Electropedic Latex MattressesThe Electropedic Latex Mattress StoryIt all began in 1964 when Henry Kraus opened the first Electropedic Beds store, manufacturing and selling the incredible adjustable beds he had first seen at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. Some years later while traveling through Europe on pleasure, Henry Kraus stayed at a small boutique hotel in Switzerland and found the coziest mattresses he had ever slept on. Henry Kraus had been manufacturing and selling sleep products for some time at that point and the incredible feel of this mattress was very surprising to him! After waking up feeling invigorated and free of his typical back ache, Henry Kraus made a decision to stay another night. Now Henry Kraus had gone through back surgery about two decades earlier, and waking up without pain was both invaluable and a new experience. After his second night in that Swiss hotel, he once again awoke feeling rested and pain-free. He was so affected by the mattress that he was unable to let it go. Henry Kraus actually made a special trip back to Switzerland to that same hotel to find out what was so special about the mattress he had slept on. What was inside? How and where they were made? Where they were sold? He wanted to know where he could buy one and ship it back to the USA for his own personal use. Henry Kraus discovered that this special mattress was actually a latex mattress and these were actually quite popular in Europe. Soon after that Henry Kraus began manufacturing and selling latex mattresses, handmade one at a time, which then became the best selling mattresses at Electropedic. And now with nearly sixty years of expertise, Electropedic which was started by Henry Kraus in 1964 is still a family owned business run by his two sons, Lloyd and Philip Kraus. |
Electropedic Latex MattressesLatex - Native To The Amazon RainforestLatex comes from the hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree), originally native to the Amazon jungles of Brazil. The first use of rubber was by the Olmecs who, about 3,000 years ago, were the first major civilization in Mexico. The Olmecs harvested latex to make rubber balls for the the ancient Mesoamerican ball games. The ancient Mayans then picked up the practice and continued using latex balls at these ball games for hundreds of years. In these cultures latex was the symbolic of fertility, and was often burned, buried, or (fortunately for archaeology) laid in sacrificial pools as an offering to various deities. Latex is white and milky in appearance, has an elastic consistency, and is removed from the tree through a process called "rubber tapping," similar to the way maple syrup is tapped from maple trees. Today, latex is imported into the USA and foamed into mattress cores using the Talalay process for Electropedic. |
Electropedic Latex MattressesWhat is Classic Latex?Classic is blended latex, a combination of natural latex and synthetic latex mixed together. By combining natural latex and synthetic latex together you get the best of both worlds, natural health benefits and luxurious feel from natural latex combined with extended durability from synthetic latex. What is 100% Natural Talalay Latex?Natural latex is a milky substance harvested from the hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree), native to the Amazon jungle of Brazil and now grown in tropical climate plantations around the world. Natural latex is bio-degradable and naturally resistant to mold, mildew & bacteria. Natural latex, is 100% "natural" and if you're looking a more "green" lifestyle, Electropedic's natural Talalay latex mattress is 100% chemical free, highly durable and very long lasting. The Talalay process for making latex is the newest and most advanced form of latex mattress production and was developed in the 1940s. Some liquid latex is poured into the mattress mold and the air is vacuumed out, expanding the liquid latex and filling the mold form. The liquid latex is then frozen which gives Talalay latex its distinctive uniform consistency and even firmness throughout the mattress. In the original Dunlop process (see below), gravity makes the bottom side of the mattress a bit more dense and firm. The liquid Talalay latex is then baked in a vulcanization oven. The baked latex is then removed from its mold and thoroughly washed. The latex is then baked again to remove any moisture. The ability of of a natural Talalay latex mattress to confirm to your body, reducing pressure on your muscles and circulation is unsurpassed! OEKO-TEX CertificationAll Electropedic Talalay latex mattresses are OEKO-TEX certified Class 100 (their healthiest classification), assuring that your mattress is made without the use of any toxic chemicals. |
Electropedic Latex MattressesWhat is Certified Organic Dunlop Latex?The Dunlop process for making latex is the original form of latex production and was developed in 1929. The milky white latex is whipped into a liquid foam and poured into the mattress core mold. This is where the Dunlop and Talalay processes diverge in their techniques. In the Dunlop process the liquid latex mixture is poured into the mold in a single pour, completely filling the mold. The frothy liquid latex is then allowed to settle before being baked in a vulcanization oven. The baked latex is then removed from its mold and thoroughly washed. The latex is then baked again to remove any moisture. This results in a fine foam that is softer on the top side and denser on the bottom side because of the effects of gravity. In an Electropedic certified organic Dunlop latex mattress, the latex itself is certified by GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) and the organic cotton mattress cover is certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). These certifications requires the manufacturing process to follow strict mandatory social and environmental regulations. |