Rooted in Manufacturing. Driven by Innovation.
The Strobel family has been in manufacturing since 1950. Growing up in his father's factory, Mark Strobel absorbed a rare breadth of hands-on skills — plastics, chemicals, woodworking, mechanics, electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics, machining, welding, engineering, design, production, quality control, and marketing. Much of the factory's machinery was designed and built in-house, and Mark eventually mastered that craft as well.
A Business Born from a Better Night's Sleep
After college and a few early jobs, Mark found himself at a crossroads — unemployed, entrepreneurial, and searching for direction. The answer came one morning while lying in his waterbed, reluctant to get up. He loved how it felt. He believed others would too.
Waterbeds were still considered a fringe product at the time, but Mark did his research, convinced himself of the opportunity, and took action. With $600 in life savings, he bought woodworking tools and started building and selling waterbed frames. Within months, he opened the first waterbed store in Louisville, Kentucky — in 1974.
Building a Manufacturing Legacy
As the business grew, Mark identified a critical gap: a severe shortage of quality watermattresses. He set out to fill it. Financing wasn't easy — he was turned away by every bank in Louisville before finally finding one willing to take a chance. With that backing, he purchased equipment, built a manufacturing plant, and began producing watermattresses.
That decision launched what would become one of the most respected names in specialty sleep. Mark remains active in all phases of the business today, with a particular focus on research and development.
Pioneering Sleep Technology
Mark Strobel has spent over 25 years researching sleep and mattress design — experimenting with foam, air, water, innerspring systems, and every combination imaginable. His work has produced numerous U.S. patents and industry-defining innovations, including:
- The Feathertop Surface — a breakthrough in sleep comfort
- Lumbar Support Systems — engineered for spinal health
- Polyfilax — premium high-density memory foam
- The Lever-Spring System — a patented suspension design the patent examiner called unlike anything he had ever seen
- The Double Hull Watermattress and The Supple-Pedic — both protected by broad U.S. patents that competitors cannot easily design around
The Supple-Pedic remains one of the most innovative sleep products ever developed — and the first U.S.-made memory foam mattress. Among industry circles, Strobel Manufacturing has earned a reputation for the highest quality in the business, backed by a dedicated team that takes great pride in their work.
Standing Up for Clean, Safe Sleep
Around 2005, California enacted flameproof mattress regulations, and the mattress industry lobbied the national Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to adopt them nationwide. The test requires mattresses to withstand an open blowtorch flame for over a minute — a standard that pushed manufacturers toward heavy chemical treatments.
Mark Strobel refused to compromise. Unable to find a non-toxic, chemical-free solution that met the standard, he led a national campaign against the regulation — generating coverage in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and TV news features across the country.
The CPSC's own data showed consumers absorbing toxic and carcinogenic chemicals at levels hundreds of times above what other agencies consider safe — yet required no labeling, leaving widespread misinformation in the market. Learn more at PeopleForCleanBeds.org.
Strobel responded by refocusing on waterbeds, which are naturally non-toxic and largely exempt from the regulation. Their softside waterbeds were specifically engineered to qualify for that exemption.
More Ways to Sleep Clean
For customers who sleep on conventional mattresses, Strobel offers Toxin Block mattress pads that help reduce chemical absorption. These pads can be layered to create a fully customizable, toxin-free sleep surface — topped with Polyfilax memory foam for comfort, medium firmness in the middle, and a firm layer at the base. Mix and match to your preference.
Why We Became Strobel Organic
Nothing is more natural than water. Our waterbeds avoid the toxins found in conventional mattresses, and everything we make reflects the same commitment: better sleep, cleaner materials, and products that put your health first.
Strobel — on the leading edge of technology.