"Passion and perseverance are the driving forces behind GELADI's development, and performance is the goal. With the support of family and the team, achieving this goal is guaranteed!" (Gelu Popa, CEO GELADI)
The company, a manufacturer of mattresses, raw materials, and materials for the upholstered products industry, began its activity two decades ago.
Gelu Popa, CEO GELADI: "We started in 2001 with the goal of becoming the main supplier of raw materials and materials for the furniture and upholstery industry. In 2005, we put into operation the first production machine for elastic cores for sofas, and in 2007, we opened our first operational point."
The first location was in Iași, because GELADI wanted to be closer to its customers in Northern Moldova. In the same year, the company also went online, presenting its products virtually on www.geladi.ro.
2 years later, GELADI launched its mattress factory.
"We started producing mattresses in our own factory in 2009. Whether it's orthopedic mattresses with standardized sizes or custom-made, latex mattresses, or pocket-spring systems, we have always sought comfort, and that's what sets us apart in the market," states GELADI's CEO.
GELADI's development was affected by the 2009-2010 economic crisis.
"The global crisis of 2009-2010 slowed down the company's development, but we learned that we must continue and strive to be better and better. We greatly diversified our product range, which allowed us to reach more distributors and expand our sales nationwide and abroad," says Gelu Popa.
To promote its products to both manufacturers and distributors in the furniture industry and the general public, GELADI has participated in many furniture exhibitions organized both domestically and internationally over the past 10 years.
"In the Romanian market, we are known both as manufacturers of mattresses and elastic cores, and as distributors of materials and accessories for the upholstered furniture industry. We can practically offer a complete range of materials needed in upholstery workshops and sections, such as: fabrics, faux leather, hardware items, sofa accessories, polyurethane foams, wadding, non-woven fabric (TNT type), bed bases," says GELADI's CEO.
Currently, GELADI collaborates with sofa factories and furniture stores in 30 counties.
"The company has a sales team of 10 well-trained agents who provide specialized consultancy at customer sites across the country. It also owns its own fleet of trucks to deliver products under maximum safety conditions and in the shortest possible time. "We constantly collaborate with furniture stores, factories specializing in the production of sofas and upholstered furniture, and upholstery and custom furniture workshops. GELADI mattresses are present in many stores specialized in selling bedroom furniture, as well as in accommodation facilities (hotels, guesthouses, student dormitories). A large part of our mattress production is sold through partner stores. We provide warranty and post-warranty service for all types of mattresses. Upon request, customers can customize their mattresses, choosing the size, shape, or component materials. We can manufacture any type of mattress, for both residential and accommodation areas, spas, or the healthcare system," states Gelu Popa.
In the company's product portfolio, a very important place is occupied by the production of elastic core with Bonnell biconical springs, intended for the upholstered furniture industry and the production of orthopedic mattresses, as well as the production of elastic core with individually pocketed springs (Pocket type), necessary for making "smart" mattresses. The company's management believes that the comfort level characterizing a mattress is directly proportional to the quality and geometry of the elastic core.
The company invests in state-of-the-art technology.
"We have an ongoing project to expand the production capacity for the two types of elastic core, a project that will become operational in the second half of 2021. The machinery involved in this project will be equipped with state-of-the-art, fully automated computer technology, which will enable the production of a varied range of high-quality and reliable manufacturing models at competitive prices," says Gelu Popa.
The company's biggest challenge is a 10-million-euro investment project aimed at constructing a production hall with an area of 7,500 square meters, equipped with a 1 MW photovoltaic power plant and ultra-modern machinery for producing Bonnell, Pocket, and Sinusoidal metal springs. A large part of the production realized in this new hall will be destined for export. By pressing and rolling the elastic core, storage space and transport costs will be significantly reduced. The project will become operational in 2023.
"In the spring of 2020, we experienced a stagnation in production, caused by the interruption of activity during the state of emergency, specifically from April 1st to May 15th. During this period, we faced several financial challenges. However, shortly after resuming activity, both production and sales recorded outstanding results, so that by the end of 2020, turnover exceeded the previous year's achievements by 10%," states the company's management.
The 20th anniversary of its existence is marked by the launch of a new mattress collection.
"To celebrate 2 decades of activity in the upholstery field, we have launched a new mattress collection made from carefully selected materials and with a bold design, intended to meet users' demands from all perspectives: quality, orthopedic support, and aesthetics. The highlight of this collection is the "Gold Edition" mattress with a Pocket-type core of individually wrapped springs, with a memory foam topper integrated into the cover, with a summer side doubled with cotton and a winter side doubled with wool, and an antibacterial fabric cover. This mattress model guarantees comfort, relaxation, and satisfaction even for the most demanding users," states Gelu Popa.
With a team of 100 people, using carefully selected materials, GELADI creates durable, easy-to-use upholstered products with smart designs, all with one goal: to make life easier for those who use them.
