from 78 

cents/lb early in the month to 84 

cents/lb. Since then, prices have 

decreased to levels near 77 

cents/lb. In domestic terms, values 

rose from 7,100 PKR/maund 

to 7,600 PKR/maund before 

retreating to 7,300 PKR/maund.

36 

SUPPLY, DEMAND & TRADE 

This month’s USDA report featured a slight increase 

to global production (+245,000 bales, 

from 121.9 to 122.2 million) and a slight decrease 

to global mill-use (-405,000 bales, from 120.8 

to 120.4 million) figures for 2017/18. A series 

of revisions to historical estimates for Australia, 

Brazil, and Uzbekistan had a net effect of lowering 

2017/18 global beginning stocks by 900,000 

bales (from 87.7 to 86.8 million). In combination, 

all of this month’s changes pulled the forecast 

for 2017/18 global ending stocks slightly lower 

(-555,000 bales, from 88.9 to 88.3 million). At the 

country-level, the largest updates to production 

estimates included a 700,000 bale addition for 

Brazil (from 8.0 to 8.7 million) and a 425,000 bale 

reduction for Sudan (from 900,000 to 475,000).


Hall: 10 Booth: B04 - A

38 

For milluse, notable changes were for Vietnam 

(+100,000, from 6.5 to 6.6 million), Indonesia 

(-100,000, from 3.5 to 3.4 million), and India 

(- 300,000, from 24.5 to 24.2 million). Global 

trade estimates increased slightly (+225,000 

bales, from 38.8 to 39.1 million). The largest 

changes to import figures included those for 

Pakistan (+200,000, from 2.7 to 2.9 million), 

Mexico (+100,000, from 0.9 to 1.0 million), 

Vietnam (+100,000, from 6.7 to 6.8 million), 

and Indonesia (-100,000 from 3.5 to 3.4 

million). The largest changes to export figures 

included those for India (+300,000, from 4.2 

to 4.5 million), the U.S. (+200,000 bales, 

from 14.8 to 15.0 million), and Uzbekistan 

(+100,000, from 1.1 to 1.2 million), Australia 

(-200,000, from 4.4 to 4.2), and Sudan 

(-150,000, from 500,000 to 350,000) 

PRICE OUTLOOK 

The stream of trade-related announcements 

flowing from the U.S. and China adds another 

layer of uncertainty to the cotton market. In a 

release on April 3rd, the U.S. did not include 

any apparel or textile items on the list of Chinese 

goods (collectively valued at $50 billion) 

that could be hit with increased tariffs. On 

April 4th, China included cotton on the list of 

U.S. goods (collectively valued at $50 billion) 

that it could hit with higher tariffs. The following 

day, the U.S. indicated that it is researching 

an even larger list of additional goods 

(collectively valued at $100 billion) from 

China that could also face higher tariffs. The 

items on the second U.S. list have yet to be

40 

released. Little is known about 

future implementation of any of 

these announcements. Negotiations 

should take place over 

the next several months and will 

determine whether or not any 

of the proposed tariff increases 

will actually be enforced. If the 

proposals are enforced, they 

will influence trade patterns. 

One outcome that could be 

expected is that U.S. exports to 

China 

would decrease because with 

the additional 25% duty U.S. 

cotton would become more expensive 

relative to other origins. 

However, the size of the decrease 

would be smaller than if 

the tariffs were imposed several 

years ago. A reason for this is 

that China sharply reduced its 

imports from 

all origins in recent years as 

it encouraged the mill-use of 

government-controlled reserve 

stocks over imports. As a result, 

U.S. exports to China in the past 

two crop years have been 0.9 

and 2.3 million bales, much lower 

than the longer-term average 

over four million bales. With U.S. 

exports 

to China already lower, there 

is simply less room to fall than 

there would have been several 

years ago. While U.S. sales to 

China decreased, the U.S. increased 

sales to other markets, 

notably to Vietnam and South 

Asia. Despite lower exports 

to China, the U.S. shipped the 

second highest overall volume 

of cotton on record last crop 

year. The share that went to 

China in 2016/17 was 15% (far 

lower than the proportions between 

30% and 60% that were 

common in the 2000s), which 

implies that 85% of U.S. exports 

went elsewhere. The large percentage 

going to other markets 

also implies that the U.S. has 

less exposure to a downturn in 

Chinese demand than five to ten 

years ago. Nonetheless, the importance 

of China as a customer 

of U.S. and global cotton exporters 

should not be understated. 

Given the drawdown in reserve 

stocks over the past several 

years, China is approaching the 

transition point when it should 

begin to import significantly 

more cotton. The prospect of China 

eventually returning to import 

volumes between 10-15 million 

bales should be encouraging 

for cotton exporters all over the 

world. If the proposed tariffs are 

implemented alongside increases 

in Chinese imports, it would 

affect the volume of U.S. cotton 

that could go to China. However, 

no other country has an 

exportable surplus rivaling that 

from the U.S. As a result, if China 

pulls in more cotton from other 

exporters, it could be expected 

that the corresponding tightness 

of non-U.S. exportable supply 

would push higher U.S. exports 

into import markets outside of 

China.

42 

Mattress packaging 

technologies 

Packaging machines in every industry 

are the final step in the manufacturing 

process and the first step in the transportation 

works of manufactured goods. 

They could be automatic, semiautomatic 

and could handle materials packaged 

in rigid, semi-rigid, or soft containers 

and materials not packaged in containers 

such as metal castings, sheet metal, 

rolled metal sections, and lumber. 

The machines can be setup to handle 

items of a given standard size or items 

within the same range of standard 

sizes, with the necessary adjustments 

made either manually or automatically. 

There is a big variety in the design of 

packaging machines. Among the factors 

that influence design are the specific 

features of the manufacturing process 

and the properties and dimensions 

of the goods. Further development of 

the design of packaging machines has 

been based on matching the dimensions 

of packaging materials to those 

of the unpacked goods and on considerations 

of the size, shape and weight 

of the unit loads. 

When it comes to mattress packaging it 

is a little more complicated depending 

on the nature of the mattresses. 

As an example for modern mattress 

packing machinery for packaging a 

mattress in a covering sheet, can be 

described as a machine comprising 

horizontal supporting and receiving 

mattress surfaces, guides for guiding

43 

the sheet on a vertical plane, so 

that by moving the mattress in 

the advancement direction from 

the supporting surface toward 

the receiving surface, the covering 

sheet is arranged over and 

under the mattress, a device for 

joining and cutting the sheet 

upstream of the mattress and 

for shaping a bag which wraps 

around the mattress, sheet unwinding 

assemblies comprising 

two rollers movable along the 

receiving surface with a return 

stroke, the rollers being articulated 

to rotate between alignment 

and parallel positions in which 

they are perpendicular or parallel 

to the advancement direction 

and to the sides of the mattress, 

and actuators for actuating the 

rollers. 

There are some Turkish manufacturers 

who design the system 

and manufacture for mattress 

manufacturers. We have compiled 

a pile of such examples for 

our reader. Their stories follow.

44 

“Mattress industry should 

benefit from roll pack 

systems if it is to survive 

dynamically” 

Elektroteks offers 

diverse range 

of automated 

packaging systems 

for the mattress 

industry in 5 

continents. 


Serkan Güler, Sales Manager of 

Elektroteks to cover the details 

of their packaging machinery 

solutions. Elektroteks is one of 

the best brands in the world to 

design practical and durable 

machinery for all fields of the 

mattress production machinery. 

What is the role of packing systems 

as far as the development process 

of mattress industry is concerned? 

Actually, the packing sector 

focusing on the specific needs 

of the mattress industry has 

witnessed a remarkable development 

trend within the last 

decade. 

In order to reduce the storage 

and freight costs as well as the 

visibility and strength of the 

mattress packaging, Elektroteks 

offers all kinds of automatic 

packaging, including semi-automatic 

versions, from conventional 

packaging methods to press 

packing, including roll packing 

and folding.

45 

Could you mention about your 

automated systems? 

We have full automatic mattress 

rollpack machine with the 

self-wrapping system. The mattress 

is wrapped fully automatic 

without any need for manual 

hand bagging. Any type of mattresses 

are fed by the conveyor 

and wrapped, compressed, 

sealed and rolled. 

We have also a full automatic 

mattress wrap, compress, fold 

and roll machine. After compression, 

it can fold the mattress 

to half and roll afterwards to 

minimize the shipping, storage 

and operation costs and to 

maximize the profit and competitiveness. 

Thanks to its unique 

design, it gives possibility to 

work as wrap-only, wrap-compress, 

wrap-compress roll and 

wrap-compress-fold-roll without 

adding any extra turning or 90° 

transfer conveyors. Moreover, 

with all these options it offers 

the smallest footprint (installation 

area) compared to competing 

machines. 

Are there different packaging 

alternatives according to shipping 

preferences? 

Different packaging alternatives 

are available depending on the 

type of transportation. For example, 

we have machines that offer 

all of the conventional packing 

methods for rolls that can not be 

folded, only those that can not 

be rolled, and those that can not 

be pressed. 

What would you like to add? 

As is known, the major problems 

that the mattress industry has 

experienced are inadequate 

production space, inadequate 

storage space, transportation 

and storing costs. We offer a 

series of efficient solutions for 

these problems, thereby contributing 

to the competitive power 

of the mattress industry. 

We think that Elektroteks, with 

its roll pack machinery, would 

increase its presence felt in the 

mattress industry more than 

ever.

46 

“Investments for 

integrated facilities will 

keep growing when the 

industry expands” 

There are several 

alternative 

solutions in 

mattress packaging 

machinery 

depending on their 

capacities. 

Gemba Machinery offers turnkey 

solutions by developing 

custom made machinery. Active 

in the industry for three years, 

we talked with Kazim Sezerkan, 

a partner of Gemba Machinery 

company about the latest technologies 

and systems in packaging 

machinery. 

Where does the packaging business 

stand in the mattress industry 

now? What is your company’s 

position? 

In our industry, it is possible to 

make any machinery for packaging 

mattresses. Recently, 

mattresses had been shipped 

and transported as in their 

original forms and volumes, now, 

we have several possibilities 

to lower the volume and size of 

packages with an aim to lower 

the costs of transportation and 

storage. Earlier, mattresses were 

being packed manually, but, 

now, they are packed on automatic 

machinery and stocked on 

pallets for delivery. Our company 

is able to produce every kind 

and every capacity of packaging 

machinery. 

What is the percentage of full 

automatic machinery in the 

facilities? What do you expect 

more in the future? 

It is hard to talk about full automatic 

facilities because some 

of the factories have not been

47 

refurbished for these operations. 

Packaging machinery are not 

independent from other work 

stations in mattress factories. 

All of the stations and processes 

have to be combined and integrated. 

Companies are gradually 

changing their production processes 

accordingly. Our business 

will keep growing in line with 

the developments in mattress 

producing companies. 

Is the any alternative for the 

transportation of mattresses that 

requires new packaging solutions? 

Actually, we offer various 

packaging systems depending 

on their transportation preferences. 

Mattresses are either be 

shipped as it is, or they may be 

pressed to reduce volume and 

sizes. Pressed mattresses can be 

rolled packed or can be packed 

by folding down. 

Is the type of mattresses matters 

while choosing the packaging 

type? 

Yes, there are alternatives 

depending on the type of 

mattresses when non-traditional 

solutions are preferred. Foam 

and pocked spring type of mattresses 

are packed by pressing 

or rolling or can be packed after 

pressing. Only foam type of 

mattresses can be vacuumed. In 

both types, the mattress reform 

itself in a short time period at 

the premises of buyers when the 

packages are opened.

48 

Turkey’s packaging 

materials industry 

updates 

Global packaging 

materials market 

to hit $1.3 trillion 

by 2024, Global 

Market Insights, 

Inc. 

Flexible plastics is the largest 

materials segment in the packaging 

materials market in terms 

of volume. This segment is 

likely to be valued over USD 190 

billion by 2024. The segments 

growth will be augmented by extensive 

usage in packaging food 

items and household products. 

The availability of a broad range 

of flexible plastic materials 

with distinct characteristics has 

turned this segment into one of 

the most important materials in 

the industry. The ability of flexible 

plastics to be manufactured 

in a range of shapes and sizes, 

lower weight, inert nature, superior 

performance characteristics, 

low cost, and easy printability 

makes it the most versatile packing 

material.

49 

Bags, pouches & wraps is the 

largest product segment in the 

packaging materials market as 

they are used for packaging a 

wide variety of items including 

food, detergents, beverages, 

etc. This segment will cover over 

one-third of the overall packing 

industry in terms of value. Characteristics 

such as lower comparative 

costs, ease of storage 

and handling, along with the 

availability of many specialty 

products like retort packaging, 

shrink films, etc. will augment 

bags, pouches & wraps packing 

materials market growth in forecast 

timeframe. 

Mattresses are notoriously bulky 

to move and store; they’re nonresistant 

to many factors such 

as water, humidity, crinkling, 

folding traces, deteriorations, 

etc. If your business needs to 

deliver a mattress to a customer, 

or to wholesalers, dealers, 

etc. you should make sure they 

arrive safely and without dirt 

or damage. To guarantee this, 

you have to use right packaging 

with right materials and technologies. 

