Markets / BEDS / Feb.01

Harrison Spinks and the $40bn car parts maker

Mattress technology to be used by auto firm

Yorkshire bed company Harrison Spinks has signed a development deal that will see its technology used by one of the largest companies in the world.

Johnson Controls, a US based car parts maker with global sales of about $40bn, is hoping to use miniature coiled springs developed by Harrison Spinks in its car seats, as a lighter, thinner and greener alternative to seat foam.

The two businesses are hoping the technology will be available for 2015 model year vehicles, and if all goes to plan, the circa £26m mattress and bed company could see sales snowball to several times that figure.

The thin profile seat concept, called ComfortThin, replaces conventional urethane foam pads with a 100 percent recyclable alternative, and provide a five to 20 per cent weight reduction.

“As part of our innovation process, Johnson Controls looks to apply technology from other industries into automotive applications,” said Andreas Eppinger, group vice president, technology management for Johnson Controls Automotive Experience.

“Leveraging the Harrison Spinks pocketed coil spring mat technology allows us to offer a seating concept with an unrivalled level of support that contours to the vehicle occupant’s body for short and long-term comfort,” he said.

Simon Spinks, Harrison Spinks md (pictured), said: "We are delighted to have signed this agreement with the industry leader Johnson Controls so that we can bring this sustainable alternative to traditional foam technology to the automotive industry.”