FOAMEX INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED PASSENGER AIRCRAFT FUEL FIRE SUPPRESSION TECHNOLOGY LINWOOD, PA, June 21, 2004 – Foamex International Inc. (NASDAQ: FMXI), the leading manufacturer of flexible polyurethane and advanced polymer foam products in North America, today announced that its Technical Products Group has been selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (the "FAA") to receive a congressionally appropriated Research and Development award in the amount of $729,062. The appropriation was made available at the request of members of the Pennsylvania and Indiana Congressional delegations, and through the leadership of Pennsylvania Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum. The research funds will be used by Foamex's R&D Group to further the development of the Company's reticulated polyurethane Safety Foam technology for mitigating the effects of post-crash fuel fires in commercial passenger aircraft. The FAA has placed significant emphasis on passenger aircraft fuel tank fires, particularly since the tragic accident involving TWA 800 in July 1996. Foamex has more than 30 years of experience in supplying Safety Foam products to the U.S. Military to mitigate fuel related fires in military aircraft and has been a key innovator in the continued development and improvement of the technology during that period. Safety Foam products continue to be used by the U.S. Military to protect aircraft such as the C-130 P-3, F-15 and others. Safety Foam is a flexible, lightweight, 3-dimensional polymer fire screen that has helped prevent fuel tank fires caused by gunfire, electrical ignition, lightning strike and static discharge and is also believed to reduce the effects of post-crash fuel fires. Foamex participated with the FAA in cooperative research aimed at lessening the fire hazards associated with fuel release during survivable crashes over the last year and believes that this new action by Congress and the FAA further recognizes the potential value of Safety Foam products to mitigate fuel fire hazards associated with commercial aircraft, possibly saving passenger lives. Foamex utilizes unique VPFSM technology that may be employed in the development of the advanced foam products that further improve aircraft fire safety. VPFSM uses a fully enclosed environmental chamber to control the conditions under which the polyurethane foam is produced and allows independent control of foam properties and performance characteristics not normally possible in conventional foam making. Foamex is the only U.S. based foam manufacturer possessing this technology. Foamex's Vice President for Technology, Dr. Chiu Chan commented: "Foamex's predecessor collaborated with the U.S. Air Force to create the original Safety Foam technology more than 30 years ago. Combining those years of valuable experience together with recent novel technologies, such as VPFSM, strongly positions us to develop innovative products that are suitable for today's commercial aircraft market and will improve the safety of air travel". Together with its other technical strengths such as foam reticulation, Foamex is uniquely capable of supporting the FAA and is pleased to be part of this important work. About Foamex International Inc. Foamex, headquartered in Linwood, PA, is the world's leading producer of flexible polyurethane and advanced polymer foam products in North America. Foamex Technical Products is the industry leader in developing innovative solutions in Automotive, Defense, Aerospace, Consumer, Electronics, Medical, Transportation and Industrial markets. For more information visit the Foamex web site at http://www.foamex.com or http://www.foamextechnicalproducts.com, e-mail Foamex at techline@foamex.com or call the Technical Products Techline at 1-800-767-4997. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's ability to realize anticipated cost savings, introduce new products, enhance sales growth and margins and the outlook for the Company's financial performance. These forward-looking statements are affected by risks, uncertainties and assumptions that the Company makes about, among other things, its ability to implement customer selling price increases in response to higher raw material costs, raw material price increases, general economic conditions, conditions in the capital markets, the interest rate environment, the level of automotive production, carpet production, furniture and bedding production and housing starts, the completion of various restructuring/consolidation plans, the achievement of management's business plans, its capital and debt structure (including various financial covenants), litigation and changes in environmental legislation and environmental conditions and other factors mentioned in the documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the Company believes that its assumptions regarding the foregoing matters are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore there can be no assurance that the Company's forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Additional information that could cause actual results to vary materially from the results anticipated may be found in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers should be aware that any forward-looking statement made in this press release or elsewhere by the Company speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the Company disclaims any obligation or intent to update any of the factors listed above or forward-looking statements #        #        #