Toray Ultrasuede America Inc.
has introduced EcoDesign™, an environmentally responsible line of products based on innovative recycling technology from Toray. EcoDesign captures industrial materials from various Toray manufacturing processes, such as scrap polyester films, and recycles them for use in building high-quality fibers and textiles. The new technology results in reduced energy consumption and a more ecologically sound manufacturing process. It has been used to redesign Ultrasuede® Ambiance for use in interiors and upholstery. More than 20 furniture manufacturers will feature Ultrasuede Ambiance at the April High Point Market. Toray is now applying the EcoDesign technology to other products, including Ultrasuede Dimensions. Toray Ultrasuede is part of the Toray Group, a $16 billion corporation with operations around the world. (Photo: Ultrasuede on Thayer Coggin) CONTACT: Helen Corio, 212/576-3384 EMAIL: furniture@ultrasuede.com WEB: www.ultrasuede.com |
 Cargill’s BiOH® Polyols business has spearheaded an education campaign to help furniture and mattress retailers understand the environmental attributes of soy-based BiOH polyols and consumer demand for more eco-friendly household products. The effort includes sales staff training materials, tools for in-store events, a guide to renewable content in foam and various marketing communications. “Research indicates consumers are hungry for accurate information regarding environmental claims,” says Jessica Koster, BiOH Polyols marketing manager. “They want to make fact-based purchase decisions and are skeptical about greenwashing.” For every 1 million pounds of BiOH polyols used in furniture and mattresses, over 92,000 gallons of petroleum are saved. “Many retail stores are unaware that furnishings they already carry on their sales floors contain soy foam with BiOH polyols,” Koster adds. Cargill’s BiOH polyols business markets renewable-based products to manufacturers of polyurethane foam for use in home furnishings and other consumer products.
CONTACT: Jessica Koster, 952/742-1022 EMAIL: jessica_koster@cargill.com WEB: www.BiOH.com |
 Karl Meyer, chief executive officer of 3PD Inc. has been named a 2009 “Pro to Know” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive, a national publication geared to the logistics industry. The honor was announced in the publication’s February/March issue. Meyer was selected because of his company’s “high productive stop rate,” which enables businesses to save 10 to 15 percent on redelivery costs. A full listing of the award winners and complete explanation of the selection criteria are available at www.SDCExec.com. Founded in 2001, 3PD is one of North America’s largest providers of last-mile delivery and logistics services. The company makes nearly 5 million home, business and job site deliveries per year via a national network that includes nearly 500 locations and 1,500 delivery teams.
CONTACT: Barry Leff, 866/373-7874 EMAIL: sales@3pd.com WEB: www.3pd.com |
Furniture Transport Group has finalized the acquisition of Lance Transport Inc. based in Hildebran, N.C. Lance Transport has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Furniture Transport Group, a C.F.Holding Company. “The acquisition of Lance will strengthen our ability to deliver in the Gulf, southwest and south central states,” says Dave Brenner, President of Furniture Transport Group. FTG/Caldwell will consolidate the Hildebran, N.C., Lance Transport terminal into its Lenoir, N.C., terminal. FTG/Caldwell Freight Lines will take over Lance’s Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina coverage areas, with FTG/Foothills Trucking incorporating Alabama and South Carolina into its existing coverage area of Florida and Georgia. Under the agreement, Lance Transport will continue to operate its Houston, Miss., distribution center as a subsidiary of Caldwell Freight Lines Inc. Lance Transport President Greg Skoog and Vice President Alan Dietz will have extensive roles with Furniture Transport Group building and expanding transportation revenue from southeastern shippers into FTG’s territories.
CONTACT: David E. Brenner, 828/759-3044 EMAIL: daveb@caldwellfreight.com WEB: www.furnituretransport.com |
Sun Delivery Inc., a nationwide provider of white glove in home furniture delivery, announces the purchase of new, state-of-the-art GPS tracking devices for all company trucks. “This new system offers direct satellite communications and instantaneous tracking for up to the minute location, status and delivery information” says Aimee Boozer, Vice President. “It also has full capability to integrate with our existing web-based software.” Headquartered in Thomasville, N.C., with operations in Dallas, Texas, and Los Angeles, Calif., Sun Delivery offers full white glove delivery service to every point in the contiguous 48 United States.
CONTACT: Aimee Boozer, 336/472-5000 EMAIL: sales@sundeliveryinc.com WEB: www.sundeliveryinc.com |
NCFI Polyurethanes, a division of Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, Mt. Airy, N.C., has received CertiPUR-US approval for its flexible polyurethane products. CertiPUR originated in Europe in 2004. With very few alterations other than translation, the American version of CertiPUR is open to all manufacturers of flexible polyurethane foam selling product in the United States. The CertiPUR-US certification process involves intense foam assessment, including VOC testing and chemical breakdown analysis. It also involves a signed affirmation that CertiPUR-US-prohibited ingredients, such as ozone-depleting CFCs, PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury and other materials of concern, are not being used in the foaming process. A complete description of the testing procedure can be found at www.certipur.us. “This voluntary testing program acknowledges that our foam meets established criteria for physical performance, indoor air quality and environmental stewardship,” says Steve Riddle, NCFI president. The company’s goal is to continually improve its level of environmental awareness in the manufacturing process while not compromising the quality of its products.
CONTACT: Chris Bradley, 336/789-9161 EMAIL: chris.bradley@ncfi.net WEB: www.barnhardt.net |
Barcalounger has implemented NESTERwood at its Rocky Mount, N.C., factory. NESTERwood enables upholstery manufacturers to automate and optimize their frame production by generating a solution for nesting and cut path. NESTERwood’s Rolling Nest automatically optimizes the placement of pieces from one or more orders on multiple sheets of plywood, resulting in material yields that are consistently higher than any other solution. By generating efficient tool paths, NESTERwood improves the productivity of CNC routers. “Previously we purchased our frames and had no control over their quality, delivery date or cost,” explains Richard Henkel, vice president of operations at Barcalounger. “With NESTERwood’s automatic nesting and programming capabilities, we were able to bring our frame production in house and gain control over our own production. The material savings and reduced WIP enabled by NESTERwood helped us justify the transition to in-house production. NESTERwood is a product of Plataine, a provider of production optimization solutions for manufacturers of metal, wood, textile and composite material products.
CONTACT: Clay Bolick, 866/500-5902 EMAIL: info@plataine.com WEB: www.plataine.com |
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Suppliers on Demand is a quarterly newsletter keeping AHFA members in touch with the products and services offered by its Supplier Division members.
This complimentary copy of Suppliers on Demand was sent to you as a benefit of your American Home Furnishings Alliance membership. Click here to unsubscribe. Click here to change your e-mail address. Send feedback here. The American Home Furnishings Alliance is not liable for the use of or reliance on any information contained in this newsletter. The next update of Suppliers on Demand will be in July 2009. Deadline for news and product releases is June 15, 2009. Email press releases and inquiries to pbowling@ahfa.us. For information about other member benefits, please contact the American Home Furnishings Alliance at 336/884-5000, ext. 1016. |