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08.03.2006
Freudenberg
Expands Resources for North American Bedding
Market
New Sales and Support Staff Added to Support Increased Customer Activity
Lowell, MA, September 3, 2006 – Freudenberg North America, a leading manufacturer
of mattress flammability materials and structural bedding products, has announced
the launch of a major expansion program to support the growing market for bedding
products in North America.
The major thrust of the expansion involves staff additions for the southeastern
and western regions, where the company will seek to take advantage of the growing
business base in those sectors.
Representing the company in the southeast is Ms. Meg Hawes of Simpsonville,
South Carolina, formerly a sales representative for the Ticking Division
of TieTex, Ltd, Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she was responsible
for the sale of woven and nonwoven filler cloth as well as decorative
ticking materials to mattress manufacturers in the southeastern United
States.
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Handling the western region is Doug Gillespie formerly of Burlington House mattress
fabrics in Redmond, WA, where he was responsible for the sale of ticking/woven
jacquard decorative outer fabrics for mattresses. He was also the exclusive US
representative for Europe and the line of ticking fabrics manufactured by that
company.
The announcement was made by Ashutosh Karnik, the company’s
market manager for bedding products, who said that the planned
expansion will allow the company to better service its growing customer
base in North America and to facilitate the ongoing expansion of
its product line.
According to Mr. Karnik, the expansion of staff will increase
the company’s
ability to more effectively support its growing customer base, while providing
the coverage needed to open new opportunities. “In selecting Ms. Hawes
and Mr. Gillespie, said Karnik, we have availed ourselves of experience levels
that will add value to our staff immediately. We were determined to hire people
whose experience included not only the materials aspect of the business, but
the aesthetic side as well”, Mr. Karnik said.
Freudenberg North America, meanwhile, continues to work closely
with Hickory Springs, the company’s strategic partner dating
back to the earliest days of the FR materials regulations.
Hickory provides Freudenberg with a range of services that allow
the company to offer customers the most comprehensive selection of
converting and distributions capabilities.
Freudenberg has been manufacturing products for the bedding industry in North
America since
2001, when the company rolled out its first line of products
for the mattress flammability market in response to the passage
of the nation’s first flammability
protection regulations by the state of California.
Since that time the company has brought a wide range of products to market, under
the Celestia, Novolon and Evolon brand names with major applications including
both FR and structural applications.
About Freudenberg.
Freudenberg North America, which maintains headquarters in
Durham, North Carolina, is part of Freudenberg & Company of Weinheim, Germany. Freudenberg & Company
is a global leader in the field of technical textiles with
operations in 34 countries and annual revenues in the $5.5
billion range.
Freudenberg has been in North America since 1951, when it opened
its first facility for manufacturing apparel interlining products
under the name Pellon. Over the years the company’s presence
grew to embrace a range of markets for industrial automotive,
home furnishing and health care products.
Today the company maintains operations at six major sites on the North American
continent, employing over 850 people. In addition to mattress components, major
markets include hygiene/medical, air and liquid filtration, apparel interlining,
tuft and automotive interiors.
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