Latexco, NV. and its American business entity Latexco-US want bedding manufacturers and retailers to understand that they are a family business with a customized, personal and outreaching mindset. Yes, the international company with plants in Belgium, Spain, one plant in Asia and two facilities in the US (Georgia and California) markets itself as “the World’s largest producer of latex foam components for the bedding industry.” However Latexco-US Executive-VP Vincent Gesquiere, and Kevin Callinan covering the Eastern US and Roger Coffey from Sleep Comp West in California, want manufacturers attending the ISPA EXPO and retailers to know that Latexco is all about personal service, close working relationships and creating the right product for each mattress/bedding application.

Callinan says, “We want to welcome customers to our family-owned company! Latexco NV. and Latexco in the US are owned by individuals, not financial holding companies.” Latexco NV. was founded in Belgium as a family-owned business-to-business supplier in 1955 by Sylvain Maes. Today the company is owned by Luc Maes. He states clearly that Latexco wants and needs their customers to be successful. According to Maes, the current head of the Latexco family, “When our customers are successful, then we are successful! We become partners in success which creates mutual loyalty and future successes.”

In the US, Maes and Carl Bouckaert founded the fast expanding company two years ago and have already created a coast-to-coast presence. (See publisher’s column in this issue.) Callinan emphasizes, “The point we are making here is that we are a customer-focused, family business. The bottom line is not our only concern . . . we care about our customers! The surest way to achieve company growth and increase profitability is to develop family-like relationships with your customers, providing individualized product solutions and personal service.”

According to SleepComp President, Roger Coffey, “Latexco builds exclusive molds for each major customer. We supply each major mattress maker with his own group of exclusive designs. We avoid selling “me too” latex components that typically erode our customer’s margin when confronted with similar products from their competition.” The components that are available to mattress manufacturers are only limited by the depth of one’s imagination. 3, 5, or 7 zones with or without surface modifications or horizontal vent channels are just of few of many design options. Cores are from 4” to 8” with or without edge support. Toppers start at .4” and are also available with zoning. Latex quilting rolls are now commonly found in mattresses that range in price from $699 to $5,999 retail. Addressing manufacturers and retailers who may look to Latexco for bedding foam solutions, Callinan says, “We want to welcome our mattress/bedding customers to our family of unique products! We will be showing a full range of our products at the ISPA EXPO in Baltimore this March.”

Some of these Latexco’s branded products include:

Naturalux . . . The company’s 100% organic and green all natural foam rubber toppers, cores and pillows supplied from Asia. Under this brand name the company will also offer 85% Natural products with 7-zones and other natural products with exclusive design and custom-made molds for targeted customers.

Talalux . . . These are cores and quilt rolls made using the vacuum, freezing and heating process known as Talalay.

Hevealux . . . These are the company’s continuous line products using the Dunlop process offering such products as quilt rolls and latex toppers with or without perforations of various sizes and zones. Using this process Latexco can create the Ultra soft or plush feel. They also can create foams that combine latex with convoluted poly or visco foam up to three inches.

Eurolux . . . These are cores that are presently shipped in from Latexco plants outside the US. They are Dunlop cores that can range from 5.6 to 6 or 7 inches. These cores can be exclusive designs and they can be created with natural composites.

Despite the family ownership and the personalized family-like relationship Latexco prefers to build with their customers, it is important to remember that Latexco is “the world’s largest latex bedding components manufacturer with five facilities on three continents. Their newest production facility is in Lavonia, Georgia, USA.

When asked to summarize what Latexco means to mattress/bedding manufacturers in the US, Vincent Gesquiere, company Executive-VP concludes, “Latexco is a “Green, Eco-friendly, family owned company! We offer a complete line of the highest quality latex foam bedding components utilizing both the Dunlop and Talalay process, for the mattress industry. Our products include: cores, toppers, rolls, composites, and pillows with either 100% natural or blended foams. We have coast-to-coast distribution from our plants in Georgia and California. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, no matter how big we are, we treat our customers like family and for them we specialize in custom designed & exclusive components for each customer.

Latexco LLC will be showing at Booth 2119 at the ISPA EXPO.