Latex

This fluid is produced by specific secreting tissues inside the bark of a tall stemmed plant, Hevea Brasiliensis, which grows spontaneously in the equatorial forests of Brazil and is cultivated today in many African and Asian countries with a tropical-equatorial climate. This watery whitish fluid is composed of about 40% rubber. The remaining part is water and a small quantity of enzymes, fats, proteins and minerals. The harvest starts when the plant is 5 years old by making spiral cuts in the bark and placing a bowl at the base to collect the fluid as it flows down. To keep the latex flowing, cuts are renewed every 48 hours by removing a small strip of tissue of about 1 millimetre thick. The plant can be “milked” from 100 to 140 times a year for about 20 years. About 3 kg of dried rubber can be obtained from each plant in one year. Natural latex is then mixed with other elements and air is added to transform it into foam. It is then injected into special moulds and vulcanized to obtain a compact, elastic and resilient product that is ideal for making mattresses and pillows. The sense of pleasure, comfort and rest perceived when using these products is due to the exceptional qualities of the latex foam.

respiro^® is a new generation of latex sheets, designed by Somnium^® to satisfy the basic principles of ergonomics: biomechanics and micro-climate.The micro-climatic properties of a high-quality mattress must prevent heat accumulation and, therefore, excessive perspiration, which is the primary cause of moulds and bacteria.The ingenious ventilation system of respiro^®, composed of a network of pinholes in addition to the conventional ducts with blind holes, facilitates continuous ventilation inside the mattress to ensure correct temperature regulation, dispersal of natural body perspiration while at the same time preventing the proliferation of bacteria. The biomechanics in a mattress ensure the correct position of the human spine both for those who sleep on their back and those who sleep on their side, and they relieve pressure in the contact points between body and mattress.respiro^® achieves this perfectly with seven different comfort zones and a special convoluted surface texture that both soft to the touch and progressively resistant when subject to pressure. Moreover, with respiro^®, changing position during sleep requires less effort so that you wake up full of energy.

Vertical ducts with pinholes: total ventilation.

The pinholes and the unique surface shape guarantee that heat and perspiration are well balanced. In the shoulder area these ducts direct and distribute air and moisture both vertically and horizontally.