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August 17, 2010 -
Latex International (LI),
the world’s largest producer of
Talalay latex mattresses and
pillows, will open a 100,000
square foot mattress component
fabrication facility in Wichita
Falls, TX, just 2 hours
northwest of Dallas in early
September. At the same time, the
company will be closing its
Atlanta facility.
LI has contracted supply chain
leader Unisource Logistics
Solutions to ensure that lead
times are reduced by utilizing
their warehousing, cross-docking
capabilities, inventory
management and distribution
services to better deliver the
world’s highest quality latex to
its customers’ factories. The
company’s Connecticut
fabrication site will continue
to service the Northeast.
“As part of the company’s growth
plans, we broke ground on June
17th on a new latex
manufacturing plant in Malaysia.
Combined with additional latex
capacity, the company is also
focusing on its fabrication
capabilities”, said Kevin
Coleman, President and CEO of
Latex International. “LI’s
ability to centralize our latex
inventory (produced in our
Connecticut foam pouring plant)
will create greater production
efficiencies, minimize
stock-outs, and provide more
consistent and improved on-time
delivery. The new facility is
twice the size of our facility
in Atlanta and LI will have the
fabrication capacity to triple
the output that we are currently
producing,” he added.
The opening of the Texas site is
phase one of the company’s new
fabrication strategy. Unisource
will provide LI with greater
flexibility, which benefits
mattress manufacturers given the
just-in-time sourcing methods
used in our industry. Unisource
has a fleet of over 500 vehicles
and contracts hundreds of
private trucking companies
around the U.S. to find
customers the greatest
transportation value. Unisource
also offers 80 warehouse
distribution centers around the
country that would help LI
quickly supply stocked products
to customer locations
nationwide.
Phase 2 of the company’s
fabrication services redesign
includes the closure of its La
Mirada, CA facility in December.
LI’s new Unisource logistics
network will allow its customers
on the west coast to continue to
order smaller skid quantities as
well as pickup on a more regular
basis. Latex International will
conduct a transportation
analysis for each customer to
ensure the company delivers
on-time and at the best value.
“For LI’s truckload customers,
Unisource will provide extremely
competitive rates as backhauls
are quite abundant coming out of
TX. This provides great values
to our customers in the West,
Central, and Southeastern parts
of the U.S.”, said, Coleman.
Phase 3 of LI’s expansion plans
includes adding in 2013 Talalay
latex pouring capacity to the
Texas facility, which has all
the necessary infrastructure
such as power availability,
electrical, gas, and lighting.
About Latex International:
Founded 35 years ago, Latex
International is North America’s
leading manufacturer of latex
mattress components and pillows.
The company, based in Shelton,
CT USA, develops superior sleep
products featured under many key
retail brand names. Latex
International’s Talalay latex
provides a unique feel of
comfort and support by gently
conforming to body contours,
while inherently providing a
naturally resilient and healthy
sleep environment.
For more information, contact
Kevin Stein, VP Marketing and
R&D at
KStein@LatexIntl.com
or call: Tel: 203-924-0700
Fax: 203-924-0699
Visit
www.LatexIntl.com |
