HIGH POINT – Ready to continue expanding its U.S. business despite the preliminary antidumping ruling that hit mattresses imported from Italy with a 257.06% tariff rate, Magniflex USA came to this week’s High Point Market armed with products made in New Mexico.
Marco Magni, president of the Prato, Italy-based company, said the move, which was initiated shortly after the petition was filed in July, will make Magniflex a stronger, more agile competitor in the U.S. His team has been telling the story since manufacturing was secured early this year.
“Our mattresses are produced with Italian love in New Mexico,” Magni said, adding that the mattresses are made with the company’s foam poured in its factories in Italy and cut-and-sewn covers. “We have 15 years of investment – money, time, energy – in the U.S. market, and we’re not going to be forced out of it. We still see great opportunity for growth for Magniflex.”
Magni said the company moved quickly when the antidumping petition that included Italy was first filed in July by 10 mattress and foam companies.
“We had to move quickly,” he said. “It took three to four months to get our strategy in place and shift away our Italian imports to U.S. manufacturing. We have a strong, solid strategy in place and look forward to growing our business here.”
Regarding the petition, Magni said the move re-energized the company in the U.S. market. “A crumb for us is a pie for bigger companies in this industry,” he said. “We believe in the American market, and we will continue to bring Magniflex Italia to U.S. retailers.”