Eden Sleep Innovation, a bed-making company, is in a celebratory mood after walking off with the first prize in the manufacturing category for its hybrid flatpack bed base design, at the annual Furniture Design Competition Awards hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic).
The creative design known as Unibase, is engineered and manufactured locally and combines sustainable wood and recycled plastic. It is a compact ‘carry and go’ bed base that can easily fit into a car or taxi, as well as through doorways and staircases. It also saves up to 85 percent in space throughout the supply chain, including warehousing and transportation.
The Chief Director of Agroprocessing and Forestry Based Industries at the dtic, Ms Ncumisa -Mcata-Mhlauli says the competition has been established by department to promote innovation in the development of new, competitive furniture products and to contribute towards skills development initiatives.
“The Furniture Industry Masterplan adopted in 2021 identifies the shortage of high-level skills in the furniture industry such as design and skilled artisans in furniture manufacturing as a major concern. Therefore, the competition is an instrument that the department is using to promote and encourage interest in the furniture industry and to entice upcoming designers into the industry. We want to raise and nurture design capabilities in the country, raise the image of the Furniture Manufacturing Industry in South Africa, improve the industry’s competitiveness and re-position the industry for high-value-added products,” she says.
The Managing Director of Eden Sleep Innovation, Mr Aldrin John says they are honoured to have won the award as a testament to the vision of the company.
“Our vision as a company is to revolutionise sleep and furniture solutions with innovative, high-quality, and affordable products. This annual initiative, led by the dtic, now in its 10th year, plays a crucial role in showcasing the capabilities of local young talent and seasoned professionals in the furniture industry. We encourage more industry stakeholders to get involved in future initiatives, as they are essential for fostering innovation and growth within the South African furniture sector.”
The winning design – the UniBase, a first-of-its-kind hybrid flatpack bed base
Enquiries
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
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E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
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