Company Spotlight: It’s All About Location at Switzerland’s Spühl

Situated in the picturesque village of Wittenbach, Switzerland, Spühl benefits from both a great physical location and its location within the structure of Leggett & Platt. As part of the Residential Furnishings segment, Spühl provides the machines necessary to create many of Leggett’s own bedding components.

Spühl resides in Wittenbach, Switzerland.

The countryside around Spühl in Wittenbach, Switzerland.

Like a Swiss watch

When asked about the culture at Spühl, Roger Straessle, Vice President of International Sales, said, “Our employees are very precise and reliable, like a Swiss watch. They’re encouraged to make decisions within their work responsibilities, creating a sense of trust and motivation.”

Continue reading

Four Questions to Ask Before Relocating & Six Things I Love About Joplin, MO

Relocation Services Icon

Relocating for your career can be a stressful time. We get it. You have to consider selling your home, finding a new one, and moving your family and belongings to a new location, maybe across the country. Not to mention all the time, energy, and money it takes to do it. That’s why in January 2015 Leggett & Platt approved new company guidelines for our domestic relocations. These guidelines help our hiring managers make informed decisions on relocation packages that work for both the new employee and the company.

Relocation is just one of the many benefits you could enjoy if you choose a job with Leggett & Platt. However, please know that relocation may not be offered for every position in every location.

Continue reading

Employee Spotlight: Introducing Gustavo Lemos from Sorocaba, Brazil

Although Brazil is considered one of the world’s most promising markets, its volatile economy has proven frustrating for many businesses. According to Eric Rhea, President of Leggett’s Bedding Group, “Establishing a business in Brazil can be risky, but managing a successful business there can be even more challenging. After years of fighting unfavorable conditions, we’ve recently turned a corner and want to seize the opportunities we’ve developed.”

Gustavo comes to Leggett with an engineering background, an MBA, and years of experience as an Operational Director with 3M.

Gustavo Lemos (center) comes to Leggett with an engineering background, an MBA, and many years of experience as an Operational Director for 3M.

“We found the kind of leader who confronts such difficulties head on with Gustavo Lemos,” said Eric. Gustavo joined Leggett in November 2014 as the South America President over Leggett & Platt de Brasil, a facility in Sorocaba with 305 employees that manufactures residential furniture and components. Continue reading

Look Inside: First Quarter Record EPS

“For the full year, we expect to achieve similar results: record sales from continuing operations, our highest EBIT margin since 2000, and record EPS.” — Dave Haffner, Board Chair & CEO, from the first quarter press release.

Look Inside - 1st Quarter Record EPS

Company Spotlight: High Point Furniture Sets an Eco-Example

Ruby Jones and Richard Weeks each have over 20 years of experience with Leggett & Platt.

Ruby Jones and Richard Weeks each have over 20 years of experience with Leggett & Platt.

Environmental awareness runs deep at High Point Furniture in High Point, North Carolina. The Leggett & Platt manufacturing facility, which produces a variety of furniture components, recently hit a milestone, becoming landfill-free – meaning it reduced its waste sent to landfills from 41 tons a year to zero.

To accomplish this impressive goal, High Point has basically made recycling a way of life. Everything that is recyclable is recycled appropriately, and things that aren’t go to a waste-to-energy plant, where they’re converted into fuel for kilns.

Building a better recycling program

High Point began its recycling journey in October 2009, when the American Home Furnishing Alliance started the Enhancing Furniture’s Environmental Culture program and encouraged High Point to participate. By March of 2010, High Point had become the first supplier company to complete the program successfully. The branch found that, through the program, it could not only reduce its carbon footprint, but also save money along the way. Continue reading

Eco Initiative Highlights – Spring 2015

LP-Ecoiniative-3410-300x134-colorfixedHere are two recent examples of Leggett & Platt’s commitment to be a good steward of our resources and environment. (Items in italics might be slightly embellished.)

Saving Energy by Reducing Horsepower

With a goal of energy savings, our Houston Foam facility (in Mississippi, not Texas) evaluated every motor in the plant and found they could cut some unnecessary horsepower. By replacing an over-sized motor for grinding equipment and removing an auger and drying fans that were no longer needed, they reduced total horsepower by 180, or 8%.

According to latest reports, the 180 liberated horses are now running wild and free across Mississippi.

Putting an Old Boiler Out to Pasture

Our Sponge Cushion facility in Morris, IL, which makes carpet cushion, has reduced fuel consumption and emissions by retiring a half-century old piece of equipment.

Working with their natural gas provider, NICOR, the plant found that their 1950s boiler used to cure synthetic rubber was, not surprisingly, a bit of a gas guzzler. While the boiler had served them well (and certainly shows they know how to maintain plant equipment), Sponge Cushion estimated they could reduce fuel usage 53% by upgrading to a modern unit.

Once installed, however, the new boiler performed even better than expected, using 65% less fuel. This is saving 104,000 therms of natural gas and eliminating 500 tons of CO2 annually.

With its replacement sweating away, the retired boiler is cooling off poolside in Palm Springs.

Employee Spotlight: Russ Dunton & Jason Maneke Make an Environmental Impact

Russ Dunton & Jason Maneke

Jason (left) and Russ received the Indiana Governor’s Award in 2011 for their branch’s environmental efforts. “I had to wear a suit, so it was a big deal,” Jason joked.

Russ Dunton and Jason Maneke may be two of the most passionate people at Leggett & Platt. Both work at our branch in Kendallville, Indiana. Both exude excitement when they talk about their jobs. Both invest significant time and energy in their facility, the environment, and the intersection of those worlds.

Russ and Jason support a facility with 85 folks who work hard and stay put – the average employee tenure is 16.5 years! Their efforts have demonstrated how a single facility can make a large, ongoing impact on the environment.

Kendallville is a wire-forming business that supplies materials to the bedding and furniture industries. Russ currently serves as Branch Manager and has previous experience in engineering, IT, and machine design. Jason may wear the title Human Resources Manager, but he also oversees their safety, environmental, and continuous improvement efforts. Jason joined Leggett after being part of the plastics industry for many years.

Continue reading