Buffalo, NY — Otis Bed Manufacturing, established in Buffalo since 1882, proudly announced the move to their new facility at 80 James E. Casey Drive located in the New Buffalo Industrial Park. According to Company President Jack T. Roma the opening of the new facility took place on November 6,1998. The new facility is a single story design in a 20,000 square foot structure that will accommodate manufacturing, warehousing, offices and a product showroom to better serve the needs of the company’s growing retailer base.

Otis Bed is well known for its innovative creations within the bedding industry. Executive VP John K. Roma is credited with setting high quality futon cushion standards, and holds a patent for the world’s first automatic operating futon frame. Otis Bed has also developed a new futon mattress design utilizing Dupont Dacron® 3D molded cluster fiber technology to form a unique futon mattress system. Their Allerest Mattress, made from all natural, organic materials, was designed for the allergy sensitive population.

A grand opening celebration for the new location will be announced at a later date.

The Jiffy Tuft takes the place of hand tufting with twine, and lace tufting with expensive machinery, and is available in all popular sizes. It is applied with a special ejector needle, allowing just one person to do the tufting, and is manufactured under the ISO9002 standard. Jiffy Tuft makes a nice dimple in the futon and secures the futon covers and filling from movement. Investment is minimal, the ejector needle is sturdy and with proper use would last years.

“These tufts replace twine and button tufting, and are extremely easy to apply. No previous experience is necessary,” said company representative Roy Archambault. “Futons are fully tufted in a few moments, saving much time. When tufted, the futon mattress looks neat and secure,” he said.

Jiffy Tufts come in many sizes (from three inches to ten inches), with a minimum order of one thousand for any one size.

“Typically an eight inch futon will require a six inch Jiffy and a six inch futon a four inch Jiffy,” Archambault said.

The Jiffy Tuft is inserted by a special ejector needle. The needle is equipped with a spring, permitting the Jiffy’s automatic release after it is inserted into the futon.

“We can also supply felt washers which are placed between the Jiffy Tuft’s head and the futon for neatness and comfort,” he said.

The company also offers a quick and easy way to tuft your futon mattresses and pads, with their Jiffy Popins.

“By using our Jiffy Popins together with our automatic release tufting needle, the job is over in a ‘jiffy’, neatly and efficiently,” Archambault said.

White Plains (N.Y.) — The U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks has awarded Island Futon Company a 20 year patent for its unique slot and post operating futon design that enables users to easily convert an Island Futon from sofa to bed from the front.

Island Futon is a leading importer of hardwood futons, tables, chairs, and ottomans made from a teakwood-like wood called Nyatoh as well as oak and other hardwoods.

Island Futon is an affiliate of Cross Island Trading Co., one of the largest KD furniture factories in the world, exporting finished furniture for over 25 years to North America, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, and New Zealand.

To be Defended ‘Vigorously’

Island Futon’s Michael O’Neil said, “Our futon store owners sell our products secure in the knowledge that Island’s invention is protected under Patent Number 5,815,858 and that this will be defended vigorously by our company.”

The futon frame includes a back deck guided for movement by rollers guided to slots in the frame. The seat is secured by inter-engaging pins and slots to convert from bed to sitting position, the deck is pulled forward which places its rollers into guide slots. This patented front operating mechanism is unique and offers consumers a feature and benefit not typically available in imported hardwood futon frames.

In the sitting position, the seat deck rests on a cross piece and is supported along its rear edge by the slot and pin connecting the back deck assembly.

The invention went into production in 1996 and Island Futon has since grown into a leading supplier of imported futon furniture products domestically and internationally.

Manufacturing is completed at the company’s modern “state-of-the-art” factory in Indonesia which employs about 1,500 people. Island has a resident American quality-control staff on site at the factory to monitor production and to assure quality. The line is warehoused in Los Angeles, Chicago, Tampa, and Hartford.

The company builds over a dozen high-volume models. Futon retailers are provided extensive in-store signage and support materials, as well as a nine-page in-depth Sales Education Manual.

Island Futon products are on permanent display at the High Point furniture market and the company will exhibit this March in Las Vegas at the Futon Association’s annual trade show.

Island Futon is represented by The Glasser Group of Tampa.

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