PFA Fall Meeting Summary

Polyurethane Foam Association Fall Meeting Provides Forum For
Issues Including Sustainability And Innovation

Bobby Bush, Jr. Inducted Into Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall Of Fame

NEW ORLEANS, LA (November 29,2024)—The Polyurethane Foam
Association’s Spring Meeting in New
Orleans brought together people from more
than a dozen countries to discuss issues
affecting the flexible polyurethane foam
industry.

Key industry executives, researchers, EHS
specialists, marketers, and technologists met
at the Omni Royal Orleans for networking
and presentations on foam recycling, process
controls, regulatory developments, artificial
intelligence, and environmental regulation
for furniture.

PFA’s Industry Issues Session provided
updates on end use markets, AI and potential
liability, and regulatory trends in Europe.

In the Technical Program seven on the following day, presentations covered sustainability
certification, reticulated foam technology, equipment developments, new chemical additives, and
research on viscoelastic foams.

Dr. Philippe Knaub of FXI, PFA’s President, recognized new PFA members including Ikano
Industry, Dolphin Pack USA, and Elektrotex, He said that PFA has added twenty-eight new
member companies since the industry emerged from the pandemic, and noted that the
association’s work for its membership is more valuable than ever.

“The contributions of PFA members for more than four decades have established our association
as a credible voice for our industry,” Knaub said. “Our reputation as a resource for sound,
scientific information is vital as we address challenges such as sustainability, reliable testing and
proposed regulations that may affect our business. PFA has proven that cooperative efforts by its
members can be much more effective than any individual company managing such challenges
alone.”

During the conference, Bobby Bush, Jr. was inducted as the 36 th member of the Flexible
Polyurethane Foam Hall Of Fame. The Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame was
established to honor the leaders and innovators of the industry and serves as an information
source regarding the individuals and companies who have significantly contributed to the growth
and betterment of the flexible polyurethane foam industry in North America.

Bush, Jr. joins his father, Bob Bush, Sr., as the only father and son ever elected to the Hall.
Bobby Bush, Jr.’s career in the flexible polyurethane foam industry spans nearly 50 years. He
served for decades as a senior executive at Hickory Springs Mfr. (now HSM Solutions),
supervising foam pouring lines and managing environmental compliance operations. He served
four terms as PFA president, and also chaired PFA’s Technical Committee. In addition, he was
the Technical Advisor for the Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC).

“Bobby Bush, Jr. has been one of the industry’s most active and capable advocates,” noted Russ
Batson, PFA Executive Director. “He worked closely with the association and industry
executives to help establish CertiPUR-US ® in North America. This certification program
administered by a nonprofit organization helps ensure that foams used in a spectrum of products
meet exacting standards for content, emissions and durability, and has been analyzed by
independent, accredited testing laboratories.

“Bobby Bush also has represented the flexible polyurethane foam industry before regulatory
agencies and standards bodies including the Environmental Protection Agency, ASTM
International and the National Fire Prevention Association. Thanks to his work, our industry is
much stronger.”

After PFA’s Technical Program, Joern Struckmann of Reticulatus was named winner of the Dr.
Herman Stone Technical Excellence Award. The award is voted on by the professionals in
attendance during the Technical Program. The award is named for Dr. Herman T. Stone, who
served as PFA’s first Technical Director. In 2007, Dr. Stone was inducted into the Flexible
Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame.

The Polyurethane Foam Association is a trade association founded in 1980 to help educate
regulators, users, allied industries, and others about flexible polyurethane foam. PFA provides
facts on environmental, health and safety issues and technical information on the performance of
flexible polyurethane foam (FPF) in consumer and industrial products. FPF is used as a key
comfort component in most upholstered furniture and mattress products, along with automotive
seating, carpet cushion, packaging, and numerous other applications.