Hello and happy Fall! 

Hopefully, you all have been well, busy, and your month starts off on the right foot. A lot has happened and changed in our world since the last newsletter. Along with that, U.S. Futaba has grown as a result and is looking to improve upon our service to you. Without haste, let us catch you up to speed with upcoming industry events, new product information, market trends, and news relevant to our industry.  

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us, at sales@usfutaba.com or myself at charlie@usfutaba.com. Want to call us instead? You will find all our contact information below. 

First, I want to introduce two recent additions to U.S. Futaba, they are Keishawn Smith and Elizaveta Ukolova. Both are ambitious individuals who are young and just starting their careers. We look forward to their fresh perspectives and introducing them to our industry. Keishawn will now be our Supply Chain Coordinator, and Elizaveta, the new Marketing Coordinator.

The NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention for 2023 is almost here. Taking place in Colorado Springs this year, from November 14th-16th. U.S. Futaba, Inc. is exhibiting for our 11th year in a row. Our President, Steve Ferrall, will be present and as will I.

The Annual Convention offers plenty of benefits for both the flooring industry and furniture hardware industry. For more information, please visit their website here: https://www.distributorconvention.org/

Recently, we showed a new product at AWFS 2023. The product was a new twist on our closet rod program. Here’s what you need to know

Samples are available upon request but are limited.

Let us know if you want to see more colors than just clear and cyan blue by clicking on or scanning the QR Code.

Many of you that service the bedroom furniture manufacturing market are already aware of the STURDY Act. It stands for Stop Tip-over of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth. After many attempts to lobby for change this bill was passed at the end 2022. The law went into effect on the first of last month. 

We can all agree that policy making, and definitions of laws are not nearly as accessible as most of us would like. In working with a few of our customers and suppliers on solutions a lot was learned. Mainly, about the 4 key tests for bedroom furniture, they are: 

1. Interlock Strength Test: used to test the interlocking mechanism for a nightstand or dresser. Here are the requirements:
   • Fasten the top of a unit to the wall. 
   • Open 1 drawer and apply 30 lbs. of pulling force to the closed drawers, 1 at a time. 
2. Simulated Clothing Load: used to test whether the furniture can remain standing when full. Here are the requirements: 
   • Every door/drawer on the unit must be opened if it can open. 
     • If 50% or more of the storage volume extends out, a load test is required. 
   • If an interlock solution is used on a drawer, this test is automatically passed.  
3. Simulated Horizontal Dynamic Force, here are the requirements: 
   • Where the highest handle/knob/pull is, but not to exceed 56”. 
   • Open all drawers and extendable components. 
   • Apply 10 lbs. of pulling force, for no less than 10 seconds from the highest handhold. 
4. Simulating a Reaction on Carpet with Child Weight, here are the requirements: 
   • Put a block under the back feet of the furniture. The block must be 7/16” in height. 
     • If furniture glides are used, the blocks must go under the glides. 
   • Open all drawers that can be accessed. 
   • Apply 60 lbs. of force on wherever is most likely to cause the furniture to tip-over. 
     • The drawers are allowed to remain empty for this test. 
   • Counterweights will be necessary if the furniture fails.

Hopefully, this is a more digestible explanation about the testing. However, there are still finer details and/or strict guidelines for performing these tests. Still, it should assist in better understanding the general concept of them. 

Currently, U.S. Futaba has been working on an interlock solution. A full launch will be done once we have it on order. If you would like more information, please reach out to sales@usfutaba.com. 

Please contact me for additional information or any questions you may have.

Charlie Fournell-Ferrall

Email:  charlie@usfutaba.com
Mobile: (757) 478-5587
Work:  (877) 293-0584