German company ArtFlex Software is developing NestiGo, an artificial intelligence-powered 3D nesting and cutting guidance system for both new and existing vertical cutting machines, with a focus on foam processing.
The solution bridges the long-standing gap between optimized digital nesting plans and reliable physical execution on the machine. NestiGo combines AI-driven 3D nesting with camera-based validation and guided execution to create a smart, high-performance production system.
Besides supporting standard cutting operations, the system is particularly suited for complex workflows in which blocks of different sizes are cut from a larger base block. In such demanding scenarios, operators traditionally need to manually interpret nesting plans, precisely position material, and ensure correct execution. NestiGo digitalizes and guides this entire process by validating each block, highlighting available cuts, and ensuring accurate placement and sequencing directly on the machine.
By automating planning, validation, and execution steps, the system can reduce material waste, minimize operator errors, lower labor dependency, and increase overall production efficiency. The result is a more reliable, scalable, and cost-effective cutting workflow compared to traditional manual processes.
As development progresses toward industrial validation, ArtFlex is seeking a strategic U.S. partner to jointly industrialize and commercialize the technology worldwide.
DeLandis Introduces Youth Mattress Collection
DeLandis has launched a youth mattress collection that it says offers support, comfort, and peace of mind for parents. Designed for youth, trundle, daybed, and platform beds, the collection includes a hybrid mattress and two supportive gel memory foam mattresses with firm and medium-firm comfort.
“Children grow quickly, and it’s important for them to have a mattress supportive enough to aid in the spinal development of their changing bodies during their formative years,” says Ming Liu, vice president of DeLandis. “As a manufacturer with deep expertise in materials, comfort engineering, and long-term performance, we saw an opportunity to improve a category that is often treated like an afterthought. This collection is designed specifically for growing bodies [and are] not scaled-down adult mattresses or short-term fixes.”
The DeLandis customizable youth mattresses feature hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, stain-resistant, and durable covers designed to last as children grow. According to a release, the fun and functional mattresses are available in a variety of trendy colors, including woodsy camouflage, positively pink, and soothing blue, to coordinate with modern bedrooms. The reversible, two-sided gel mattress can be flipped to ensure even wear and extend its lifespan.
The company says that the new collection is built to the same high-quality standards as its regular mattresses, while prioritizing comfort and support to accommodate different stages of youth development.
Americanstar Mattress Launches U.S. Foam Production
Americanstar Mattress, the Texas-based sleep company, has launched in-house foam production at its Waco, Texas, manufacturing facility.
The move brings the company’s more than 20 years of global foam-pouring expertise to U.S. soil for the first time, enabling Americanstar’s U.S. team to develop and refine proprietary comfort technologies specifically for American consumers while accelerating speed to market for its retail partners.
Retailers will benefit from access to differentiated product innovations, delivered at price points that protect healthy margins and drive sell-through performance.
“We’ve been pouring our own foam for more than 20 years—this isn’t new territory for us. What’s new is bringing that expertise to our U.S. operations,” says Tony Nguyen, chief operating officer at Americanstar US. “By manufacturing foam in-house at our Waco facility, we can move faster on innovation, control quality at every stage, and create comfort technologies that are purpose-built for what U.S. consumers want—and what our retail partners need to win on the floor.”
According to the company, Americanstar’s proprietary SilkFoam™ technology is an example of what in-house foam expertise can make possible. Born from the company’s experience in foam formulation, SilkFoam has a silk-like texture that delivers weightless comfort and pressure relief, offering responsiveness and contouring performance that differs from both traditional memory foam and latex.
SilkFoam is featured across multiple collections, including the best-selling Presidential Hybrid Collection, the Cleopatra Collection, and the newly launched S-Class Hybrid Collection—each of which has demonstrated strong sell-through performance and high consumer satisfaction.
Each collection also reinforces the commercial value of proprietary material innovation, giving retailers differentiated product stories that support stronger close rates and higher ticket values.
“SilkFoam is a perfect example of what happens when you control the science behind the materials,” Nguyen adds. “It’s not something we source from a catalog—it’s something we created because we understand foam chemistry at a fundamental level. With U.S. foam production now operational, we’re positioned to develop even more innovations that give our retail partners a real edge.”