For the security of your 

items you must use new packing 

materials. 


some Turkish material manufacturers 

to determine the position 

of the industry in Turkey.

50 

“The industry has 

sufficient capacity for 

more production” 

Hasplast, a major 

firm in plastic 

packaging industry, 

meets needs of 

several industries 

for packaging 

materials in its 

5 thousand- sqm 

factory. 

Serkan Elitas 

Hasplast was established in 

1994 to produce packaging 

materials for several industries 

including the mattress industry. 

Having a major share in the market, 

the company is preferred 

by its customers with its after 

sale services, timely delivery 

and quality products. Production 

operations are carried out up 

to the standards of TSE-EN-ISO 

9001:2000. We visited Serkan 

Elitas of Hasplast to get information 

about the packaging 

needs of mattress industries, the 

production process, and the materials 

and technologies used in 

Turkey. He said that the production 

capacity was sufficient in 

the industry and there was more 

room for further development.

51 

Will you inform us about the 

materials used in the packaging of 

mattresses? 

PE shrinks film and PE bags are 

the two types of packaging used 

in the mattress industry. Earlier 

bags were more popular but 

recently firms have begun to use 

PE shrink films for their packaging 

needs. Bags had been 

manufactured up to certain sizes 

but shrink packages use standard 

sizes. 

What do you say about the 

production of these materials? 

What about the ones produced in 

Turkey and those imported from 

abroad? 

All of the raw materials we use 

may be produced by every company 

that has extruders in their 

facilities. 

Could we be informed about the 

procurement, varieties and quality 

of raw materials? 

Polyethylene materials are sold 

by Petkim, the largest petrochemical 

producer in Turkey. 

G03-5 and G03-21T are the 

most consumed types. They all 

can be procured from Petkim or 

bought from suppliers abroad. 

Do the needs for raw materials 

differ in line with the development 

in packaging technologies? 

Certainly, yes. Because, customers 

demanding us to improve our 

products with an aim to lower 

their costs depending on the 

developing technologies. So, 

we try to improve our products 

to fit best to the needs of our 

customers. 

What is your opinion about the 

position of the industry in terms 

of its ability to meet demands of 

customers in terms of both quality 

and quantity? 

In terms of production capacity 

there is sufficient capacity 

in the industry. But, as in the 

other industries, there are room 

and opportunity for developing 

better and more efficient product 

varieties to meet the needs of 

the companies.

52 

Global textile show: 

ITM 2018 

ITM 2018 International 

Textile Machinery 

Exhibition, which the 

textile industry has 

been looking forward 

to for two years with 

great interest, was held 

between the dates of 

14th- 17th April. ITM 

Exhibition, in which 

textile technology 

leaders made world 

launches and which has 

virtually turned into 

a textile show, made 

the participants happy 

with 58 thousand and 

942 visitors from 94 

countries. 

ITM 2018 Exhibition, which 

was organized with TÜYAP Tüm 

Fuarcılık Yapım A.Ş. and Teknik 

Fuarcılık A.Ş. partnership and 

TEMSAD (Textile Machinery 

and Accessories Industrialists 

Association) cooperation, has 

been hosting textile technology 

leaders for four days. 

The opening to which large 

attendance has occurred,; has 

taken place under the leadership 

of Teknik Fuarcılık A.Ş Board 

Chairman Necip Güney and 

Tüyap Board Chairman Bülent 

Ünal. Important names from the 

textile world have attended in 

the opening particularly Beylikdüzü 

Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, 

TEMSAD President Adil Nalbant, 

ITAMMA President Kaizar Z. 

Mahuwala, Picanol Marketing 

Communications Manager Erwin 

Devloo, IRO General Manager 

Mikeal Äremann. ITM 2018 

Exhibition, which has turned into 

a textile technology show with 

the attendance of professionals 

from the textile industry, participant 

companies, press members 

and visitors, has welcomed its 

guests for four days. 

MEETING POINT FOR 

PROFESSIONALS 

ITM 2018 Exhibition, the meeting 

point for the sector professionals, 

has printed its name 

with gold letters in the world 

textile history as a spectacular 

organization, in which sales of 

millions of Euros have been realized 

by many companies both 

in the country and abroad and 

signatures were put on many 

business connections. In ITM

Natural Mattress Components 

Latex Foam 

Viscogel Pillows 

NEW AİRFOAMS FROM SOURCING LEADER ALLBECO 

New Massage Pillows 

AİRFOAM VİSCO STD 

AİRFOAM GEL 

High End Mattress Labels 

AİRFOAM ALOEVERA 

AİRFOAM SOYA 

Ready Made Zipped Covers 

Semi-Finished Mattress 

Metal Motorized Folding Bed Mechanism 

Folding Mattress Covers 


Hall: 10 Booth: B02 - C05 

Organize Sanayi Bölgesi 23. Cadde No:45 38070 Kayseri / 

Türkiye 

+90 352 502 07 56 

info@allbeco.com 

+90 352 502 07 55 

A 

www.allbeco.com

54 

2018 Exhibition, in which 1150 

Textile technology producer 

companies from 64 countries and 

company representatives and 

which took place on Hall 11, the 

products and technologies that 

were introduced for the first time 

in the industry were exhibited. In 

ITM 2018 Exhibition, which has 

turned into a textile show with 

the participation of hundreds 

of producers and global-scale 

investors, who have developed 

leading technologies in their 

fields, many leading textile machinery 

producers have realized 

their world launches. On the 

other hand, that participant companies 

have exhibited a larger 

number of machines in larger 

stand areas drew attention. ITM 

2018 has put its signature on a 

record between the ITM Exhibitions 

held till today with a total 

of 58 thousand and 942 visitors 

from 94 countries, including 14 

thousand 248 foreign visitors. 


shown an increase compared 

to the previous ITM Exhibition 

showed a significant increase 

in both country diversity and 

number of visitors compared 

to the previous ITM Exhibition, 

has raised its success to higher 

level with positive feedbacks 

from participant companies and 

visitors. 

IN ITM 2018, SIGNATURES WERE 

PUT IN POWERFUL COOPERATIONS 


left behind beautiful traces that 

will not be wiped away from 

the minds of company owners, 

company representatives, has 

also offered incredible commercial 

opportunities for all professionals 

who want to take the 

industry’s pulse and follow the 

innovations. ITM has become a 

productive meeting point from 

the first days for the companies 

have made agreements of 

million euros. On the other hand, 

the biggest factor behind this 

success; has been promotional 

works carried out for 2 years 

throughout the world. Our team 

participated in Exhibitions and 

events and visited companies 

and sectoral associations in all 

textile producing regions in the 

world from China to India, from 

Bangladesh to Pakistan, from 

Russia to Uzbekistan, and gave


Hall: 9 Booth: A04 - B05 

EXCELLENT INNOVATION ON MATTRESS MACHINES 

Organize Sanayi Bölgesi 23. Cadde No:45 38070 Kayseri / 

Türkiye 

+90 352 502 07 56 

info@allbemac.com.tr 

+90 352 502 07 55 

A 

www.allbemac.com.tr

56 

information about the developments 

and innovations that 

will take place in ITM 2018. ITM 

2018 Exhibition has become a 

preferred destination for textile 

investors. 

THOUSANDS OF VISITORS FROM 94 

COUNTRIES 

The countries from which visitors 

came for ITM 2018 are the 

followings: Visitors came from Afghanistan, 

Albania, Algeria, Angola, 

Armenia, Australia, Austria, 

Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, 

Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, 

Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, 

Bulgaria, Canada, Central Africa 

Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, 

Croatia, TR.N.C. (Turkish Republic 

of Northern Cyprus), Czech Republic, 

Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, 

Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, 

Greece, Hong Kong, India, 

Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, 

Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 

Korea, Panama, Guatemala, 

Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, 

Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, 

Lithuania, Macedonia, Mali, 

Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, 

Montenegro, Morocco, the 

Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, 

Palestine, Poland, Portugal, 

Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, 

Saudi Arabia, Serbia, 

Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, 

South Africa, South Korea, Spain, 

Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, 

Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, 

Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United 

Arab Emirates, United Kingdom 

(England), America, Uzbekistan, 

Vietnam, and Yemen. 

COMMON MEETING POINT 

This great meeting in Istanbul, 

where the countries are close to 

each other in geographical term, 

enabled the sector representatives 

to introduce their latest 

technologies in ITM 2018 for the

58 

first time. ITM Exhibition, which 

has been a bridge between the 

East and West textile worlds, 

continues to take the industry’s 

pulse also this year as it did in 

last years. The ITM 2018 Exhibition, 

which has been virtually 

turned into a show of textile 

technologies with attendance 

of hundreds of manufacturers, 

who have developed leading 

technologies in their fields, and 

global-scale investors and visits, 

brings the companies, which provide 

service in sub branches of 

the industry from cotton to yarn, 

from weaving to knitting, from 

digital printing to dyeing and 

finishing, exhibiting their latest-technology 

products together 

with the visitors. The Exhibition, 

in which the most important 

names of the latest machinery 

and technologies of the textile 

machinery world are introduced, 

offers inevitable business opportunities 

for all professionals who 

want to take industry’s pulse 

and follow the innovations. The 

excitement steps up much higher 

because the 15th International 

Istanbul Yarn Fair, the HIGHTEX 

2018 International Technical Textiles 

& Nonwoven Exhibition and 

the 8th International Istanbul 

Textile Conference meet with ITM 

2018 under the same roof.

60 

Turkey’s new industrial 

zones to attract 

investments 

Turkey’s new industrial zones, 

which will be built with a TL 140 

billion (nearly $30 billion) investment, 

will attract significant 

international investments. Industrial 

zones will produce 100,000 

jobs, attract domestic and international 

investments, and provide 

high-tech production, according 

to information compiled from the 

Science, Technology and Industry 

Ministry. 

All expenditures of the zones, 

including a bridge, railway connection, 

electricity, water lines 

and telecommunications will be 

covered by the ministry. 

Turkish Finance Ministry and Treasury 

will also support the zones. 

China, South Korea and Singapore’s 

industrial areas will be 

role models for Turkey’s mega 

industrial zones. The zones will be 

operated by common law corporations 

and these corporation’s 

structure will be open to domestic 

and international enterprises’ 

investments. 

In the first stage, four mega industrial 

zones will be built with TL 45 

billion investment in the coastal 

Black Sea towns of Trabzon, 

Zonguldak and Sakarya, and in 

southern Adana. These areas will 

employ around 35,000 people. 

In the first stage, investments will 

be made in energy, machinery, 

road-motor vehicles, the defense 

industry, railway systems, 

space, aviation, biotechnology, 

nanotechnology and information 

technology fields. 

After the first stage, 10 more 

mega industrial zones will be 

built totaling TL 140 billion in 

investments around the country. It 

is expected that these zones will 

employ around 100,000 people in 

total. The mega industrial zones 

were first announced by President 

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

“We’re building mega industrial 

zones in five regions across 

the country. They will upgrade 

Turkey’s industry and technology 

sector and produce 100,000 jobs,” 

the president said on his official 

social media account. 

He highlighted that the planned 

zones will enable Turkey to make 

a great leap in industrial production. 

The president added that 

the legal work for the industrial 

zones has already been completed.

62 

Sleepwell Expo 

Istanbul counts 

down to generate big 

volume of trade 

Over 100 respectful brands from various countries of the world 

will showcase their latest products at Istanbul Expo Center, 26-29 

September 2018. The fair pulled its dates three weeks earlier to be 

held concurrently with HomeTex, the leading home textile exhibition 

of Turkey. A big synergy is expected to be generated.

63 

In line with fast development 

observed in the Turkish mattress 

industry in last 15 years, 

the trade fair has also been 

growing steadily and opening 

for its fifth edition at Istanbul 

Expo Center, 26-29 September 

2018. A great number 

of leading brands from all 

segments of the industry have 

already been registered. 

Some of the leading names 

in the industry by the end of 

February include: 

Aat Makina – Nordson, Adalar 

Kimya, Aközlü Dıs Tic.,Allbeco, 

Allbemac, Argun - Helis, 

Artilat, Aydın Tekstil, Boyçelik, 

Boyteks, Dogus Ofset, 

Doreplast, Durak Tekstil, 

Edr Kimya, Elektorteks, Etg 

Tekstil, Feryal Fermuar, Form 

Sünger, Gemba Makina, Giz 

Group, Hasplast, Hürpol, Ifix 

Makina, IMS Makina, Innova 

Bedding,Ipeker,Kaliteks, 

Kardesler Deri - Bed Covers, 

Kırayteks, Küçükler -Comfytex, 

Leggett & Platt, Lineer Makina, 

Mert Makina, Mesa Etiket, 

Metal Matris, Mitsan, Mtf 

Mensucat, Nano Yay, Nerteks, 

Onur Kapitone, Özen Iplik, 

Pakipek, Robatech, Roza Ipek, 

Saran Makina, Seral Tekstil, 

Seritçioglu, Servo Makina, 

Sigma, Süper Ambalaj, Trakya 

Pack, Ümit Makina, Yapı Lider 

- Pomax, Zelu Tech

64 

From machinery, technologies, 

raw materials, up to 

components and services 

the show covers all of 

the industry sub-industry 

fields of the sleep products 

industry. 

