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Tietex shifts ticking focus to high-tech fabrics

By Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, January 13, 2008

Spartanburg, S.C. — Fabric supplier Tietex International is shifting the focus of its ticking fabric division to meet the changing demands of mattress manufacturers.

Tietex Mattress Solutions — the new name of the former Tietex Ticking division — will now concentrate more on high-performance products, while continuing to produce a line a decorative print ticking.

"We will be expanding our manufacturing capabilities and revamping our national sales and customer support staff — all of which establish a total commitment to performance-based fabrics," said Reed Cunningham, Tietex International president and chief operating officer. He did not say how much manufacturing capacity would be expanded.

Beth Hunt, general manager of the Mattress Solutions division, said her division's focus is in accord with the company's mission to provide technical or engineered solutions to the challenges and problems faced by mattress manufacturers.

Customers "already view us as technical consultants," she said. "In recent months, we've worked very closely with them on quality control issues — to help them find total solutions in what has become a complicated regulatory climate."

Wade Wallace, director of sales and marketing for the group, said the new U.S. federal standard on flame-retardant mattresses has required changes in the design and production of mattresses.

"We essentially have made a total commitment to help our customers manage these issues, and we are in the process of refocusing our sales efforts as well. Our goal is to be seen clearly as the industry leader in supplying cost-effective, high-performance FR textile solutions," he said.

Wallace said Tietex Mattress Solutions will broaden the company's technical fabrics line, but will continue to offer decorative fabrics "with increased emphasis on improving their technical performance and FR capability."

Two years ago, Tietex introduced the Sleepfree family of mattress fabrics, including filler-cloth, sewing thread, knit sock and printed ticking.

Hunt said the broader technical fabric line will place increased emphasis on temperature, moisture and environmental controls.

She said mattress manufacturers need cost-effective ways to comply with regulations.

"The days when you could offer the same products every year are over," Hunt said. "The future is much more complex. We have positioned ourselves to be in the forefront of change, by offering technical products, services and solutions."

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Tietex changes focus in mattress ticking

Jan 8, 2008

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