Spring Air Company
Encyclopedia
Spring Air Company is a mattress
company based in the United States
. It was founded in 1926 when Francis Karr patented a mattress design with free-end coils. Because of the heavy weight, high transportation costs, and low value per unit weight of mattresses, they are often manufactured locally. The company is thus a licensing
organization, with local licensees manufacturing the mattresses under a common name for national marketing. Like a cooperative
, the licensees own the Spring Air name.
, it is the fourth largest US brand of mattresses (behind Sealy
, Serta
, and Simmons
). It is based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois
.
. The unified Company will employ 1,150 employees in 14 locations,including its headquarters facility that will remain in the Chicago
area. The merger will solidify Spring Air's position as the leading value "S" brand on every retail floor. The acquired manufacturing facilities are in: Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Chelsea, MA (Boston
); Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; St. Louis, MO; Salt Lake City, UT; and Lacey, WA (Seattle). They will join Consolidated Bedding’s existing facilities in: Columbus, OH; Carrollton, TX (Dallas); City of Industry, CA (Los Angeles
); New Brunswick, NJ; and Tampa, FL.
H.I.G. Capital LLC, a leading global private equity investment firm with more than
$4 billion of equity capital under management, provided the equity funding for the
transaction. H.I.G. began a relationship with Spring Air in 2005 when it funded the merger
of American Bedding Industries and Spring Air Partners, the two largest Spring Air
licensees.
In may of 2009 the company that owned the Spring Air name - Consolidated Bedding - went bankrupt.
The Spring Air Name was then purchased by E&E Bedding and turned into Spring Air International.
The Spring Air brand is now manufactured at 13 U.S. facilities and 22 international licensees that operate in 32 countries.
Mattress
A mattress is a manufactured product to sleep or lie on, consisting of resilient materials and covered with an outer fabric or ticking. In the developed world it is typically part of a bed set and is placed upon a foundation....
company based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was founded in 1926 when Francis Karr patented a mattress design with free-end coils. Because of the heavy weight, high transportation costs, and low value per unit weight of mattresses, they are often manufactured locally. The company is thus a licensing
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
organization, with local licensees manufacturing the mattresses under a common name for national marketing. Like a cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
, the licensees own the Spring Air name.
, it is the fourth largest US brand of mattresses (behind Sealy
Sealy Corporation
Sealy Corporation is an American owned major manufacturer of mattresses, based in Trinity, North Carolina, in the United States. The company draws its name from the city where it started, Sealy, Texas.- History :...
, Serta
Serta (company)
Serta is a company based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois that specializes in making mattresses. It was founded in 1931 by 13 mattress manufacturers who licensed the Serta name, and now eight independent licensees acting like a cooperative own the company...
, and Simmons
Simmons Bedding Company
Simmons Bedding Company is a major manufacturer of mattresses and related bedding products. The company is founded in 1870. Simmons' flagship brand is Beautyrest, and it is one of the oldest companies of this type in the USA. According to a Simmons press release, net sales for 2005 were $855...
). It is based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Elk Grove Village is a municipality located in northeastern Illinois adjacent to O'Hare International Airport and the City of Chicago. Elk Grove Village encompasses in land area with located in Cook County and located in DuPage County, Illinois. The population was 32,745 at the 2010 census...
.
Merger with Consolidated Bedding
In 2007 The Spring Air Company merged with Consolidated Bedding, Inc. of Tampa, FL, Spring Air's largest licensee and simultaneously acquired six other Spring Air licensees operating eight mattress manufacturing facilities in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The unified Company will employ 1,150 employees in 14 locations,including its headquarters facility that will remain in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area. The merger will solidify Spring Air's position as the leading value "S" brand on every retail floor. The acquired manufacturing facilities are in: Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Chelsea, MA (Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
); Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; St. Louis, MO; Salt Lake City, UT; and Lacey, WA (Seattle). They will join Consolidated Bedding’s existing facilities in: Columbus, OH; Carrollton, TX (Dallas); City of Industry, CA (Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
); New Brunswick, NJ; and Tampa, FL.
H.I.G. Capital LLC, a leading global private equity investment firm with more than
$4 billion of equity capital under management, provided the equity funding for the
transaction. H.I.G. began a relationship with Spring Air in 2005 when it funded the merger
of American Bedding Industries and Spring Air Partners, the two largest Spring Air
licensees.
In may of 2009 the company that owned the Spring Air name - Consolidated Bedding - went bankrupt.
The Spring Air Name was then purchased by E&E Bedding and turned into Spring Air International.
Spring Air International
In May 2009 Spring Air abruptly ceased operations and in June emerged under new ownership and management as SAI (Spring Air International). Spring Air was repurchased by one of its original owners Edward Bates, bringing Spring Air back to being a family-owned company and putting thousands of employees back to work. Today Spring Air has expanded its presence around the world adding over 15 new facilities globally.The Spring Air brand is now manufactured at 13 U.S. facilities and 22 international licensees that operate in 32 countries.
Current lines
- Nature's Rest
- Back Supporter
- Four Seasons
- Sleep Sense
- Chattam and Wells