MPC Trading Company's Tubular Metal Bunk Beds Recalled; Collapsing Risk Cited

PRODUCT: Approximately 8,600 MPC Trading Company high-gloss, tubular metal frame bunk beds. The recalled beds include the model 3013 twin-size over full-size and the model 3012 twin-size/twin-size bunk beds. The beds were imported from Taiwan and sold to retail stores and distributors in California from December 1991 through February 1993.

PROBLEM: The bunk beds may collapse during use. Bed occupants may be injured by the falling upper bunk.

WHAT TO DO: Immediately stop using the recalled beds. To determine if you have an MPC bed, contact the retailer. Retail stores and distributors who purchased the recalled beds from MPC have already been contacted by CPSC. Retail stores will provide consumers with either a repair, replacement or refund of the purchase price. Consumers with questions can call the CPSC toll-free hotline weekdays at (800) 638-2772.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced a recall of tubular metal bunk beds imported and distributed by the MPC Trading Company, El Monte, California. The upper bed can fall unexpectedly, causing the bunk bed to collapse. Collapse of the top bunk could result in injury to a person in the bed. MPC Trading Company is currently out of business and the owners of the company are believed to have left the country.

Information obtained by CPSC indicates that MPC customers have returned approximately 300 bunk beds due to weld failures or other defects. In addition, CPSC has received four reports of MPC metal bunk beds collapsing; at least one person was injured.

Approximately 8,600 affected beds were imported from Taiwan and sold to retail stores and distributors in California from December 1991 through February 1993.

The affected beds include the models 3013 twin-size over full-size, and 3012 twin/twin bunk beds. The beds have metal frames made of hollow painted tubes. The glossy painted frames are red, blue, black or white.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bunk beds. To determine if you have an MPC bed, contact the retailer. Retail stores and distributors who purchased the affected beds have already been contacted by CPSC. Retailers will provide consumers with either a repair, replacement or refund of the purchase price. Consumers with questions can call the CPSC toll- free hotline weekdays at (800) 638-2772.

CPSC is continuing to investigate importers and manufacturers of metal bunk beds that may present a similar risk of collapsing. To date, firms have received over 500 complaints of defective bunk beds industry-wide. CPSC urges consumers to inspect all eight mattress support corners of all metal bunk beds for breaks or cracks in the paint and metal around the welds. Consumers should stop using damaged bunkbeds and contact the retailer, manufacturer, or importer. To assist CPSC in its investigation, consumers are urged to call the CPSC toll-free hotline weekdays at (800) 638-2772 to report incidents or injuries involving metal bunkbeds. A teletypewriter for the hearing impaired is available at (301) 595-7054.