The addition of foam production capabilities marks the latest milestone in Americanstar’s continued U.S. expansion. The company has steadily grown its retail partnerships—including recent expansions with Bel Furniture and Mattress Firm Montana, as well as a return to Las Vegas Market with the debut of its S-Class Hybrid Collection.
With U.S. foam production operational, Americanstar plans to expand its portfolio of proprietary comfort technologies across future collections, further strengthening its competitive position in the North American market.
“Every investment we make in our U.S. operations is driven by the same goal: helping our retail partners succeed,” says Nguyen. “Foam production is the foundation of mattress innovation. By owning that process here in the U.S., we’re ensuring that Americanstar can continue to deliver differentiated, high-margin products that retailers need to thrive in today’s market.”
Brooklyn Bedding Product Refresh Is Part of Nationwide Retail Program Launch
Direct-to-consumer sleep brand Helix Sleep has announced its newest partnership with Urban Mattress, a specialty sleep retailer serving the Front Range area of Colorado.
Helix mattresses are now available in all three of Urban Mattress’ locations across the state. Available are some of Helix’s most popular models, including Midnight Luxe, Twilight Luxe, Midnight Elite, and Twilight Elite, along with the retail-exclusive Helix Premier in two firmness levels. Each model offers premium comfort, science-backed support, and a range of firmness options to suit different sleep preferences.
“Partnering with Urban Mattress is another exciting step for Helix’s retail program,” says Jerry Lin, co-founder of Helix Sleep. “Urban Mattress has built a trusted reputation by offering premium products, offering a generous in-store experience, and treating customers like family. Their focus on honest guidance, sustainability, and long-lasting comfort aligns closely with our values. Together, we are expanding access to high-quality, science-backed sleep products for the communities they serve.”
Helix’s latest innovations, including zoned lumbar support, GlacioTex™ cooling covers, and premium hybrid construction, are available to experience in person in all Urban Mattress showrooms across the state. All Helix models are also GREENGUARD Gold- and CertiPUR-US®-certified and free from harmful chemicals and fiberglass.
“We are proud to partner with Helix Sleep,” says Billy Williams, founder of Urban Mattress. “Helix shares our commitment to offering the highest-quality mattresses possible. This partnership allows us to expand access to mattresses that deliver consistent performance, are built with care, and are designed and constructed here in the United States for the customers and communities we serve.”
Outlast Technologies Launches New Cooling Material for Duvets and Pillows
The latest product from temperature specialist Outlast Technologies, marketed under the name Bailey, combines an extremely high heat-absorption capacity with a naturally cooling surface specifically developed for duvets and pillows.
According to a release, excess body heat is absorbed instantly, creating a distinctly cool sensation upon contact—an effect that is perceived as immediate relief, especially in warm summer conditions or by sleepers who tend to sweat at night.
Bailey combines Outlast®’s temperature-regulation technology with a Lyocell base material, which is known for its smooth surface and natural cool-touch character. The product also offers a high heat-storage capacity of 7,500 J/m². This means it not only cools on first contact but actively works throughout the night: Excess heat is absorbed, stored, and released again when needed. According to a company statement, temperature peaks are effectively buffered, sweating is significantly reduced, and a balanced, comfortable sleep climate is supported.
In addition, the Lyocell fiber is largely made from renewable raw materials and requires significantly less water in production than cotton. The temperature-regulating capsules also contribute to sustainability: The wax they contain is derived from renewable sources, providing a bio-based alternative to fossil materials. Certifications such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Class 1 and OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN underline its suitability for sensitive applications in direct contact with the skin, as well as a responsible and transparent European-based production process.
Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Co. Debuts 100% British Wool Mattress Collection
A U.K. manufacturer is highlighting the economic pressures facing sheep farmers and the growing demand for transparency across U.K. supply chains as it unveils an updated mattress collection using 100% British fleece that can be traced from bale to bedroom.
The Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Co. has updated its Signature British Wool Mattress Collection, making it the first and only mattress range filled entirely with pure British wool. There are no synthetic blends or fillings and no imported fleece, and the mattresses are complemented by British-made calico pocket springs. The improved range also has the unique distinction of being the only pure wool mattress endorsed by Made in Britain.
