Dunlopillo Beds

The Dunlopillo trademark was first registered in 1926 by parent company Dunlop, three years before Dunlopillo latex foam was invented. In 1929, a research team led by Mr E A Murphy finally developed Dunlopillo latex foam in a corner of the Fort Dunlop building in Birmingham. During WWII Dunlopillo mattresses were only available with a medical certificate from a GP, after Latex supplies were cut off by Japanese occupation of Malaysia. In the post-war years to 1964, Dunlopillo increased sales of its latex foam mattresses and pillows, not only to retailers but to most contract markets. Dunlopillo latex was even specified for use in all upholstery for the re-built Houses of Parliament. In 1965, Dunlopillo installed the latest method for manufacturing latex foam at its Harrogate factory. The Talalay system soon established itself as the premier type of latex foam available. 1985 saw the acquisition of the Dunlop Group, including Dunlopillo, by BTR plc before successful management buy-out in 1997 took Dunlopillo once more into private hands. More change came in 2002, when the giant Swedish-run Hilding Anders Group acquired the Dunlopillo brand in the UK and Ireland. In the following year, Dunlopillo beds manufacturing joined its sister company Slumberland, based in Oldham, until 2008 saw the concentration of Dunlopillo and Slumberland production in Huntingdon, joining new sister companies Myer’s Comfortable Beds and Staples Beds.

For more information about ordering the renowned Dunlopillo brand mattresses, pillows and divan sets from Allen & Appleyard, contact us on 01565 634 049 or by e-mail at, or simply fill in our customer enquiry form.

What is Latex?

In its purest form, natural latex is the milky white liquid that is tapped from the trunks of mature rubber trees (hevea brasiliensis).   

Dunlopillo takes the natural latex and blends it with a synthetic latex (SBR). This blended mixture is then ready to be turned into latex foam, using the TALALAY production process. 

The TALALAY Production Process

A measured amount of slightly foamed latex is poured into a large fixed mould to only partially fill it. The lid is then sealed and the latex is expanded by vacuum to completely fill the mould. As soon as the latex has filled the mould it is 'held' and prevented from collapsing by rapidly dropping the temperature to -30°C and freezing it solid.

At this point, carbon dioxide gas is passed through the latex and the temperature raised to 115°C, which sets and vulcanises it, after which the lid of the mould automatically opens, and the product is stripped and placed on a conveyor. The latex block or pillow is transferred first through a washer to rinse out any residual detergents and impurities before passing through a mangle to squeeze out the water. 

The product then travels through a system of overhead dryers prior to reaching a physical testing station. Every latex block is individually tested to ensure it meets the required specifications for density and hardness, prior to despatch or conversion in to a mattress or pillow.