|
 April
27, 2011 - The
CertiPUR-US® certification
program for flexible
polyurethane foam achieved a
milestone today with the
announcement that industry
veteran Douglas A. Sullivan has
been named executive director.
Sullivan succeeds Bob Luedeka,
who was appointed to serve as
interim executive director until
the program reached a level of
success that allowed for the
hiring of a permanent director.
“This feels a little like
sending off a child to college,”
quipped Luedeka, who serves as
the executive director of the
Polyurethane Foam Association (PFA),
the organization that initiated
the CertiPUR-US program.
There has been a groundswell of
interest in CertiPUR-US by
manufacturers and retailers who
see the foam product
certification program as an
effective way to address
consumer’s health, safety and
environmental concerns. That
interest, combined with the
naming of Sullivan as its
dedicated executive director,
will add to the success the
CertiPUR-US program is already
having in the marketplace and in
the environmental community,
Luedeka said.
Sullivan’s career in the
flexible polyurethane foam
industry spans more than three
decades. For nearly 20 years he
served as technical director –
and before that -- director of
research and development at
Hickory Springs Manufacturing
Company, Conover, NC.
Previously, Sullivan was a
research scientist at Union
Carbide Corporation’s Urethane
Chemicals division in South
Charleston, WV, and project
leader at Dow Chemical Company.
He earned his doctorate in
Chemistry from the University of
Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Sullivan has presented numerous
technical papers at industry
meetings and currently serves as
chairman of the ASTM
International subcommittee on
furniture flammability.
“As
a long-time colleague and
respected scientist, Doug
Sullivan is the ideal person to
lead CertiPUR-US to the next
level,” said Luedeka.
“CertiPUR-US gives confidence to
all foam industry stakeholders –
furniture manufacturers,
retailers and consumers – about
the quality, comfort and
performance characteristics of
certified foam and foam
products. “
Flexible polyurethane foams that
carry the CertiPUR-US label have
met rigorous testing standards
in independent laboratories and
are certified to be low emission
for indoor air quality and made
without ozone-depleters,
formaldehyde, PBDEs, prohibited
phthalates, lead, mercury and
other materials of concern.
Products also must meet certain
physical performance and
durability standards. All major
U.S. foam producers now offer
CertiPUR-US certified foams.
CertiPUR-US, a program of the
Alliance for Flexible
Polyurethane Foam, Inc., is a
voluntary testing, analysis and
certification program developed
by the global flexible
polyurethane foam industry.
More information is available at
www.certipur.us. |