Pointing out that there are 

more product varieties in 

this year’s edition of the 

show, Omer Faruk Gorun, 

project manager of Sleepwell 

Expo, said, “We are 

more assertive this year 

with regards to professional 

visitors. We have particularly 

increased our focus 

on foreign markets. The 

history of five years has 

made the fair a well-known 

event around the world and 

many buyers and producers 

put the name Sleepwell 

Expo on their annual agenda 

well before the event’s 

date. We are thankful to

65 

our esteemed industrialists 

who have contributed 

to the growth of our event. 

We are shaping a world 

fair here altogether.” 

To be held in Istanbul Expo 

Center, 26-29 September 

2018, the next edition of 

Sleepwell Expo - Mattress 

and Technologies Fair, 

which is the first and only 

fair in Turkey in its field, 

will host the sector for the 

fifth time this year. 

Turkey’s mattress industry 

has been going through 

major changes leaving 

many less-developed 

stages behind. Almost all

66 

kinds of modern mattresses 

are either manufactured or 

represented in Turkey. 

Sleepwell Expo represents 

a wide range of portfolio 

including the latest products 

of mattress manufacturers, 

pillow manufacturers, comforter 

and other sleep product 

manufacturers, exporters 

and dealers. They were 

mainly mattress exporters 

and importers, bedding 

manufacturers, home textile 

manufacturers, coverlet 

manufacturers, equipment 

firms, distributors, agents, 

chain store purchasing 

authorities, local furniture 

stores, professional import 

and export firms, designers, 

hotel purchasing managers, 

interior design firms, experts 

of the private sector, 

mattress industry buyers 

and trade press portals… 

In short, all members of the 

industry come together at 

the Sleepwell Expo-Mattress 

and Technologies Fair. 

Running towards its major 

targets of 2023 set by the 

government; Turkey continues 

to pursue its development 

worldwide with its rapidly 

increasing population,

67 

advantageous geography, and 

contribution of exports by its 

advantageous geography. One 

of the most important sectors 

in Turkey, without any doubt, is 

the mattress industry, mattress 

machinery and components industry. 

Developments, innovations 

and example solidarity of 

the sector which has been performed 

in the mattress sector in 

recent years, have become the 

factors which affect the sleep 

products sector positively. With 

the same token, many positive 

economic indications which 

have been performed on behalf 

of the country and the sector 

in recent years, many regulations 

and directives made 

for the business volume and 

the mattress sector which has 

grown depending on the flow 

of foreign investments, indicate 

the importance of the SLEEP- 

WELL Fair.

68 

Bonded foam for more 

supportive mattresses 

Bonded foam is nothing but small pieces of foam glued together 

and compressed. They feature as supporting body in all crucial 

areas such as the spine. 

Bonded foam mattresses are 

made from different kinds of 

PU foam types which are glued 

together under pressure. Bonded 

foam is a recent alternative 

to coir as a basic mattress 

material. Durable and flexible 

bonded foam mattresses adjust 

to body’s pressure and support 

it in all the crucial areas such as 

the spine. It provides the correct 

support that is required from 

an orthopedic point of view. 

A bonded mattress has many 

reasons and factors that have 

contributed to its popularity and 

increasing usage. The hospitals 

and institutions find this type of 

mattress suitable for handling 

large volume of users. These 

mattresses are durable and 

flexible enough to provide extra 

support to back and shoulder 

while keeping the spine in its 

natural shape. Among its many 

health benefits, one of the most 

significant features is providing 

complete support to the body of 

the sleeper thereby being helpful 

for those who are suffering 

from back. It also helps everybody 

to keep healthy. 

The mattresses made from 

bonded foam also alter to the 

body temperature matching the 

body heat, which provides comfort 

and support to spinal area 

(aligning to its natural shape) 

and other crucial areas such as 

the lower back area, hip bones 

as well as shoulder area.

69 

The bonded foam mattress is a 

term that is used for a regenerated 

material and it means 

that it is possessed and made 

by undergoing a process called 

re-compression. In this process 

different kinds of PU material are 

stacked together under tremendous 

pressure. This process is a 

major contributor for giving the 

user a comfortable and also a 

healthier sleep. 

There are a variety of brands 

available in the Turkish and 

world markets and all these 

brands are contributors to the 

recent success of these types of 

mattresses. These varieties of 

brands that exist in the market 

right now to make things easier 

for all customers. 

For bonded foam mattresses 

combine the features of pure 

foam mattresses and the higher 

density than coir mattresses 

they are reasonably priced. Still, 

the prices of each and every mattress in this field can vary. This is 

because all mattresses go through an extremely different process 

in their manufacturing. As a result it is important for the customer to 

judge and comprehend which one of these mattresses suits his or 

her needs to the maximum level of satisfaction. 

Following are a few examples from the Turkish manufacturers to offer 

the level of Turkish industry in this particular item.

70 

Costs down quality ups 

with bonded foam 

Format Foam supplies 50 density 

products for mattress companies and 

offers cost advantages along others. The 

company buys 30 percent of raw materials 

from domestic market and imports the 

balance. 

Format Foam is a leading name 

in the foam production. It has 

been producing bonded foams 

in its factory of 3 thousand sqm 

and selling 70 percent of its 

production to mattress manufacturers. 

We asked details about 

his firm and operations to Abidin 

Sezgin of Format Foam Company. 

How dense the foams you 

produced? 

Our firm produces foams of two 

densities. 60 density foams are

71 

sold to armchair producers, and 

50 density foams are for mattress 

manufacturers. 

Do you procure the raw materials 

from abroad? 

70 percent of our raw material 

needs is bought from domestic 

sources and 30 percent is 

imported. 

What is the share of bonded foams 

in mattress industry? What are 

the advantages and disadvantages 

of your foams when compared to 

others’? 

70 percent of our production is 

used in the mattress industry. 

The major advantage of our 

foams is of cost effectiveness. 

Besides, it offers more strength 

because they are heavier than 

others. This raises the quality of 

mattresses. 

The main disadvantage mentioned 

by our customers is 

the colorful outlook. First they 

startled and then change their 

opinion and become clients. 

Abidin Sezgin 

What are your expectations for the 

future of mattress industry? 

In my opinion, the mattress 

industry in Turkey is a valuable 

one, that is, it is an industry that 

is able to play well in a high 

potential market. It may sell 

more because of its low prices 

and higher level of research and 

development efforts. It has also 

larger shares both in domestic 

and foreign markets. Companies 

are working without compromising 

on quality and able to sell 

their products in every part of 

the world. Depending on cost 

advantages relative to other 

countries Turkey has become a 

major center for mattress industry 

in the world. So, we, as 

suppliers want to get our shares 

in these positive developments. 

We wish you and other representatives 

of our industry more 

success.

72 

Softer and more 

comfortable “Visco 

Bondex” 

Nova Sünger maximizes the comfort with additional features it 

added to bonded foam, which we hear often in recent times. 

We met Emre Biricik, Domestic 

Sales Manager of Nova Sünger, 

to talk about bonded foam, an 

important raw material for the 

mattress industry, for which we 

have prepared a comprehensive 

coverage. Stating that they had 

produced visco bonded foam, 

which is a special product developed 

for gaining extra softness 

and comfort to bonded foam, 

Biricik noted that this high recycling-rate 

product was preferred 

to obtain high level hardness. 

What density production do you 

make? 

Bonded foam is made by 

composition of polyether foam 

pieces densely. We have been 

able to produce foam between 

55-180 densities. Furthermore, 

we produce visco bonded foam, 

which is a special product developed 

for gaining extra softness 

and comfort to bonded foam.

73 

Do you meet your raw material 

requirements by the way of 

import? 

We meet our raw material needs 

from internal supply through our 

own foam factory Nova Sünger 

located in Sakarya province. We 

provide adhesive raw material 

by way of import. 

What is the usage rate of bonded 

foam in the mattress industry? 

What are the advantages and 

disadvantages when compared 

with other foams? 

Bonded foam started to be 

used seriously in the mattress 

industry in recent years. Many of 

the mattress firms use bonded 

foam in production. Companies 

started to demand bonded foam 

in order to provide high-level 

hardness in mattresses. The 

advantages of bonded foam 

are the price for same hardness 

alternatives and recycling of 

waste foams. Furthermore, this 

product contributes to recycling 

as an environmentally friendly 

material. 

When it comes to disadvantages, 

it has the possibility of being 

shorter life when compared 

to regular foams. 

What are your forecasts for the future of the mattress industry? 

The mattress industry has been developing thanks to ever-developing 

technologies. Demands are concerned more now and the manufacturing 

has been done faster and products reach to consumers 

quicker. The mattress industry will be positioned to a better place 

thanks to the R&D studies of semi-finished products in the sector. 

Another one of the contributions of bonded foam to the mattress 

industry is possibility of obtaining of hardness levels which cannot 

be obtained through regular foams.

74 

US smart-bed player ReST and 

Hilding Anders announce strategic 

partnership by launching smart bed 

solution in Europe, Russia and Asia 

Responsive Surface Technology, LLC (“ReST”), the US-based 

provider of the most globally innovative smart bed solution, has 

entered into a strategic partnership with Hilding Anders, the 

leading bedding and mattress group in Europe, Russia and Asia. 

ATLANTA (PRWEB) JUNE 26, 2018 

As part of this collaboration, 

Hilding Anders, a KKR portfolio 

company, has licensed ReST’s 

smart bed technology that will 

be used in manufacturing and 

distribution across the group’s 

markets in Europe, Russia and 

Asia. Based on this agreement, 

Hilding Anders will launch a 

smart bed in Europe, Russia and 

Asia under its respective market-leading 

local brands. Hilding 

Anders presented a first demo 

version of the product at the Bico 

relaunch fair in Schänis, Switzerland, 

on Sunday June 24th, 

2018. Bico is the market leading 

bed brand in Switzerland. 

The ReST smart bed solution 

is patented and proprietary 

technology, winning the renowned 

CES innovation award in 

2015. The technology includes, 

amongst other things, an innovative 

smart fabric. The smart 

fabric consists of a market-leading 

sensor layer that measures 

pressure distribution on each 

side of the mattress in order to 

provide consumers with a unique 

and personalized experience. 

The smart sensor detects sleep 

pressure points of the individual 

and responds according to his or 

her needs by controlling multiple 

air zones of the mattress through 

a market-leading air pump. The 

ReST smart bed uses sophisticated 

application and software that 

allows the sleeper to manually or 

automatically adjust the firmness 

level of their mattress in different 

body zones. 

Pepyn Dinandt, Chairman & 

Group CEO of Hilding Anders: 

“This partnership with ReST 

clearly strengthens our positioning 

as a driver of innovation in 

the market. With our smart bed 

product we will offer consumers 

an unprecedented level of sleep 

comfort through a truly individualized 

bed – a ‘My Bed’, so to 

speak.” 

Rob Golden, Founder and CEO of 

ReST: “ReST is excited to partner 

with Hilding Anders to provide 

the most advanced smart bed 

technology to customers in major 

markets around the world. The 

need to advance sleep quality 

has never been greater and a 

smart bed that senses the sleeper 

and adjusts in real time is the 

best solution. ReST looks forward 

to creating the leading smart 

bed in the world with Hilding 

Anders.” 

Along with the license agreement, 

Hilding Anders also gained 

a 25% stake in ReST, giving 

Hilding Anders its first footprint 

in the US mattress and bedding 

market. 

Rob Golden: “As one of the fastest 

growing smart bed companies 

in the world, ReST will use 

the capital and expertise provided 

by Hilding Anders to accelerate 

our distribution of the ReST 

smart bed around the globe.”


Hall: Foyer Booth: F05

76 

Turkey’s FTA with 

European countries 

revised 

Turkey and the European Free 

Trade Association (EFTA) signed 

an agreement to modernize and 

expand the scope of the Free 

Trade Agreement (FTA) in a ceremony 

held in Saudarkrokur, a town 

in northern Iceland. Speaking at 

the signing ceremony, Economy 

Minister Nihat Zeybekci said the 

revised agreement is Turkey’s first 

FTA. 

The FTA with the EFTA was signed 

before the Customs Union agreement 

with the European Union 

and it has been revised before 

the modernization of the Customs 

Union, Minister Zeybekci said. 

The revised FTA is in its essence is 

a more modern and more expansive 

agreement than the current 

Customs Union. 

“We want this revised FTA to 

set an example for the upgrade 

process of the Customs Union,” 

Zeybekci said. 

He stated that the revised FTA 

includes trade of service and 

electronic goods, intellectual property 

rights in addition to trade of 

goods. The expanded scope will 

better reflect on the economic 

ties, the minister added. 

“Steps to facilitate trade including 

eased visa and work permits in 

addition to land transportation 

and logistics services, health 

services, and tourism services, following 

the conclusion of successful 

negotiations,” he said. 

Zeybekci met the ministers of 

EFTA countries consisting of Iceland, 

Liechtenstein, Norway and 

Switzerland and discussed export 

cooperation, the establishment

77 

of joint economic councils and 

business councils. 

The current FTA updated the rules 

of the trade of goods and instituted 

cooperation and advisory councils 

beyond the provisions of the 

World Trade Organization (WTO) 

regarding the instruments of trade 

protection from trade disputes. 

Provisions for the facilitation of 

trade that simplify the customs 

processes and matters related to 

e-commerce have been included in 

the new revised FTA. 