The company, which is a Royal Warrant holder and the only domestic manufacturer fabricating metal beds certified by the official Made in Britain trademark, ensures full traceability, with each product linked to the individual farm from which the wool originated.
Working directly with British sheep farms, the company has built its own in-house traceability system, allowing wool to be processed in farm-specific batches and tracked through each stage of production. Each mattress carries a bespoke QR code enabling customers to see where the wool inside their product has come from.
The Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Co. says it hopes its Signature British Wool Mattress Collection will help more consumers choose natural, British materials while also giving farmers greater financial security.
“British farmers are paid mere pennies for fleece. A farmer has no choice but to shear their sheep for welfare, but smaller holdings are barely breaking even,” says Harry Thompson, head of brand development and marketing at The Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Co. “Large conglomerates in the industry base the wool’s value on the market average at the end of the year and typically do not release payment to the farmer until the farmer sends in the next clip the following year. This means that many British farmers are unsure of what their wool income is likely to be and feel trapped in a loop where they have no control over how much they’re going to get paid and feel obliged to continue the cycle.”
U.K. farmers typically earn 10 pence to 60 pence (roughly 13 cents to 80 cents) per kilogram of wool produced, far below the cost of shearing, although prices in the last year reached their highest prices in a decade of up to 1.18 pounds ($1.57) per kilogram. This has been attributed to a global decline in the number of sheep and changes in consumer behavior as environmentally conscious shoppers switch from synthetic fabrics to natural materials.
The company offers farmers a fixed price upfront when signing a partnership, with payments released after just three months to help their cash flow. The launch formalizes an approach centered around fairer relationships with farmers, agreed pricing, and full supply chain visibility.
“This is a strong example of British manufacturing working closely with the U.K. agricultural supply chain to deliver transparency and long-term value, for consumers and the skilled workers, that uplifts our economy,” says John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain. “British wool has a proud heritage, and it is deeply encouraging to see manufacturers supporting farmers through clearer provenance and responsible sourcing. We’re proud to back British companies that take real pride and responsibility in making high-quality products that support livelihoods and communities up and down the country.”
Alexium Introduces Predictive Thermal Profile
Alexium International, which supplies thermal management and flame-retardant solutions for the bedding industry, has launched its Predictive Thermal Profile™, a proprietary modeling program that generates theoretical cooling performance data based on selected bedding components. It enables manufacturers to better understand and compare the thermal behavior of an entire mattress system before it reaches the market.
According to a release, traditional cooling claims in the bedding industry often rely on surface-level tests that measure only a few seconds of contact. The Predictive Thermal Profile analyzes the cumulative thermal performance of layered mattress constructions, including foams, fabrics, phase change materials, and FR systems.
By evaluating how components interact across a full system, the PTP provides:
Simulated thermal performance outputs.
Comparative cooling data across builds.
Exportable reporting in spreadsheet format.
A foundation for data-backed product storytelling.
“Our goal is to give manufacturers a smarter way to validate and communicate cooling performance,” says Billy Blackburn, CEO of Alexium International. “The Predictive Thermal Profile allows brands to understand how their material selections work together—before investing in full production runs.”
The activation underscores Alexium’s broader commitment to combining material science with applied data tools that help brands differentiate in a competitive retail environment.
As retailers and consumers increasingly scrutinize cooling claims, Alexium believes predictive modeling and system-level testing will become critical to maintaining credibility and trust. The PTP complements Alexium’s in-house thermal testing capabilities and expertise in PCM technologies, offering brands both theoretical modeling and practical validation support.
Posh+Lavish™ Introduces the Haute Couture Collection Featuring Horsehair
Posh+Lavish is introducing a hand-tufted luxury collection, debuting nationwide, featuring horsehair, alpaca, wool, and cotton.
Its Haute Couture collection is made with extravagant and exotic components that are expected by ultra-luxury consumers looking to avoid synthetic materials. For example, Posh+Lavish uses 9 pounds of horse mane and tail hair in a king size alone. Horsehair has been used in the finest mattresses in the world since the 1800s, says the company. Both strong and silky, horsehair has excellent adaptive support due to its pliability and extraordinary longevity. It is also especially breathable naturally, air-conditioning the mattress and the sleeper on top of it.
