The company borrowed the memory foam technology developed by NASA. Memory foam mattresses conform to users' shape and position by reacting to their body temperature and weight. Sealy, which was founded in 1881, makes a broad array of spring coil beds under brands including Stearns & Foster, Sealy and Sealy Posturepedic. While Tempur-Pedic has a particularly strong presence in North America, Europe and Asia, Sealy has a strong presence in North America, Asia and Argentina. Sealy also has strong brand recognition through its international licensees and joint ventures. 'In one action, Tempur-Pedic gains access to new slots at major retailers and independents with a complimentary product suite," wrote Brian Sozzi, chief equities analyst at NBG Productions in a note to clients. "Essentially, the company has fought to build a wall around itself from competitors that have demonstrated innovation."