The Pan-European-Mediterranean 

preferential rules of origin, to 

which the agreement is subject, 

are linked to regional conventions 

that extend to include the Balkan 

countries, enabling accumulation 

with the economies in larger geographies. 

A strong system between EFTA 

countries and Turkey has been 

instituted for the mutual protection 

of innovations in intellectual 

property rights. 

Cooperation provisions for facilitating 

technology transfer were 

included in one of Turkey’s FTAs for 

the first time. 

With the inclusion of rules and 

commitments on service trade, a 

more predictable trading environment 

for service providers and 

investors will be established in 

the country. 

EFTA states are also ensured to 

undertake comprehensive commitments 

regarding road transport 

and tourism services, which are 

among the most important service 

exports items in Turkey, suggesting 

that quotas for dual and transit 

road transport to EFTA states 

should be lifted and that carriers 

are protected from being subject 

to discriminatory charges. 

The articles regarding the mobility 

of persons aim to prevent 

the arbitrary practices of the visa 

applications by the Turkish service 

providers. 

An annex on health care services 

was signed with Switzerland, ensuring 

patient mobility between 

the parties to receive private 

health, elderly care and other 

health services. 

In addition to the new agreement, 

bilateral agreements on the 

liberalization of basic agricultural 

products and processed agricultural 

products have been liberalized 

and the preferential entry of 

Turkish agricultural products to the 

Swiss market has been enabled. 

The EFTA, which was set up in 

1960, promotes free trade and 

economic integration to the benefit 

of its member states and their 

trading partners as an intergovernmental 

organization. There 

are currently over 20 free trade 

agreements between Turkey and 

other countries worldwide, and 

Ankara is in negotiations for some 

20 more.

78 

Temperature, the secret 

ingredient for a good 

night’s sleep 

How 

thermoregulation 

and cooling can 

improve the quality 

of your sleep 

We all know the struggle of 

trying to fall asleep on a hot 

summer night. This being said, it 

doesn’t come as a surprise that 

researchers claim our temperature 

in bed is one of the most 

determining factors of how well 

we sleep. Textile innovator 

Devan Chemicals has carefully 

studied this correlation between 

temperature and sleep quality, 

and developed a few solutions 

that will improve your night of 

sleep. 

Generally speaking, there’s only 

one condition for a good night’s 

sleep: comfort. But, comfort is 

a very complex mix of different 

subjective sensations and 

therefore, nearly impossible to 

control. Nevertheless, some of

79 

these contributing sensations, 

such as thermal comfort, can be 

regulated to improve the overall 

sensation of comfort. 

Thermal comfort 

The human body is warm-blooded 

and must maintain a body 

temperature within very close 

limits. It uses food as a fuel, converting 

it into energy. Some of 

this energy may leave the body 

through radiation from the skin 

or evaporation of sweat, whilst 

the remaining energy is devoted 

to maintaining the body core 

temperature essential for our 

internal organs 

Thermal comfort is described 

as that condition of mind which 

expresses satisfaction with the 

thermal environment. This can 

only be reached when thermal 

balance between the body’s 

heat production and heat loss 

produces optimum body thermal 

sensation. 

Thermic® - Welcome to your 

comfort zone 

Enter Thermic®, Devan’s patented 

thermoregulating technology. 

Thermic® is a reactive 

patented technology that keeps 

the body’s heat production and 

heat loss in balance and thus 

provides a sensation of thermal 

comfort. The solution is specifically 

engineered for bedding 

textiles and is based on reactive 

microencapsulated Phase 

Change Materials (PCMs). These 

materials possess the ability 

to change their physical state 

(phase) from ‘solid to liquid’ and 

from ‘liquid to solid’, within a 

certain temperature range, in response 

to ambient temperature 

differences. 

The PCM draws heat away from 

the body, stores this energy 

temporarily, and releases the 

energy as heat when the temperature 

cools down. This mech-

80 

anism keeps the space between 

your body and textiles (= microclimate) 

within a certain temperature 

range or ‘comfort zone’. 

PCMs have to be contained 

within a closed environment as 

when they change phase, they 

pass from solid to liquid state. 

If the PCMs were not protected 

in microcapsules, the liquid PCM 

would flow away. 

For consumers, the above described 

technology has quite 

some advantages. First of all 

comes the smart heat exchange 

mechanism which makes the 

body suffer less from night 

sweats, and results in a longer, 

healthier and more comfortable 

sleep with fewer awakenings. 

The softness and handle of the 

fabric is not affected due to the 

very small microcapsules which 

penetrate very deeply inside the 

textile structure, leaving the surface 

almost as in original state. 

Furthermore, the technology has 

a long lasting performance and 

is wash durable. 

Thermic® + … 

Since the creation of Thermic®, 

Devan has never stopped improving 

the technology and now 

offers multifunctional solutions 

within the same Thermic® product 

range. 

Thermic® QuickDry is a thermoregulation 

technology combined 

with a fast absorbing and a

81 

quick dry technology to remove 

excess of sweat. Thermic® 

N-Dure includes FR protection 

and complies with UK and US 

FR standards without having to 

apply a second treatment. Thermic® 

1 Pack is a non-washable 

and ready-to-use version of the 

basic solution. 

Furthermore, Thermic® can be 

combined with other functional 

finishes from Devan’s product 

range, enabling manufacturers to 

develop a truly unique product. 

Tones of Cool® - Feel the cool, 

experience the comfort 

Tones of Cool® is a cooling 

technology which stimulates the 

textile to dissipate redundant 

heat from the body and instantly 

reduces the body temperature. 

Besides providing an instant 

cool sensation, the technology 

creates a long-lasting thermal 

balance to keep the body in its 

comfort zone. 

The big advantage of Tones of 

Cool® is the instant cool sensation 

which causes the deep 

sleep phase to come faster. 

Furthermore, the instant cool 

sensation of the technology 

is an important feature for the 

in-store demonstrability towards 

consumers. Tones of Cool® is 

developed for mattress ticking 

and bed accessories such as 

pillow, toppers, comforters and 

protectors. 

to sleeping, the technology has 

been introduced to the bedding 

industry. 

Moov&Cool is topical treatment 

using a new Patent Pending 

Polymer Technology. A cool 

comfort feel is created through a 

combination of heat absorption 

capacity and moisture management. 

On mattress ticking and 

bedding accessories different 

levels of applied product lead 

to different levels of cooling 

sensation. 

On bedding accessories, the 

moisture management effect 

creates the cool comfort feeling. 

Even lower application levels 

show very good moisture management 

properties compared to 

the untreated fabric. The moisture 

management properties are 

wash durable up to 50 washes. 

Just like Thermic®, Moov&Cool 

can be combined with other 

functional finishes from Devan’s 

product range such as odour control, 

flame retardancy, fragrances, 

etc. 

All of the above described 

technologies are suitable for 

both mattress ticking and bed 

accessories and demonstrate a 

remarkable ‘cool-to-touch’ sensation, 

an important feature for 

end-consumers when it comes to 

making a purchase decision. 

Devan is a worldwide developer 

of speciality chemicals, 

headquartered in Belgium and 

with offices in the UK, Portugal 

and the USA. The company 

was founded in 1977 and has 

a strong focus on innovation, 

research & development and 

sustainability. Devan is a 

leading innovator in the fields 

of Protection (flame retardants), 

Performance (odour control, 

antimicrobials, stain release), 

Thermoregulation (PCM’s, 

cooling technologies), Health & 

Wellness (aromatherapy, skincare 

technologies and allergen 

control) and Fibres & Yarns (functional 

masterbatch additives). 

Moov&Cool - Keeps you cool and 

dry 

Moov&Cool, Devan’s latest 

innovation was originally 

designed for sportswear to cool 

down athletes when performing 

in hot environments. But, since 

the technology also provides 

advantages when it comes down

82 

Turkey hikes tariff 

rates on goods 

imported from US 

After Turkey decided to impose 

tariffs on nearly two dozen U.S. 

products as of June 21 in response 

to the additional steel 

and aluminum tariffs enacted by 

Washington, the country has also 

decided to increase the additional 

tariff rates on some of the 

goods imported from the United 

States. 

According to the decision of the 

Council of Ministers published in 

the Official Gazette, Ankara has 

decided to increase additional 

tariffs on a number of products, including 

cars, whiskey, dried nuts, 

rice and unprocessed tobacco. 

The additional tariffs rate on 

cars rose to 60 percent from 35 

percent, in alcoholic beverages 

like whiskey to 70 percent from 

40 percent, in rice to 25 percent 

from 20 percent, in dried nuts to 

10 percent from 5 percent, and 

in tobacco to 30 percent from 25 

percent. 

The quasi-boycott has been introduced 

to increase the effectiveness 

of the retaliation. The price 

of products will be increased due 

to additional tariffs. The European 

Union (EU) has also raised tariffs 

on whiskey, which is produced in 

the regions where President Trump 

won the most votes. As a result of 

the rise, the additional tariffs on 

alcoholic beverages will increase 

to $14.6 million from $8.3 million, 

the additional tariffs on automobiles 

will increase by $22 million, 

and the tariffs on dried nuts will 

double. 

According to documents filed with 

the World Trade Organization 

(WTO) in March, Turkey slapped


Hall: 10 Booth: A05

84 

$267 million in tariffs on $1.8 

billion worth of products that the 

U.S. exports to Turkey. 

The U.S. tariffs come to $267 

million on $1.1 billion in Turkish 

steel and aluminum shipments 

to the United States. Turkey 

responded by imposing tariffs on 

22 U.S. products, including coal, 

paper, walnuts, almonds, tobacco, 

unprocessed rice, whiskey, 

automobiles, cosmetics, machinery 

equipment and petrochemical 

products. 

“The total tariff burden being 

imposed by Turkey on the U.S. 

is commensurate with the additional 

costs Turkey faces due to 

the tariffs imposed on it by the 

U.S.,” Economy Minister Nihat 

Zeybekci said in a statement. 

“They are proportional, measured 

and designed to protect Turkey’s 

interests, while encouraging 

dialogue.” 

The U.S. tariffs have been imposed 

on Europe, Canada and 

Mexico, some of its biggest trade 

partners since June 1, after their 

temporary exemptions expired. 

The EU placed a 25 percent tariff 

on American products and Trump 

threatened to impose more tariffs 

on all European cars. Zeybekci, 

speaking about the investigation 

the U.S. has started into automobile 

imports to determine whether 

they “threaten to impair the 

national security” of the country, 

also said that Turkey would 

reciprocate if the U.S. takes any 

measure affecting Turkey. 

The United States is the fifth 

largest country where Turkey 

exports its goods, and trade volume 

amounted to $20.6 billion in 

2017, official data showed.

Istanbul | 26 - 29 Septembe r 

Hall: 10 Booth: E02

86 

CIFM / interzum guangzhou, 

the definitive one-stop 

platform for all vertical 

sectors 

CIFM / interzum guangzhou is a 

“one-stop” sourcing platform for 

the entire furniture production 

industry. 

As Asia’s leading event in the 

woodworking machinery, furniture 

production and interior design 

industry, CIFM / interzum guangzhou 

was first introduced into the 

China market in 2004. The event 

originated from interzum (Since 

1959) by Koelnmesse GmbH, one 

of the largest trade fair companies 

in the world with 90 years of 

professional experience. 

CIFM / interzum guangzhou 2018 

have won nods and warm welcome 

from exhibitors with its 

numberous and very high quality 

visitors. 

CIFM / interzumguangzhou is a 

“one-stop” sourcing platform for 

the entire furniture production

87 

industry. If you wish to sell into 

the Asian market, in particular 

China, or expand your business in 

the region, then this is the right 

platform for you! 

CIFM / interzum guangzhou 2019 

will once again be held in conjunction 

with the China International 

Furniture Fair (CIFF) from 28 to 31 

March 2019. 

CIFM / interzum guangzhou presents 

buyers from Asia and other 

regions with the latest products 

and technologies of woodworking 

machinery, furniture production 

and interior decor. 

As the source for all the latest 

products and technologies from 

the woodworking machinery, 

furniture production and interior 

design industry, and as a satellite 

Two shows, bigger 

related audience – 

CIFM / Interzum 

GZ and China 

International 

Furniture Fair 

(CIFF, Office 

Furniture) are 

organized under 

the same roof to 

enrich trips to 

Guangzhou with 

additional values.

88 

event of interzum in Cologne, Germany, 

interzum guangzhou was 

established for the distinct regional 

market needs in China and Asia, 

unveiling regional industry trends 

and showcasing top designs, 

products and technologies. 

The visitors will meet over 1,200 

suppliers from around 35 countries 

and regions, and over 67,000 professional 

buyers from more than 

140 countries and regions at this 

truly international show in Asia. 

To establish a more effective 

platform for exchange, interzum 

guangzhou holds on-site business 

match-making programs. Manufacturers 

and invited buyers can 

expect to meet face-to-face and 

gain in-depth understanding of 

each other’s offerings and requirements 

respectively. 

CIFM / interzum guangzhou 2019 

will continue to bring you informative 

forums during the exhibition. 

Expect well-known industry players 

at home and abroad to share 

with you the latest products and 

technologies as well as overseas 

experts to reveal the trending 

furniture materials.

90 

Innova Bedding offers natural 

and innovative products to the 

mattress sector 

While the world’s population 

is increasing so as the global 

economy which is dominated by 

fabricated products. Now it is hard 

to find natural goods and products 

obtained direct from natural sources. 

