Machinery parts supplier Jumpsource has announced a new sales and marketing partnership with machinery maker Union Special, headquartered in Huntley, Illinois.
Together, the companies are launching a lineup of U.S.-made industrial sewing machinery for mattress manufacturing. The new equipment was designed by Michael Porter Sr., chair and chief executive officer of Delray, Florida-based Jumpsource.
Porter has a long history in industrial sewing equipment. He and his father founded Porter International, which they sold to Leggett & Platt Inc. in 1997. He later founded metal machine parts supplier Jumpsource in 1999 with sons Michael Porter Jr. and Sam Porter.
Jumpsource displayed a prototype of a new tape-edge machine designed by Michael Porter Sr. and manufactured by Union Special at ISPA EXPO 2016 in March. The company also promoted newly designed, Union Special-made flange, binding, border and capping machinery.
‘Built from scratch’ At its ISPA EXPO 2016 booth, Delray, Florida-based Jumpsource launched a new line of industrial sewing equipment, including this new tape-edge machine, manufactured by Union Special, with headquarters in Huntley, Illinois.
“Our offerings target the most common sewing processes in mattress manufacturing,” Porter said.
“We built the tape-edge machine from scratch—it incorporates the best features of the Pfaff 5625 sewing head—the industry’s ‘Mercedes’—and the Singer 300U—its ‘Chevy’. This is a major development and we had it on a fast track. It’s close to 600 parts. Union Special is the only one that could ever do this. They can build it from the ground up and make it correctly.”
Michael Porter Jr., Jumpsource vice president of sales, added: “We are turning a lot of heads in the industry with many improvements to the old flange and binding and tape-edge machines. It’s pretty exciting. This is the best bedding equipment in the world—at a lower cost. We project to become No. 2 in the industry in five years.”
Union Special was founded in 1881 and operates a 500,000-square-foot plant at its Illinois headquarters, as well as another factory in Germany. Jumpsource has exclusive responsibility for equipment sales of the new bedding industry machinery and will continue to develop and refine the product lineup with Union Special.
All equipment is made in the United States and goes through rigorous Union Special testing protocols, the Porters said.
Union Special designed the world’s first tape-edge machine, they added, which was exhibited at the 1934 World’s Fair in Chicago. The equipment maker recently sold its 2 millionth machine, and its products are found in factories around the world.
