General, page-1143

BedTimes magazine September

76 page downloadable PDF

With the novel coronavirus showing no signs of waning, the bedding industry faces extraordinary challenges.
Industry members share their collective angst

The governments of China and India have taken control of some nonwoven producers in their countries to direct
nonwoven output to medical applications. In the United States, the federal government has enforced the Defense
Production Act to guarantee critical supplies go to PPE production. Further tying up domestic supplies of
nonwovens, the Berry Amendment requires the products sourced by government entities under the Defense
Production Act must be sourced entirely in the United States. With the United States continuing as
a COVID-19 hot spot, the need for PPE is growing, and it will impact mattress makers’ domestic supply chain for the
foreseeable future. Bedding manufacturers and converters said they are researching substitutions for
different types of nonwovens — such as spunbond polyester and stitchbonds — to make pocket springs and for use
elsewhere in the bed. But the characteristics of nonwovens vary and include weight, feel, performance, FR functions
and price.


Bedding and sleep accessories supplier Soft-Tex International Inc. doubled its domestic production capacity with the
purchase of new equipment and the hiring of another shift, said Taylor Jones, vice president of marketing and ecommerce
for the Waterford, New York-based company. The investments were made in response to a “huge surge in demand” for
its luxury products, as well as a new commitment to expanding its U.S.-based supply chain, Jones said. “Going forward, it
is our objective to continue to increase domestic production by at least 20% annually for the next five years.”
According to a news release, Soft-Tex is putting new emphasis on U.S.-made products and U.S. supply chains
due to research showing that nearly half of consumers prefer buying U.S.-made products. In addition, the company
believes that a U.S.-based supply chain removes uncertainties related to constraints on international trade and
ensures that retailers have a “constant flow of goods.” The company is focused on the domestic sourcing and
manufacture of its luxury pillows and toppers that use a variety of proprietary technologies, such as its Reactex
cooling technology, MemoryLoft and SofLoft fills, and Ultra-Fresh antimicrobial treatments.
“As Soft-Tex continues to source high-quality products and materials globally, we see a tremendous opportunity to
continue accelerating our domestic manufacturing. This is particularly important to us as we expand into new business
channels and products,” said Scott Thayer, Soft-Tex chief innovation officer.


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