So much so that the natural 

and original forms, tastes and 

even appearances of good are 

about to be forgotten. 

They began first to pollute natural 

environment, our drinks, clothing 

and other consumptions that we 

need in our daily lives; then tried 

to change the genetics to produce 

more. Then began an era to 

sell us back what they fabricated 

under titles such as organic, bio 

and natural the same products at 

higher prices. With the decrease 

in production and the increase 

in demand, natural products are 

now becoming a luxury. We do not 

stand against this global economic 

trend, we will have to buy 

every product we find freely in the 

fields, in the forefront of the baskets, 

with a multiple prices higher 

that their original values. 

Innova Bedding has been established 

with this consciousness 

by the philosophy of presenting 

natural and innovative products to 

the bed sector with the purpose 

of starting to use the natural 

products that we have forgotten 

for many years in the mattresses 

again and continue to work in this 

direction. 

Once the wool and the cotton 

were the oldest materials used in 

traditional mattresses, today, we 

think that, even without looking 

at the content, it is natural if there 

is wool in a bed. The consumer 

industry offers nostalgic beds 

made of heavily with synthetic 

materials. However, it is possible 

to sleep safely, comfortably and 

effectively only in beds made of 

natural materials. 

Not many but maybe 50-100 

years ago, we were sleeping 

in natural beds before the mattresses 

that were launched to the 

markets made of synthetic sponges, 

fibers and similar materials. 

Depending on geographical and 

climatic characteristics, various 

natural mattresses were produced 

from different materials all over 

the world. We have been living in 

wool and cotton beds in Anatolia

91 

Below are some natural products 

and their benefits for better sleep 

and human health. 

Horsehair 

Scientific tests have proved that 

horsehair provides a perfect 

microclimate, making people 

comfortable on hot and cold days. 

The horsehair is very durable and 

has a fantastic ventilation ability. 

With their perforated fibers, they 

provide a comfortable microclimate 

by removing the moisture 

from the body. 

The world’s finest bed makers 

and upholsterers use horsehair 

to achieve higher durability and 

comfort. These producers use 

horsehair in their beds and sofas 

with traditional handmade production 

techniques. Horsehair is 

widely used by all special quality 

bed manufacturers in the UK and 

Europe. 

HAIRLOK 

Hairlok is an ideal product to 

reduce the tensions on the springs 

with its elasticity. This characteristic 

is used for comfort. High 

elasticity of hairlok and its 3 D 

power are major characteristics of 

the product. It is hundred percent 

natural. Open and durable structure 

offers a good microclimate for 

mattresses, furniture, car seats, 

filters, etc. Besides it absorbs 

sounds and vibrations and makes 

it’s a good candidate for thermal 

and acoustic insulation. Second to 

note for its durability, resistance 

and ventilation power these materials 

are regenerated continuously 

in the nature. Hairlok is ideal for 

preventing the danger of cut of 

foams and latex by pocket and 

bonnel springs. 

Hairlok is completely made of 

natural animal wools and natural 

latex. 

COCOLOK 

Fibers of coconuts are so hard 

and so elastic. Fiber could not be 

ripped of. Coir is a body friendly 

natural product. Fibers are obtained 

from the fruits of coconut 

shells. Coconut trees are found 

on over 10 million-hectare land in 

tropical regions. Only small part of 

the harvest is used in the industrial 

applications. Culinary industry, 

while in some parts of central 

and northern Europe and Latin 

America, people were sleeping on 

mattresses made of wool, horse 

hairs, Alpaca wool in South America, 

camel wool in middle eastern 

countries. 

Along with the growing demand 

after the industrial revolution, 

more easy-to-use, more aesthetic 

but natural deposits were developed. 

In this period, although 

there are those who continue to 

produce natural beds in various 

regions of the world, the numbers 

have not been so many. Recently, 

with the increasing natural organic 

and bio concepts, natural beds 

have come to the agenda again.

92 

the major consumer, focuses on 

the inner part of coconut. Fibers 

are byproducts. We use and revalued 

this valuable material for new 

benefits. 

The latex that we use on the 

coconut plates are hypoallergenic, 

anti-bacterial and resistant to 

sterns in essence. So, it is ideal 

for allergic people. Latex is a 

material that can be regenerated 

in the nature. Coir is adaptable 

material for human body. We 

feel good with coir just as we felt 

with wool and horsehair. We offer 

these products in two different 

forms as Cocolok and Coir. 

BAMBOO 

Bamboo is known as a hundred 

percent renewable natural materiel 

that is the most pristine natural 

source. The process of production 

and recycling is completely adoptable 

to the nature. It can be 100 

percent recycled biologically. 

The feel of freshness: Fibers of 

bamboo is similar to flowers of 

five faces having natural tubes 

and micro cracks. This makes it the 

best material for air ventilation 

and heat insulation. Besides, it 

soaks the humidity in the environment 

and on the human body and 

it transfers them out by producing 

a feel of coolness and freshness 

by providing a microclimate. 

Healthy and Hypo-allergic: Fibers 

of bamboo has small amount of 

honey that smooth the body and 

refreshes it. 

Natural anti-bacterial factor: Bamboo 

has a material called bamboo 

kun is both a deodorant and an 

anti-bacterial ingredient. It keeps 

its effects even after several 

washings. 

CAMEL HAIR 

Hairs obtained from camels are 

used as they are or may be 

colored afterwards. The fibers in 

inner parts are used for quality 

clothing, sportswear, quality wool 

and wool underwear. The outer 

tick fibers are used for thick and 

durable fabrics such as tents. The 

features of camel hair are being 

conductive, softness and durability. 

Fibers are about 2 microns in 

diameter and 2.5 to 12.5 centimeters 

long. The best wool is of the 

baby camels’, which is 16 to 18 

microns. It is the closest alternative 

to cashmere with its quality 

and thinness. Since they live in 

deserts, camel hair has a perfect 

thermo regulation ability, besides 

it absorbs more moisture and provides 

drier and healthier sleep. 

ALPACA 

Alpaca belongs to camels living 

in South America, on the Andes 

Mountains, and obtained by Campesinos, 

the native shepherds of 

camels. Alpacas eat grass delicately 

without harming their roots, 

and they leave no traces in the 

living environment. 

Alpaca wool is perfect for insulation, 

light, shiny, soft and has

93 

a silky touch. Since it contains a 

small amount of lanolin, it is hypoallergenic. 

ORGANIC COTTON 

History of cotton farming goes 

back to 7 thousands year ago. 

Cotton is the most pure form of 

cellulose and global annual farming 

is more than 100 million bales. 

As is the most natural fibers, 

cotton is best suitable for human 

skin. 

ORGANIC WOOL 

Cames from the Merinos sheep 

raised in Patagonia, the most 

beautiful and the most pristine 

lands in the world. Merinos’ wool 

is famous with its extraordinary 

characteristics and is soft, shiny 

and perfectly breathable. 

Merinos wool that comes from Argentina, 

is special since they are 

resistible to the huge temperature 

differences between day and 

night. The wools are processed 

and washed in Italy with a patented 

chlorine free process and under 

GOTS control. 

SILK 

It is produced by the silk worms 

raised by the humans since 

from the time immemorial. It has 

special fibers that make it valuable. 

The kind that is known by 

the people as wild silk is able to 

absorb 30 percent more humidity 

than others. It has more ability for 

ventilation and more resistant to 

moths and stomachs. 

LABYRINTH 

The joy of resting is in the sleep 

and each day begins as a holiday. 

Labyrinth mattresses are produced 

to make the people healthier and 

have felt themselves light following 

the night’s sleep. They have 3 

D reticular structure circled one to 

other and designed with Pe fiber 

polyethylene material. 

Labyrinth technology offers a 

lighter sleep by having high resonance, 

extra pressing power distributions 

technologies. With its 

3 D structure it provides extra air 

circulation between the mattress 

and the body, that reduces the 

sweating during sleep. Sweat are 

removed easily and proliferation 

of bacteria and fungi. 

FLAX 

Standards of GOTS, global organic 

textiles standards, is applied all 

over the world and audited by independent 

certifiers in the world. 

Flax fibers are one of the oldest 

fibers in the world. It is obtained 

from the skin of the flax plant or 

the inside of its barks. Fibers are 

soft, shiny and flexible. It has 

more strength than cotton fiber 

but is less flexible. Best quality 

flux is used for embroidery and 

bed linens. More rough kinds are 

used in the making o robes and 

yarns. Thanks to the new processing 

methods and rising price of 

cotton the interest shown to the 

flax in the industries has been on 

the increase.

94 

Latexco highlights its 

commitment to sustainability 

with FSC ® certification 

Alexander Bolliou, Latexco’s CEO, takes pride of their concern for 

environment and communities and stressed the benefits of FSC certified 

products’ for the bedding industry. 

Latexco, one of the world’s 

leading manufacturers of latex 

foam components, PU foams 

and pocket spring units for the 

bedding industry, is proud to 

have obtained certification by 

the Forest Stewardship Council® 

(FSC). The FSC certification is a 

major step forward in Latexco’s 

continual efforts to work sustainably. 

Teaming up with FSC 

Everything that Latexco does 

testifies to its environmental 

concern. More than minimizing 

the impact of its operations on 

the environment, Latexco wants 

to ensure the sustainability of 

its products too. That is why 

they are pleased to announce 

that as from today Latexco can 

offer a product range made with 

FSC certified latex.

95 

Responsible managed forests 

This certificate guarantees that 

products with the FSC logo are 

produced with materials from responsibly 

managed forests and 

provides transparency and material 

traceability throughout the 

supply chain. Latexco’s license 

number is FSC® C139425. 

Yearlong commitment to 

sustainability 

The FSC label is a next big step 

in Latexco’s sustainability efforts. 

Over the last 10 years 

Latexco has been raising awareness 

and investing in advanced 

technology, Latexco has cut 

energy consumption by almost 

50% over the past few years. 

The bedding expert also recycles 

100% of its wastewater and 

converts latex waste into new, 

useful products. 

“We are aware of the impact 

that our operations have on our 

planet and communities,” 

says Alexander Bolliou, Latexco’s 

CEO. “That is why, years ago, 

we resolutely chose to 

use and purchase sustainable 

goods and services. We try to 

minimize the negative 

environmental and social impact 

of our goods along the supply 

chain and want our 

operations to positively benefit 

both the planet and communities. 

We are determined to 

continue along this path. After 

all, sustainable business really 

is the only way forward for organizations 

today.”

96 

ISPA issues mattress 

industry trends, 

2018 forecast and 

wage reports 

The International Sleep Products 

Association (ISPA) has responded 

to important shifts in the 

bedding industry in preparing 

the 2017 Mattress Industry 

Trends Report released recently. 

In providing market intelligence 

essential to industry success, 

ISPA, the trade association for 

mattress manufacturers and suppliers, 

has published the latest 

and most comprehensive shipment 

and sales data available 

from any source on the industry’s 

current and historical trends. 

“ISPA has made several important 

improvements in the quality 

and depth of the data presented 

in this year’s report,” noted 

ISPA President Ryan Trainer. 

“First, ISPA has revised our 

sampling factors-as we do every 

five years-to reflect the current 

bedding market. The biggest 

change since our last update in 

2011 is the rapid growth in the 

boxed bedding segment. We 

are happy to announce that our 

2016 and 2017 U.S. shipments 

data includes this important and 

growing segment. 

“Second, we have added two 

new data points for motion 

foundations, capturing both the 

full size of the market for this 

product as well imports. Finally, 

mattress imports have grown 

swiftly. So that our readers can 

better analyze all segments that 

make up U.S. demand for bedding, 

this year’s report groups 

trends in U.S. mattress and 

stationary foundation shipments, 

motion foundation sales 

and imports together in the 

first three charts,” said Trainer. 

In addition to these improvements, 

the 2017 report features 

the most comprehensive sales 

information available that ISPA 

members, mattress retailers and 

those in the financial sector can 

use to track key business trends 

and make important commercial 

and investment decisions. 

The report includes a 20-year 

history of wholesale units, dollars 

and average unit prices for 

mattresses and foundations sold 

in the United States; regional 

sales data; mattress-size trends; 

price point data; household consumption 

information; contract 

sales; data on econometric factors 

that influence the industry; 

expert commentary on industry 

issues and a world mattress report 

prepared by the Italian firm 

of Centre for Industrial Studies 

(CSIL). “For over 100 years, ISPA 

has been both the source for industry 

statistics, but has worked

to improve the data we publish. 

We welcome your feedback on 

our improvements to this year’s 

report,” said Trainer. 

The Mattress Industry Trends 

Report is one part of ISPA’s 

statistical program. ISPA’s other 

statistical reports include: 

• Bedding Market Quarterly (a 

quarterly report on mattress and 

foundation shipments) 

• Mattress Industry Forecast (a 

semi-annual forecast of industry 

shipments) 

and 2019. For 2018, the forecast 

shows a 3.5% increase in 

the value of mattress shipments 

and a 1.5% increase in units 

shipped. For 2019, the forecast 

shows a 4.0% increase in the 

value of mattress shipments 

and a 2.0% increase in units 

shipped. 

