March 15 is World Sleep Day and this year’s theme is “Sleep Equity for Global Health”. That’s a pretty big objective considering on average we spend a third of our lives in bed – 26 years sleeping plus seven years trying to fall asleep.
Maurizio Pace, the founder of Monaco’s only mattress brand Batflex, comments, “The key to getting proper sleep and waking up rested is to realise that we can’t entrust our bodies to a ‘static rectangle’ for 26 years. The rectangle must be ‘magical’ and that can only be achieved by trusting those who have studied how to make a mattress.”
Maurizio likens the difference between sleeping on a good mattress and sleeping on a high-quality mattress to fast fashion versus haute couture. “I believe the term ‘high quality’ is overused and reduces the real meaning. High quality at Batflex not only refers to the materials and workmanship involved, but also to the research that goes into our bespoke products.”
Born in Naples, Maurizio learned from the best. “I started through a natural traineeship with the family business. By my father’s side, I learned everything from consulting and mechanical construction to the marine and yachting sector,” he says.
For Maurizio, a well-managed family-run business facilitates and accelerates professional growth. “There are definitely advantages working with family but it should never be a competition. When everyone respects their roles, there is a mutual understanding that the goal is about building the company name and not the individual.”
The entrepreneur says his passion for the nautical industry “is in the blood of every Neapolitan because of the wonder that comes from even the simplest of sailing in the world’s most beautiful waters.” After university, he started out at an independent shipbuilder organising the emergency technical management of megayachts. This passion led to an appreciation of wood materials and the refitting of prestigious yachts like Cantieri di Pisa.
“Soon our company became a dealer for the main brands of yacht and megayacht components and after three years, with around 1,000 documented emergency interventions with 98% success, I moved to Monaco to expand our activity into the world of management and conciergerie services.”
As he explains it, “Each boat is a ‘small universe’ that combines the comfort of living with the complexity of cruising. Watching the sunrise or set from a yacht or cruising at night under starry skies are experiences that cannot be replicated onshore.”
In Monaco, Maurizio had an idea to transform “a static rectangle” into an art of living and sleeping. “It is all interlinked. The idea came after observing the lack of attention paid by yacht owners to a fundamental component of the on-board lifestyle. After looking into the methods used to construct mattresses, I threw down the gauntlet in an industry that is predominantly assembling low-quality products derived from chemicals. Their process is disrespectful of the environment and not part of a circular economy.”
Maurizio thoroughly studied the materials and construction methods to come up with quality and environmentally-friendly products and in 2019 he launched the family business Batflex Monaco. “We grew through customer testing by placing around 40,000 products on the market in three years and evaluating feedback and response at the 12-, 24- and 36-month markers.”
With his daughter Sofia at his side (pictured top), the design phase takes place in the Batflex offices at Palais de la Scala in Monaco. The mattresses are recognised for their all-round customisation and for the meticulous choice of materials. Production is outsourced to factories which are selected each year based on quality standards, innovation, ecology and technology, all under the supervision and testing of Batflex Monaco. “Production currently takes place in Italy at a leading company where we reserve exclusive production lines.”
There are two Batflex collections, each addressing slumber needs. One covers the most frequent requests—ergonomic and constant support, sleep independence and thermoregulation. The other collection is made-to-measure based on questions that identify the most suitable internal and external configurations to solve sleep issues. This technology starts at around €2,500. New product lines include ecological and natural mattresses.
“This is what living a high-quality sleeping experience means. Sleeping on a mattress that respects the alignment of your body’s structure relieves the right pressure points and ‘cuddles’ you with an extra feature that perfectly suits you. For example, a natural cover, magnetotherapy, essential oils and thermoregulation.”
The name Batflex comes from fantasy. “It is the superhero of mattresses. Like Batman, who acts at night to defeat crime, Batflex acts at night to defeat bad sleep. As a result, there is always well-being and peace of mind for the community.” The company’s logo is Kimbo the schnauzer, who was Maurizio’s faithful companion for 15 years. “I wanted to pay tribute to the one who gave his eternal loyalty without ever asking for anything in return. This is a symbol of my gratitude to him.”