Choosing the Right Gas Spring Force for Bed Bases, Cabinets and Storage Chests
Turkey is one of the world's largest producers of ottoman bed bases, and every one of them runs on two gas springs. Add storage sofas, cabinet flap doors and ottoman/chest mechanisms, and furniture becomes the highest-volume application for gas springs. High volume turns a small selection error into thousands of complaints — this article is about preventing the three most common mistakes.
Bed bases: the mattress is half the calculation
In an ottoman bed base mechanism, the load being lifted is not just the lid (the mattress platform) but the mattress on top of it. A 30 kg platform can be sold with a 15 kg foam mattress or a 45 kg sprung mattress — the gas spring carries whatever mattress the force was tested with. As a manufacturer, select the force for the "heaviest recommended mattress" scenario and state the mattress weight range in the user manual. The classic customer complaint is a base tested with a light mattress that will not open under a heavy one.
Twin gas springs: the force splits in two, the life ends together
In a bed base, the total required force is split between two gas springs (e.g. 1200 N total → 2×600 N). Two rules: both sides must always be the same force and the same production batch, and in service they must always be replaced as a pair. Replacing one side only twists the mechanism and shortens the life of the new gas spring as well.
Quiet, controlled closing
A bed base that slams shut in a bedroom ruins the product's perception overnight. For a softened final phase of closing, low force progression groups are preferred; on cabinet flap doors, small-diameter series (6/15, 8/18) deliver controlled motion on light flaps. On storage sofas, if the requirement is that the user opens the lid one-handed while children cannot open it at all, the force range is narrowed accordingly.
· Even a few millimetres of change in the hinge-to-mounting distance (L1 distance) changes the required force; do not reuse the old gas spring on a new model assuming "it will fit anyway".
· In an export container the product can see −20 °C; stiff first openings on arrival are normal and not permanent — inform your dealer of this.
· If you work on an annual repeat-order model, freeze the part code; we guarantee the same force tolerance in every batch.
COMSTAN offers high-volume production at repeatable quality for bed base and furniture manufacturers. Define your mechanism dimensions in the configurator and have your part code and unit price the same day.
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