The forecast also contains timely 

economic and market analyses 

provided by Jerry Epperson, of 

Mann, Armistead & Epperson, 

Ltd., and Ashraf Abdul Mohsen of 

Association Research Inc. 

ISPA updates and publishes the 

Mattress Industry Forecast two 

or three times a year, depending 

on market conditions. 

• By Geographic Area 

• By Number of Production Employees 

• By Net Corporate Sales (Management 

Compensation) 

• By Unionization (Union vs. 

Non-Union) 

97 

A continuing feature for this 

year’s report is a section providing 

cost of living index 

information for selected areas 

throughout the United States 

which allows participating ISPA 

members to accurately measure 

the cost of living in their particular 

area. 

All participating companies 

receive a national composite report 

and a customized individual 

Company Wage Report. 

1st forecast for 2018 

ISPA’s Statistics Committee has 

released the 1st forecast for the 

U.S. mattress market for 2018. 

This forecast covers calendar 

years 2018 through 2019. Unit 

and value growth is expected 

to continue over the forecast 

period. 

Based in part on an economic 

analysis prepared by the University 

of Michigan, and input from 

the Committee, the consensus 

view is that both the quantity 

and value of mattress shipments 

will continue to grow in 2018 

2017-2018 production wage & 

management compensation report 

This report is designed to allow 

ISPA members to easily compare 

their compensation levels and 

benefits policies with similar 

mattress manufacturers. This 

report offers the following breakdowns: 

• All Firms (National Composite)

98 

TDI, a problematic 

but inevitable need of 

foam manufacturers 

TDI (Toluene 

dilsocyanate) 

is the vital raw 

material for foam 

manufacturers 

but its availability 

and market and 

price stability are 

headaches for the 

manufacturers. 

Processing the 

item is also not 

healthy… 

TDI, or toluene diisocyanate, is a 

key raw material used to produce 

flexible polyurethane foam. The 

TDI is consumed in the chemical 

reaction that makes polyurethane 

and is not released from the finished 

polyurethane foam into the 

air to make any harm. 

Can TDI be handled and used 

safely? Yes, when used in accordance 

with current regulations 

and industry practices, TDI can be 

used safely. Engineering controls, 

personal protective equipment, 

and long-established workplace 

practices are widely used throughout 

the industry to protect workers 

and the public. 

Short supplies of this key ingredient 

in polyurethane foam seem 

not to be easing soon. There are 

few manufacturers in the world 

and when they have self-problems 

they are reflected to users. 

As the main input of foam, Toluene 

Diisocyanate (TDI) is one of 

the basic chemical ingredients 

used in the manufacture of flexible 

polyurethane foam. TDI is the 

abbreviation for Toluene DiIsocyanate, 

a mixture of toluene-2,4-di-

99 

isocyanate and toluene-2,6-diisocyanate 

with the 2,4- isomer 

being the major component. 

Polyurethane chemistry was first 

studied and produced in Germany 

in 1937. Polyurethanes represent 

a family of polymers rather than a 

single polymer. Urethane polymers 

can be produced with a wide 

variety of properties, ranging 

from soft flexible foams and fibers 

through to hard solids so that 

they can be used in a diverse 

range of applications. The TDI is 

consumed in the chemical reaction 

that makes polyurethane and is 

not released from the finished 

polyurethane foam into the air. 

Flexible polyurethane foam is used 

in mattresses, furniture cushions 

and other common household 

applications. 

The development of elastic polyurethanes 

began as a program 

to find a replacement for rubber 

during the days of World War II. 

In 1940, the first polyurethane 

elastomers were produced. These 

compounds gave millable gums 

that could be used as an adequate 

alternative to rubber. When 

scientists found that polyurethanes 

could be made into fine 

threads, they were combined 

with nylon to make more lightweight 

and stretchable garments. 

Polyurethanes are linear polymers 

that have a molecular backbone 

containing carbamate groups 

(-NHCO2). These groups, called 

urethane, are produced through 

a chemical reaction between a 

diisocyanate and a polyol. Polyurethanes 

are some of the most 

versatile polymers. Despite these 

differing properties, the polymers 

have one common characteristic in 

that they all incorporate the urethane 

group (-NH-CO-O-) into their 

structure. However, the polymers 

differ from simple thermoplastic 

polymers, such as the polyolefins, 

in that they are not sold as readymade 

polymers but as precursors 

that are mixed at the conversion 

stage. These precursors are commonly 

polyols (compounds containing 

multiple -OH groups) and 

diisocyanates (compounds containing 

-NCO groups). The primary 

reaction during the production of 

polyurethanes is of the form: -NCO 

+ HO- → -NH-CO-O- 

Polyurethane flexible foams can 

be used for a diverse range of 

applications including sofa, mat-

100 

tresses, furniture cushions, carpet 

underlay, padding for textile and 

footwear, and automotive seats. 

TDI is also used in the production 

of coatings, sealants and elastomers. 

Toluene Diisocyanate TDI 80-20 

is an aromatic isocyanate that is 

produced for reaction with polyols 

to form polyurethanes. It is widely 

used in the production of polyester-based 

soft foam, high-bearing 

sponges, semi-rigid ester foam, 

and paint. 

What does the presence of TDI 

antibodies mean? 

The presence of TDI antibodies 

does not necessarily indicate an 

adverse health effect, nor does it 

necessarily mean you have been 

exposed to TDI. The test for TDI 

antibodies is neither simple nor 

completely accurate. Some individuals 

test positive regardless of 

whether they have been exposed 

to TDI or not. Additional testing 

would be required to determine if 

the positive reading was actually 

the result of TDI exposure. 

Environmental implications 

TDI is a confirmed carcinogen. Its 

emission is closely monitored by 

the authorities. TDI tape detectors 

are installed around the factories 

it is produced. To minimize the 

emission of TDI, most of the process 

equipment is shielded. 

Like many reactive chemicals, “TDI 

products” can create hazards if 

handled carelessly. When used 

in accordance with current regula-

101 

tions and industry practices, TDI 

can be used safely. Engineering 

controls, personal protective 

equipment, and long-established 

workplace practices are widely 

used throughout the industry to 

protect workers and the public. 

Traditionally CFC (chlorinated fluorocarbons) 

based solvents were 

used as blowing agents. In the 

late 80’s, the ozone layer depletion 

effect of CFC based chemical 

was established. The use of CFC 

was gradually banned. Methylene 

chloride, which is inert to ozone, is 

used as a substitute for CFC. 

Lots of “offcuts” are generated in 

the foam cutting process. They are 

collected and sent to the associated 

recycle plant to produce a 

lower grade flexible foam. This 

type of foam is widely used in the 

production of carpet backings and 

packing materials. By this way the 

net amount of waste produced in 

the process can be minimized. 

TDI should only be handled by 

knowledgeable, well-trained 

personnel who thoroughly understand 

the hazards associated with 

the transportation, storage, and 

use of the chemical. Contaminated 

clothing must be washed before 

reuse. Severely contaminated 

clothing should be discarded. 

Contaminated footwear or leather 

gloves should never be reused. 

Eating and drinking should not be 

allowed where TDI is handled or 

stored. 

POLYOL in polymer chemistry used 

in mattresses 

The other reacting species required 

to produce polyurethanes 

are compounds that contain 

multiple alcohol groups (OH), 

called polyols. In polymer chemistry, 

polyols are compounds with 

multiple hydroxyl functional groups 

available for organic reactions. A 

molecule with two hydroxyl groups 

is a diol, one with three is a triol,

102 

one with four is a tetrol and so on. 

The polyols used in polyurethane 

production are predominantly 

hydroxy- polyethers, rather than 

hydroxy-polyesters. They are produced 

by alkoxylation. Depending 

on the degree of cross-linking 

required, the starting alcohols 

used for hydroxy-polyethers may 

be divalent glycols (ethylene, 

propylene and other glycols) or 

multivalent alcohols (e.g. glycerol, 

sucrose). The epoxides used are 

generally propylene oxide and 

ethylene oxide. 

Monomeric polyols such as glycerin, 

pentaerythritol, ethylene 

glycol and sucrose often serve as 

the starting point for polymeric 

polyols. These materials are often 

referred to as the “initiators” and 

reacted with propylene oxide 

or ethylene oxide to produce 

polymeric polyols. However, they 

should not be confused with 

free radical “initiators” used to 

promote other polymerization reactions. 

The functional group used 

as the starting point for a polymeric 

polyol need not be a hydroxyl 

group; there are a number of 

important polyols which are built 

up from amines. A primary amino 

group (-NH2) often functions as 

the starting point for two polymeric 

chains, especially in the case of 

polyether polyols.

103 

Polymeric polyols are generally 

used to produce other polymers. 

They are reacted with isocyanates 

to make polyurethanes used to 

make mattresses, foam insulation 

for appliances (refrigerators and 

freezers), home and automotive 

seats, elastomeric shoe soles, 

fibers (e.g. Spandex), and adhesives. 

Polymeric polyols are usually polyethers 

or polyesters. Polyether 

polyols are made by reacting 

epoxides like ethylene oxide or 

propylene oxide with the multifunctional 

initiator in the presence 

of a catalyst, often a strong base 

such as potassium hydroxide or 

a double metal cyanide catalyst 

such as zinc hexacyanocobaltate-t-butanol 

complex. Common 

polyether diols are polyethylene 

glycol, polypropylene glycol, and 

poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol. 

The examples shown below are 

fairly low molecular weight triols 

based on glycerin (a triol) being 

reacted with propylene oxide, 

ethylene oxide or a combination 

of the two. In reality, the chains 

would not be of equal length in 

any one molecule and there would 

be a distribution of molecular 

weight polyols within the material. 

Polyether polyols account for 

about 90% of the polymeric polyols 

used industrially; the balance 

is polyester polyols. 

As is the case for all foam manufacturers 

at almost all over the 

world Turkish foam manufacturers 

have also been suffering some 

supply problems of this main input 

of their manufacturing process. 

Price hikes are also a big problem 

for the industry. Depending on 

this material for foam production 

the industry is almost in a monopoly 

of a main supplier. 

When it suffers from any cause 

the entire industry suffers because 

the producer naturally reflects the 

loss on prices, delivery and other 

factors. 

Another class of polymeric polyols 

is the polyesters. Polyesters are 

formed by condensation or stepgrowth 

polymerization of diols 

and dicarboxylic acids (or their 

derivatives), for example diethylene 

glycol reacting with phthalic 

acid. Alternatively, the hydroxyl 

group and the carboxylic acid (or 

their derivatives) may be within 

the same molecule, as in the case 

of caprolactone. The example 

below is an idealized structure 

that could be obtained by reacting 

pentaerythritol (a tetrol) with 

gamma-butyrolactone.

106 

Young companies tap into global 

market potential at interzum 2019 

thanks to federal sponsorship 

At interzum 2019, the BMWi will again be supporting young 

companies at the leading international fair for the furniture and 

interior construction industries’ supplying sections. On offer is 

sponsorship for a presence at a pavilion where new participants 

in the market can showcase their innovative products and 

solutions to an international audience. 

As the leading international fair 

for suppliers to the furniture industry, 

interzum is an ideal platform 

for young companies to present 

their creative, new developments 

in product and process technology. 

The BMWi shares this view 

and has included the 2019 edition 

of the event in the portfolio of 

trade fairs worthy of support from 

the Ministry this year. Alongside 

certification by the FKM (the 

Society for the Voluntary Control of 

Trade Fairs and Exhibitions), the 

BMWi’s selection criteria are internationality 

of both the presentation 

and of the visitor profile.

107 

The BMWi is pursuing a clearly 

defined goal with the programme: 

to strengthen Germany’s standing 

as a centre of innovation and 

promote the export of innovative 

products and processes. To 

this end, young companies are 

being helped to bring their ideas 

to market. In concrete terms, 

this means that if the company 

meets the BMWi’s prerequisites, 

the Ministry will pay up to 60 

per cent of the stand costs – an 

outstanding opportunity for 

businesses established for less 

than 10 years to present their 

work in an international setting. 

“We are delighted that interzum 

2019 is again part of the portfolio 

of trade fairs supported by 

BMWi” said Matthias Pollmann, 

Vice President Trade Fair Management. 

It is here, in Cologne, that 

the most important business is 

conducted and momentum for the 

global furniture supply industry is 

created. Decision makers, opinion 

leaders and disseminators from all 

over the world keep up with the 

innovations in the industry, seek 

out and establish new contacts – 

those who want to do truly good 

business in 2019 should not pass 

up this opportunity. “And young 

companies likewise have an 

opportunity to benefit”, the Vice 

President continued. 

The application form for sponsorship 

is available on both the 

interzum homepage at www.interzum.de 

or on the Federal Office 

for Economics and Export Control 

(BAFA) website at www.bafa.de. 

Matthias Pollmann, 

Vice President Trade Fair Management

108 

Not Flat develops 

world’s first curved 

mattress 

The new Not Flat mattress is 

engineered to conform to the 

shape of average size and 

larger Americans by mating two 

body shape curve interior layers 

HENDERSONVILLE, TENN. (PRWEB) 

Not Flat, Inc. releases the world’s 

only foam mattress made using 

curved interior layers to fit the 

shape of a sleeper’s body. 

