Matt Smallwood peeks up from his computer monitor, breaking an afternoon trance from designing in SolidWorks. “Would you like to see what I’ve been working on for two years?” he asks.

And so, we leave his office and walk down to the shop floor to see the new Gribetz XT9 Stitch Bridge machine. Matt, a Research Engineer for L&P’s Global Systems Group (GSG), started in his role in 2011.

One of the challenges with this project was finding needles long enough to pierce through foam. The team got creative and made their own.

As he talks through the functionality of the machine, he quickly redirects any praise and instead highlights the collaborative efforts of the team. “I’ve learned so much from Michael James, our resident sewing expert, and Terry Myers, who led the project. This machine wouldn’t have been built without them.”

What is the Gribetz XT9 Stitch Bridge machine?

It’s a thread-based laminating machine introduced just this year by Gribetz International. In an industry accustomed to gluing together mattress comfort layers, this machine stitches them together with thread. Not only is thread more cost-effective than glue, it’s a better-quality product. Continue reading →

Since starting at L&P in 2014, Miguel Rivero has been committed to his customers. As an International Sales Representative for our Machinery Division, Miguel serves over 50 customers in Latin America when they require replacement parts for bedding machinery and systems.

8:30am: Miguel starts his day in the office, sending emails and making phone calls. Instead of waiting for customers to contact him, he proactively reaches out to them to ensure their machinery is running smoothly. Since Miguel is bilingual, he’s able to successfully assist customers who speak both Spanish and English. “Many of our customers’ machines operate 24 hours a day. You can imagine how much the parts wear down over time. My job is to help them replace those parts as efficiently as possible, so as not to impact their operations.”

10:00am: After checking in with customers, Miguel heads down to the parts room to double-check SKU numbers and take pictures of various machine parts. With numerous quilting, sewing, packaging, and specialized machinery to support, the parts room contains over 5,000 unique parts!

1:20pm: Back in his office, Miguel helps the customer service team by boxing a few orders for shipment. He also organizes marketing materials for his next trade show.

Continue reading →

With 83 tradeshows planned this year, L&P’s Exhibits & Events team is constantly on the go. Today we shadowed Autumn Bjugstad, Project Manager, to give you a glimpse into a typical workday for their staff — there’s rarely a dull moment.

8:25 am: After grabbing her coffee, Autumn gets to work designing a tradeshow booth space. Members of the team are responsible for their assigned events from start to completion. This includes event registrations, managing budgets, designing booth spaces, coordinating signage and video production, and facilitating shipments.

10:15 am: Autumn discusses color palette options with Kyleigh Newell, Account Representative. Her team meets regularly to collaborate on design details and provide each other with project updates.

Continue reading →

Throughout May, we’re highlighting people, places, and products within our Specialized Products segment. Today we’re putting the spotlight on Megan Alger, who works in Penetrant Inspection at Pegasus in Middletown, Connecticut.

She may have joined the Pegasus team just a few months ago, but Megan Alger is already brimming with experience, knowledge, and excitement about her role in nondestructive testing (NDT).

Every day, Megan employs various techniques to evaluate the properties of our materials and products without causing damage, and she ensures the products are safe for aerospace applications. Talk about an important job!

Tell us about your background.

I have worked in nondestructive testing (NDT) for about four years and on a variety of products – from 2-ton components down to tiny little 9/16” ball bearings. I’m fortunate to have a passion that also runs in my family. My dad is an ASNT LIII. (ASNT is the American Society of Nondestructive Testing. ASNT serves as a certifying body along with many other roles. So, an ASNT LIII is a level III, which is the highest certification possible in NDT.)

After watching my dad, I was inspired at a very young age to pursue NDT. On Saturdays as a kid, I’d get to help him run some parts through the fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) process, and then on Mondays, my dad’s employees would reprocess the same components, so I could get feedback regarding my findings. I have been hooked since then. Continue reading →

Throughout April, we’re highlighting people, places, and products within our Industrial Products segment.

Meet James Dixon. He started his career with Solon Specialty Wire in 1967.

James is a Die Finisher, which means he prepares the machines to draw wire. Over the years, he’s worked hard to perfect his craft. “I like what I do. It’s a very interesting business. You’d never believe how many different industries we support by making and supplying wire.”

Solon Specialty Wire, located in Solon, Ohio, produces round specialty wires and flat-shaped, non-ferrous wires for the construction, telecommunication, automotive, food packaging, and medical industries.

Since 2009, Solon has made environmental sustainability a priority, focusing on many projects such as reducing packaging materials and scrap steel, as well as reducing transportation costs.

James has seen a lot of changes during the last 50 years, some rapid and some more gradual. “At one time, most of the materials we manufactured had to be patented (heat-treated through a furnace). Steel rod has become more durable, and our business has gotten more sophisticated.”

Still, the team at Solon has remained committed to quality. According to James, “We’re very focused on using high-quality materials, and we do a lot more testing now than earlier years. It’s all in an effort to ensure the reliability and consistency of our wire.”

Throughout March, we’re highlighting people, places, and products within our Residential Products segment. Today we’re putting the spotlight on Andrew Frankland, Site Manager at L&P Springs UK.

What’s your background prior to L&P?

I’ll be celebrating 10 years with L&P in June! Although I’ve previously worked in office environments, my role within Leggett is to run a production facility.

Prior to L&P, I began my career working for a bank, and then I moved into a finance role for a foam manufacturer and later a medical supply manufacturer. Altogether, I spent about 10 years in those accounting and finance roles.

It was during my last job that I got a little more involved in production and other departments, and I realized I didn’t want to work solely with numbers all day. So, I found a role within customer service, transport, and production before starting at Leggett & Platt.

Continue reading →

Throughout March, we’re highlighting people, places, and products within our Residential Products segment. First up, meet Javier Montano with Vertex Fasteners.

Vertex develops, manufactures, and distributes fasteners (such as clips, staples, nails, and rings), fastening tools, and fastening machines used in the assembly of many products.

Vertex primarily serve the markets of upholstered furniture, bedding, automotive seating, cages and traps, and fencing and razor wire. Serving this many distinct markets means serving many different customers, which is where Javier shines. As International Sales Manager, he interacts with customers around the world every single day.

Tell us about your background.

I have a background in Industrial Engineering, although for most of my career, I have worked in the technical side of sales. For almost 20 years, I worked for a company in the gas and welding industry, leading a marketing and business development unit as well as a team of welding applications experts. Continue reading →

If you’ve ever worked in the service industry or planned an event of any size, you know how demanding these roles can be. Nancy Robinson and Tammy Snyder work in the Facilities Department at L&P’s Corporate Office. Both can face hectic days, but they do so with smiles on their faces.

In the flurry of the service industry, you have to have a little fun, and Nancy and Tammy are two of our best at doing just that.

Nancy Robinson and Tammy Snyder.

Continue reading →