“We have had retailers ask us for a next-level mattress collection to sit above our mattresses for a while now,” says Kurt Ling, principal at Posh+Lavish. “When we did our research, it was clear to us that the next-level ultra-luxury position above all-natural rubber, wool, and cotton would include even more exceptional fibers and another level of handcraftsmanship. The research says the finest mattresses in the world have horsehair in them and are hand-tufted. The Haute Couture collection is exactly that and more. It offers the best-of-the-best component, horsehair. And it offers the best-of-the-best mattress craftsmanship component, hand tufting. Horsehair, alpaca, and wool are expensive fibers and worth every dollar in terms of ultra-luxury cache and performance benefits.”
The Haute Couture collection ranges in retail price points from $4,479 to $7,439.
With people spending nearly a third of their lives asleep, it’s no surprise that smarter sleep solutions are climbing the consumer agenda, and the U.K.’s Product of the Year 2026 Awards spotlight two winners in the Mattress and Pillow categories.
Taking the Mattress title is Simba’s Hybrid™ Pro, which focuses on three crucial areas for good sleep—pressure buildup, overheating, and partner disturbance—by using a mix of Titanium Aerocoil™ springs for targeted support and reduced motion transfer, and Simbatex™ foam and a cool-touch cover for temperature regulation.
“We’re delighted to see the Simba Hybrid Pro win the Mattress Category at the 2026 Product of the Year Awards,” says Jon Moore, marketing and e-commerce director at Simba Sleep. “What makes this award so special is that it’s powered by real customer feedback, so it reflects how the mattress performs in real people’s homes night after night. It’s a strong vote of confidence in the sleep technology behind all our products and the focus we put on comfort and quality.”
In the Pillow category, Emma’s Hybrid Pillow was recognized for its dual-sided design combining soft microfiber with firmer memory foam, alongside an adjustable visco layer allowing sleepers to tailor height and support, for a pillow that supports a wider variety of sleep styles.
“We’ve been bowled over by the creativity, ingenuity, and flair of our winners this year,” says Helga Slater, managing director, Product of the Year. “The science of sleep is not to be taken lightly, and both Simba and Emma laser in on a multitude of common concerns, responding with innovation that truly makes a difference.”
More than 8,000 shoppers help decide the winners in what remains the largest consumer survey of product innovation—independently conducted with the world’s leading data and insights company, Kantar.
BASF Introduces Biomass Balance Polyether Polyol Product Portfolio for Sleep Products Industry
BASF has announced the first commercial production of its biomass balance polyether polyols in North America, manufactured at the company’s Verbund site in Geismar, Louisiana. The new product line broadens BASF’s portfolio of sustainable polyurethane raw materials and represents a significant milestone in advancing the company’s sustainability goals.
The BMB polyether polyols are certified under the internationally recognized ISCC PLUS certification, ensuring full traceability and verification of sustainable biomass inputs across the value chain. Using the biomass balance approach, BASF replaces a share of fossil-based feedstocks at the beginning of the production process with renewable, bio-circular materials, while maintaining identical product quality and performance compared with conventional polyether polyols.
Polyether polyols play a central role in polyurethane chemistry. They are a primary raw material that reacts with isocyanates to create polyurethane polymers. BASF’s biomass balance polyols provide a drop-in solution that helps customers reduce the product carbon footprint, or PCF, of flexible foam formulations used in countless industrial applications. Because BMB products retain the same specifications and processing characteristics as their fossil-based counterparts, manufacturers can adapt quickly without operational disruption.
“Expanding our BMB portfolio to include polyether polyols produced in Geismar further strengthens the trust our customers place in BASF to deliver reliable, sustainable solutions,” says Stefan Doerr, BASF senior vice president, Monomers North America. “Customers in the sleep products industry can transition to these new solutions without any reformulation or process changes—making the shift both seamless and immediately actionable.”
BASF’s Monomers division continues to advance an ambitious sustainability road map, including the development of low-PCF and circular product options across its major product lines. The launch of ISCC PLUS-certified BMB polyether polyols in North America complements the division’s existing BMB isocyanate offerings and reinforces BASF’s integrated approach to more sustainable polyurethane systems. •