Developed over a 15 year effort, 

the new mattress technology 

is a major improvement over 

existing mattresses that use flat 

layer interior construction. Engineered 

primarily to benefit average 

size and larger sleepers, 

the curved construction creates 

notably increased comfort and 

support for this curvier, heavier 

half of Americans. 

“The Not Flat mattress technology 

changes everything for 

people who are average size or 

larger,” says Scot Childers, the 

company’s CEO. “With a decade 

and a half of technology and

109 

materials development getting 

to this point, today’s product 

launch finally brings a next level 

solution to the sleep problems 

faced by the heavier half of 

Americans.” 

The new mattress is available 

immediately from the company’s 

web store at http://www.notflat. 

com in Twin XL, Queen, and King 

sizes, all of which are 12-inches 

thick. Each size is made in three 

ranges of interior curvature to 

best match a user’s height, 

weight, and body shape. Shoppers 

enter this information on 

the web site to determine the 

best range of Not Flat mattress 

to order. The Not Flat mattress 

has a 10-year warranty and is 

sold with a 30/300 day satisfaction 

guarantee. Users agree 

to sleep on the mattress for 30 

nights, and can then return the 

product for a full refund if they 

decide not to keep it. The Twin 

XL, Queen, and King mattresses 

are priced at $999, $1,499, 

and $1,699, respectively, which 

includes free FedEx Ground 

delivery.

112 

Adhoc: Lenzing and Duratex 

plan to build 450,000 t dissolving 

wood pulp plant in Brazil 

Final investment decision subject to outcome of basic 

engineering expected in 2019 

Lenzing – Lenzing Group, world 

market leader in specialty cellulosic 

fibers and Duratex, the 

largest producer of industrialized 

wood panels of the Southern 

Hemisphere, announce that they 

agreed on the terms and conditions 

to form a joint venture to 

investigate building the largest 

single line dissolving wood pulp 

(DWP) plant in the state of Minas 

Gerais, close to Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

This decision supports the backward 

integration and the growth 

in specialty fibers, defined in 

Lenzing’s corporate strategy sCore 

TEN. 

The joint venture will investigate 

the construction of a 450,000 

t DWP plant, which is expected 

to become the largest and most

113 

Management Board - Lenzing Group Heiko Arnold, CTO Robert van de Kerkhof, CCO 

Stefan Doboczky, CEO Thomas Obendrauf, CFO 

competitive single line DWP plant 

in the world. Dissolving wood pulp 

is the key raw material for the 

production of Lenzing’s bio-based 

fibers. For the future operation, 

the two companies have secured 

a plantation of 43,000 hectares 

that will provide the FSC® certified 

biomass. The plantation is fully 

in line with Lenzing’s wood and 

pulp sourcing policy. The basic 

engineering and the application 

for required permits and merger 

clearances will now be started. 

Lenzing will hold 51 percent of the 

joint venture which will operate 

the mill, while Duratex’s share will 

be 49 percent. The estimated cash 

investment by the joint venture 

for the construction of the DWP 

mill is expected to be somewhat 

above USD 1 bn (based on 

current FX rates, net of generic 

tax refunds and the outcome of 

the basic engineering study). The 

joint venture will supply the entire 

volume of dissolving wood pulp to 

the Lenzing Group. This step is an 

essential milestone in the group’s 

ambition to grow its specialty 

fibers business. 

“Specialty cellulosic fibers are 

an important contribution to 

make the global textile industry 

more sustainable. In line with 

our corporate strategy sCore 

TEN we are committed to strong 

organic growth in this field. We 

are pleased that with Duratex, a 

recognized leader in sustainable 

forestry management, we have a 

strong partner in this joint venture. 

Together we will create a very 

sustainable and competitive raw 

material base for Lenzing’s global 

expansion plans”, says Stefan 

Doboczky, Chief Executive Officer 

of Lenzing Group. 

“Projects of this nature are the 

result of our strategic plan and of 

our team’s effort towards drawing 

Duratex’s future. The Company is 

known for its financial solidity, 

high quality, innovation and sustainability; 

the results of a history 

spanning over six decades. The 

partnership with Lenzing for the 

construction of the largest single 

line dissolving wood pulp plant in 

the world is an honor for Duratex. 

Working with Lenzing, a global 

benchmark in technology, high 

quality and corporate governance 

makes us very proud. We are sure 

that this joint venture is going to 

be successful”, affirms Duratex’s 

Chief Executive Officer Antonio 

Joaquim de Oliveira. 

The final investment decision to 

build the dissolving wood pulp 

plant is subject to the outcome of 

the basic engineering studies and 

the approval by the respective 

supervisory boards.

114 

Mattress Industry 

Terms 

Source: ISPA, International 

Sleep Products Association 

Adjustable base: An electro-mechanical 

or manual bed frame construction 

that permits the raising 

and lowering of the head and/or 

foot portions of the mattress. 

Airbed: An air mattress with a core 

that is an air-filled vinyl bladder. 

Better airbeds are multichambered, 

covered with cushioning, upholstered 

with ticking and sold with a 

foundation. 

Anti-microbial fiber and foam: 

Treatment that inhibits the growth 

of microbial contaminates. 

Backing: Any fabric or sheeting material 

that is used during quilting to 

anchor the stitches. 

Batting: See Cotton Felt. 

Bedding: Commonly used as a 

generic term for a mattress and 

foundation set, but may also apply 

to accessory items such as blankets, 

sheets, pillows, comforters, 

mattress pads, etc. 

Bedding ensemble: A complete 

sleep support system, consisting of 

a metal frame or a bed, a foundation 

and a mattress set. 

Bed frame: A metal or wood 

frame with legs used to support a 

mattress and foundation. Conventional 

height is 7-1/4 inches and 

the low-profile version is 5-3/4 

inches when measured from the 

floor to the bottom of the foundation. 

Generally a headboard 

can be attached. Metal frames 

are sometimes known as a “Hollywood” 

frame. 

Bedsprings: Open-spring or wire 

fabric box springs without uphol-

115 

stery materials or cover. 

Binding tape: Fabric tape used 

to bind and close the mattress or 

foundation where the vertical and 

horizontal panels of outer ticking 

come together, providing the edge 

trimming for the mattress or foundation. 

See Tape and Tape Edge. 

Body impressions: Indentations occurring 

on the surface of a mattress 

over time, due to the compression 

of materials by the human body. 

Bonnell: A knotted, round-top, 

hourglass-shaped steel wire coil. 

When laced together with crosswire 

helicals, these coils form the 

simplest innerspring unit, also 

referred to as a Bonnell. 

Border: The vertical side or edge 

of a mattress or foundation. Prebuilt 

borders are constructed by 

stitching together the ticking, foam 

or other filling materials and a 

backing material. Commonly quilted 

or vertical-stitched. 

Border rod: A heavy gauge wire 

rod attached to the perimeter of 

the innerspring unit (top and bottom) 

by means of a helical wire or 

metal clips. 

Boric acid: A chemical additive 

applied during the garnetting of 

cotton and/or other fibers to provide 

cigarette ignition resistance 

characteristics. 

Box spring: Also referred to as 

a “foundation.” A base for an 

innerspring mattress, consisting 

of coils or other forms of springs 

mounted on a wood or metal frame 

and secured with a wire-interlaced 

or welded-wire grid, topped with 

upholstery and insulating materials 

(felt, urethane or other resilient 

materials), and covered on the 

top and sides with ticking and on 

the bottom with a dust cover. It 

is an important part of a bed set 

since it serves as a shock absorber, 

distributes weight, and supports 

and interacts with the innerspring 

mattress to properly support the 

body. 

Box-top mattress: A mattress 

featuring a raised surface finishing 

treatment where a separate, sided 

and rectangular encasement of 

soft materials–usually with a tape 

edge–is attached via a welt to the 

entire surface on top of existing 

cover and upholstery. 

Bunk bed: A two-tiered wood or 

metal frame designed to accommodate 

two mattresses, typically 

twin-size, one above the other. 

Some models allow the upper and 

lower units to be detached and 

used as separate beds. 

Bunkie: A mattress, usually twinsize, 

and platform base used on 

bunk beds. 

Cal 117: Refers to California Technical 

Bulletin 117, which specifies a 

vertical flame testing procedure for 

bedding and furniture component 

materials. Foam referred to as “Cal 

117 foam” has passed this test. 

Carbon: The principal hardening 

element in steel. The higher the 

carbon content, the harder the metal 

and the more temper it will take, 

thus giving longer “memory.” 

Cellulose acetate pad: Woody fiber 

compacted into a pad and used 

as an insulator. May be glued or

116 

sandwiched between plastic netting 

to help hold it together. 

Coil count: The number of coils in 

an innerspring unit. Though the 

count can effect weight distribution, 

it is not the determining factor 

for firmness. The count is usually 

based on the number of coils in a 

full-size unit. 

Coils: The individual wire springs 

that form an innerspring unit. See 

Hourglass, Continuous and Offset 

Coils. 

Coir pad: An insulator pad made 

from coconut husk fiber, garnetted, 

needled, bonded and pre-cut to 

size. 

Comfort system: Refers to the 

upholstery layers of the mattress, 

generally consisting of a combination 

of materials (cover, cushioning, 

topper pad, insulators, etc.). 

Conjugate polyester fiber: Spirally 

crimped fiber that is crimped chemically 

rather than thermally. Is very 

durable and resilient. 

Continuous coils: An innerspring 

configuration in which the rows of 

coils are formed from a single piece 

of wire. 

Conventional bedding products: 

Mattresses and foundations in the 

conventional adult sizes of twin, 

twin extra long, full, full extra long, 

queen and king. 

Convertible sofa: A sofa with a 

bed folded beneath the seating 

surface, generally consisting of a 

mattress resting on a metal mechanism. 

Also called “sleep sofa” or 

“sofa sleeper.” 

Convoluted foam: Better known as 

“egg-crate” foam that is specially 

cut to produce hills and valleys, 

giving gentle softness and more 

surface comfort. Foam surface 

treatment is available in multiple 

patterns. 

Cornell test: Devised by Cornell 

University School of Hotel/Motel 

Administration. Designed to test 

cosmetic performance of bedding 

sets, such as body impression or 

support firmness. Two round surfaces 

are pounded into the finished 

product 100,000 times and checked 

periodically for failure or changes. 

Corner guards: Molded plastic or 

metal, (sometimes upholstered) fittings 

secured to foundation corners 

to prevent material damage from 

the bed frame. 

Cotton felt: Produced by a garnett 

machine which combs cotton and 

other fiber binders into a continuous 

web or layer. Several such 

layers combined are called cotton 

“batt”. For compressed cotton felt, 

thick layers of garnetted cotton 

fiber are mechanically compressed 

to reduce body impressions. 

Cotton linters: The short fibers 

adhering to the seed after the long 

staple fiber has been removed in 

the ginning process. Used in making 

cotton felt. 

Cotton pickers: “Fall out” from ginning 

or garnetting. These shorter 

staple cotton fibers are blended 

with linters to produce cotton felt. 

Crown: A convex surface on a mattress. 

Mattresses with a half-inch 

crown are a half-inch thicker at the 

center than at the edges. 

Cushioning: Materials that lie 

above the insulator and below the 

fabric covering in an innerspring 

mattress. These materials are typically 

combinations of polyurethane 

foam, cotton felt, and/or mademade 

fibers. 

Damask: Woven ticking produced 

on a loom that has yarns running 

at 90-degree angles to each other, 

the warp and the weft. The damask 

design is woven into the fabric 

rather than printed on the surface. 

Density: A measure of weight per 

cubic volume, usually expressed 

in pounds per cubic foot. Often 

referred to when discussing foam. 

Double tempering: Heating of wire 

components, usually in an oven, after 

they have been given shape or 

form and have been electronically 

stress-relieved. Refers to tempering 

coils as well as border rods and 

helicals in a complete spring unit. 

Dual-purpose: A broad term used 

to include all sleep pieces, which 

can be converted to other uses, 

including: convertible sofas, 

high-risers, daybeds, futons, etc. 

See Convertible Sofa. 

Dust cover: A woven or non-woven 

fabric attached to the underside of 

a foundation to prevent the collection 

of dust inside. May also be 

known as “sheeting” or “cambric.” 

Edge guard: Generally an extra 

component added to the edge of a 

mattress and/or box spring to give 

support on the sides. 

Engineered edge support: A special 

design where the coils on the 

outer edge of an innerspring unit 

are actually positioned under the 

border rod. Most units have the 

coils recessed from the edge, which 

can contribute to a “roll out of bed” 

feeling. 

Euro-top mattress: A mattress featuring 

a raised, squared-off surface 

finishing treatment filled with soft 

comfort layers and attached to the 

mattress upholstery at the tapeedge. 

Fabric cover: Cloth or textile material 

woven, knitted or felted of 

any fiber or mixture of fibers. Often 

referred to as “ticking” or mattress 

fabric.

117 

Fales pad: Compressed cotton felt 

that is stitched together to better 

retain compression. 

Fiber pad: Usually refers to manmade 

or natural fibers (wool, silk, 

etc.) that are garnetted, needled, 

carded and/or bonded together. 

Often used in quilting panels for 

mattress tops. 

Filler cloth: Refers to a plain fabric 

used on the top of a foundation 

instead of ticking. Commonly offers 

non-skid characteristics. 

