HOW WEBBING IS MADE

While the webbing production process varies somewhat from company to company, quality contemporary webbing often features a core strand of rubber-like material wrapped in plastic polymers. These strands are then woven together.

For instance, in its Elasbelt webbing, Intes weaves together strands of latex that are individually covered with polypropylene. "The best way that I could describe it is that it's like a conduit," Rountree explains. "You've got the rubber running inside and it's covered with polypropylene, which protects the rubber. Because, if you get the rubber exposed, you automatically have a problem."

That's because rubber is prone to deterioration from environmental factors, such as temperature extremes and ultraviolet radiation, Rountree says. He adds that individually coating the strands allows upholsterers to cut Elasbelt on one end without affecting the integrity of the webbing.

Likewise, Ultra-Flex webbing products feature either rubber or synthetic rubber cores, encapsulated in either polyester or polypropylene. "The natural rubber has a long elasticity to it," Quick explains. "The synthetic rubber has a shorter stretch."

The strands of material are woven together, then, in its premium-grade products, Ultra-Flex adds an exterior coating of heat-treated latex to make them more durable. This coating includes antioxidants, designed to prevent UV deterioration. Ultra-Flex products are available in assorted sizes, from 1-inch straps to 48-inch sheets.

Of course, there are many other suspension materials on the market. For example, Tedco Industries Inc., Baltimore, offers an array of webbing, as well as quality springs. "We sell a coil spring, which is like an hourglass-wide at the top, thin at the center and wide again at the bottom," says Joe Guerrieri, Tedco's sales manager. "Then, we sell a variety of different types of webbing-jute webbing, polypropylene webbing, rubber webbing and elastic webbing."