Flanging: The process whereby a 

strip of fabric is sewn to the edge 

of the mattress cover and, in the 

assembly process, secured to the 

perimeter of the innerspring unit to 

prevent the cover and filling materials 

from shifting. 

Foam foundation: Consists of a 

built-up wood slat frame covered 

with a sheet of cardboard or similar 

material, topped with at least 2” of 

foam and covered with ticking. 

Foundation: Any base or support 

for a mattress, sometimes used as 

a generic term for box spring. A 

foundation may be made entirely 

of wood or a combination of wood 

and steel or steel springs. See Box 

Spring and Foam Foundation. 

Futon: A Japanese-style mattress 

construction, consisting of a cover 

and filling material, which is typically 

cotton but can be innerspring 

and/or foam. 

Garnetting: A mechanical process 

whereby short cotton fibers and/ 

or other fibers are combed into a 

specific orientation and formed into 

a thin web, which are then layered 

to create a batting used as an upholstery 

material. See Cotton Felt. 

Gauge, coil: A measurement of the 

diameter of the steel wire used in 

coil construction. Wire gauge for 

innerspring coils range from 12.5 

to 17. The higher the gauge, the 

thinner the wire. 

Gel foam: Generally a visco-elastic 

foam that is infused with beads or 

swirls of gel during the foam pouring 

process. 

Hair pads: Horse tail or mane, cattle 

tail or hog hair, which has been 

processed and curled for use as a 

mattress or upholstery filler. 

Hammocking: An undesirable characteristic 

sometimes associated 

with worn out or low-end mattresses. 

When weight is placed in the 

center, the corners tend to rise and 

bow in response to deep compression 

much like a hammock. Terms 

“dish” and “sagging” also used to 

describe this phenomenon. 

Hand: Term used to describe the 

touch or feel of fabrics (e.g., soft, 

smooth, etc.). 

Hand-tied: The process of 

hand-lacing the coils in a box 

spring together with twine. Seldom 

used, this process has been 

replaced with modern technology 

and new designs.

118 

Headboard: An upright unit of 

wood, metal, plastic, or upholstered 

material, to be attached at 

the head of a bed, usually with the 

bed frame. 

Helical: A tightly-coiled, elongated 

wire used in the manufacture of 

innerspring units to join individual 

coils to each other and to the 

border rod. 

High-contour mattress: Measures 

9” – 13” thick. A mattress under 9” 

thick is considered “standard”; over 

13” thick is considered “custom.” 

High riser: Usually a frame or sofa 

with two mattresses of equal size 

without a backrest. The frame 

slides out with the lower bed and 

rises to form a full bed or two 

single beds. 

Hog ring: Metal ring used to 

secure the insulator and flange material 

to the innerspring unit. Takes 

its name from its similarity to the 

metal ring in a hog’s nose. 

Hourglass coils: Coils that taper 

inward from top to middle and outward 

from middle to bottom, thus 

resembling an hourglass in shape. 

Employed in bonnell and offset coil 

designs. 

Hybrid: Commonly used industry 

term for a mattress that combines 

an innerspring unit with specialty 

foams such as visco-elastic or latex. 

Ideal weight distribution: Equalization 

of support in such a way 

as to eliminate pressure points 

that cause discomfort resulting in 

tossing and turning. Best achieved 

with coil on coil construction and 

properly designed insulation and 

cushioning material. 

Innerspring unit construction (for 

mattresses): The spring construction 

used as the main support system 

inside an innerspring mattress. 

Some common types are: pocketed 

(see Marshall) and all metal (i.e., 

bonnell, offset and continuous 

wire). 

Insulator: Any material used on top 

and bottom of an innerspring unit 

to prevent the upholstery layers 

from cupping down into the coils. 

Some common types are: a fiber 

pad, non-woven fabric, netting, 

wire mesh or foam pad. 

Knit: A basic polyester or nylon 

ticking fabric produced through a 

knitting process (tricot) rather than 

weaving. Designs are printed onto 

the surface. 

Lacing wire: Finer gauges of wire 

used to form helicals. 

Latex: A flexible foam created from 

a water dispersion of rubber, either 

from the rubber tree (natural latex) 

or a man-made, petroleum-based 

product (synthetic latex). Most 

latex used in mattresses today is a 

combination of natural and synthetic 

latex rubber. 

LFK: An unknotted offset coil with a 

cylindrical or columnar shape. 

Link fabric: A wire foundation for 

bedsprings, cots, studio couches, 

sofabed mechanisms and gliders. 

So called because the fabric is a 

succession of metal links. 

Marshall: A type of innerspring 

construction in which thin gauge, 

barrel-shaped, knotless coils are 

encased in fabric pockets. Also 

known as “pocketed coils.” 

Mattress: A manufactured product 

to sleep on, consisting of various 

resilient materials covered with an 

outer ticking. Comes from the Arabic 

term “matrah” meaning to throw

119 

down. Early Arabs traveled with 

their bedding and threw it down on 

the ground or floor at night. 

Memory: The ability of tempered 

steel, foam or some fabrics to 

return to their original state after 

being compressed or stretched. 

Mesh: Plastic netting generally 

stretched across the face of an 

innerspring unit as an insulator. 

Microcoils: A low-profile metal 

spring unit, typically with individually 

wrapped coils, used in the top 

comfort layers of a mattress. 

Molded foam core (for mattresses): 

A core made of flexible foam 

is made in molds and used as the 

main support system in a foam 

mattress. 

Mounting: Attachment of a box 

spring unit to a wood or metal 

frame. 

Needlepunched fabric: A manufacturing 

process for which high 

strength, lightweight, non-woven 

construction fabrics are produced. 

These fabrics are produced by 

garnetting fibers, entangling or 

inner-locking these fibers together 

by a series of needles and then 

mechanically bonding or fusing 

them together via heat to produce 

a fabric without glue or binders. 

Needlepunched pad: A manufacturing 

process used to produce 

insulator pads and non-woven 

fabrics whereby loose, garnetted 

fibers are inner-locked by a series 

of “needles.” This process usually 

requires additional bonding to 

keep the fibers in place. 

Offset coils: An hourglass type coil 

on which portions of the top and 

bottom convolutions have been 

flattened. In assembling the innerspring 

unit, these flat segments 

of wire are hinged together with 

helicals. 

Orthopedic: Generalized term to 

imply set gives proper postural 

alignment and support. Should not 

necessarily mean hard or board 

feeling. Proper support with a 

degree of comfort to contour to the 

body is best. 

Panel: The part of the ticking that 

constitutes the top sleep surface of 

a mattress, as well as the bottom 

of a mattress on a two-sided bed. 

Pedestal-type metal or wood bed 

frame: A low-profile bed frame 

with a solid pedestal base underneath 

each side of the frame, 

instead of legs. 

Pillow-top mattress: A mattress 

featuring a surface finishing treatment 

where a separate encasement 

of soft materials is attached 

to the entire surface on top of 

existing cover and upholstery. 

Plus 4 edge: Two border rods 

engineered with one inside of the 

other and designed so that they 

make the edge 4% firmer than 

the balance of the sleep surface 

to eliminate that “roll out of bed” 

feeling and edge sag.

120 

Pocketed coil: See Marshall. 

Polyurethane foam: See Urethane 

Foam. 

Print: A ticking fabric, which can be 

a woven or non-woven sheeting, 

commonly of synthetic fiber composition, 

on which a design has been 

printed. 

Quilting: The surface treatment in 

which the cover, foam and/or other 

fibers are sewn together, using 

various stitch patterns on quilting 

machinery, including scroll or 

panel quilters (single needle) and 

multi-needle quilters. 

Resilience: Surface liveliness and 

spring-back ability. 

Rollator test: An approximately 

230 lb., six-sided roller is passed 

across a sleep set to determine the 

structural strengths or weaknesses 

of the set and components (i.e., 

foam or quilt failure, breaking of 

helicals and coils). The industry 

standard to duplicate the life of a 

mattress is 100,000 passes. 

Rollaway bed/cot: A portable metal 

bed/cot with a frame that folds 

in half with the mattress when not 

in use so it can be rolled away into 

a closet (or elsewhere) for compact 

storage. 

Sheeting: a woven or non-woven 

fabric other than knits that have a 

degree of sizing and are somewhat 

stiff. 

Side rail: A metal or wood rail, 

which hooks into the outside edges 

of a headboard and footboard 

to provide the support base for a 

foundation and mattress. 

Sisal: A product of the henequen 

plant formed into a pad and used 

as an insulator. Named after the. 

small port of Sisal in Yucatan. 

Slats: Narrow strips of wood used 

to support the coils in the box 

spring frame. Also used in a bedstead 

to support the box spring. 

Sleep Products Safety Council 

hangtag: Used voluntarily by 

bedding producers since 1987, the 

safety hangtag program provides 

critical consumer information about 

the safe use of sleep products. 

Manufacturers certify that they use 

the tag only on mattresses that 

meet the Federal Standard for the 

Flammability of Mattresses and 

Mattress Pads.The tag is available 

in a hangtag or permanent label. 

Smooth top: A plain surfaced 

mattress, neither tufted nor quilted. 

Also called button-free. 

Spring wire: Wire made from high 

carbon steel, characterized by 

toughness, strength and ductility. 

Typically furnished in 8 to 18 gauge 

for bedding industry applications. 

Steel unit construction (for box 

springs): The spring construction 

used as the main support system 

inside a box spring. 

Stitch bonded pad: See Fales Pad. 

Straightline deflection: Pertains to 

mattress innerspring construction 

and refers to the constant ratio 

between stress and strain, weight 

and movement. The benefit is 

that constant support is provided 

regardless of the weight applied. 

No bottoming out of soft spots. 

Basically it means that two people 

of unequal weight, sleeping on the 

same mattress, receive the same 

support. 

Stretch knit: A heavy-weight mattress 

ticking consisting of a top layer, 

bottom layer and filling material 

knitted together and intermittently 

stitched to keep the filling yarns 

stable. 

Super zoned box spring frame: A 

support, generally wood, attached 

longitudinally to the underside of 

a foundation for added support 

where the main body weight rests. 

Another important structural point 

is that the vertical slats are turned 

on edge for added strength. This 

is extremely important on queen 

sizes and for 4-poster beds where 

typically no center support is 

provided. Also known as a “center 

rail.” 

Tape: Fabric material that closes 

over the rough-sewn edge where 

the top and bottom panels are 

joined to the border of a mattress 

or box spring. 

Tape edge: A specified type of 

sewing machine designed to stitch 

binding tape around the top and 

bottom edges of the mattress, 

joining the panels with the border 

and closing the mattress. 

Tempering: Heat treatment of 

wire to reduce brittleness. Accomplished 

by electric charge, 

oven heat or both. Also known as 

“stress relieved”. 

Ticking: Fabrics for covering mattresses 

and foundations. Common

types include: stretch knits, woven 

damasks, knits and nonwovens. 

Torsion bars: A type of spring system 

used in box springs characterized 

by square-shaped wire forms. 

Trundle bed: A low bed that is 

rolled under a larger bed. In 

some constructions, the lower bed 

springs up to form a full bed or two 

single beds as in a high riser. 

Tufting: Consists of passing twine, 

cords or tape vertically through 

the mattress from top to bottom, 

knotting and securing the loops 

thus formed with tufts, buttons, or 

lacing. The purpose is to hold the 

mattress filling in place. 

Uniflex grid: A steel wire grid used 

to bridge the “mouth” of the coils 

on an innerspring unit to prevent 

“pocketing” of insulation down into 

the coil and to eliminate “coil feel.” 

Also helps to distribute the body 

weight of a person. 

Urethane foam: Synthetic (chemically 

foamed) flexible urethane 

used for mattress cores and as a 

cushioning material. As a core, it’s 

the main support system. Generic 

term covering both polyester and 

polyether foams. 

Ventilator: Metal or plastic screens 

attached to the sides and sometimes 

the ends of mattresses to 

permit the passage of air. Unnecessary 

with normal high quality 

materials used today, except for 

hospital type mattresses with wetproof 

covers. 

Visco-elastic foam: Also known 

as “memory foam.” Slow recovery 

urethane foams that are temperature 

sensitive. They conform to 

the body and distribute pressure 

according to body heat and dynamics. 

Waterbed: A sleep system 

employing a water-filled vinyl 

bladder as its primary support 

system. Original models relied on 

rigid framing to contain the vinyl 

components and were known as a 

“hardside”. Newer styles consist 

of vinyl components (bladder and 

liner) typically encased in foam and 

121 

made to look like a conventional 

mattress, usually paired with a 

regular upholstered foundation. 

Also called a “softside” waterbed. 

All versions are sometimes referred 

to as “flotation beds.” 

Welded grid top: Basic wire 

welded into a lattice to which box 

spring coils, formed wire or modules 

are fastened. Offers even 

weight distribution, yet allows 

some flex and give. 

Wood bed: A bed with a headboard 

and footboard made of 

wood, having side rails of wood or 

metal that support the foundation 

and mattress. 

Wood frame (for box springs): The 

wood frame in a box spring on 

which the spring construction is 

mounted. 

Woven stripe: A once ubiquitous 

woven ticking with colored stripes. 

The style was referred to as “ACA”, 

the traditional designation for 

the 8 oz. blue- and white-striped 

ticking that has mostly fallen out of 

favor and is seldom produced.

SleepTech July - August 2018

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