Euroluce, the largest European exhibition for consumer and design-oriented lighting, held its 31st edition in Milan presenting 314 exhibitors (of which 45% from abroad) on four pavilions for approximately 30,000 square meters of exhibiting surface. Euroluce took place in the framework of a booming Salone del Mobile (18-23 April 2023) recording over 307,000 visitors from 181 countries (+15% on 2022) with 2,000 exhibiting brands and 5,400 attending journalists.
Since 2018 and in particular since the beginning of sales of the “Poldina” lamp - which soon became an iconic product of the group - Zafferano has been recognized as one of the main operators in the market segment relating to led and wireless lighting.
Consolidated turnover expected at the end of 2022 is Eur 42 million (of which 70% lighting and 30% glass objects). With the establishment of Zafferano LLC in 2019, the company started a process of penetration in North America, where they now realize 40% of sales.
Design Holding, with Flos and Louis Poulsen brands, is by far the main player in the Design segment. Overall turnover exceeds Eur 700 million in 2021 and expected turnover in 2022 is Eur 860 million (approximately 60% Lighting and 40% Furniture). Sales breakdown shows: around 60% sales in EMEA, 26% in America, 14% APAC. Breakdown by distribution channel is: 25% Contract, 62% Retail (of which one-tenth through owned stores), 13% E-commerce (proportionally more in the United States). Among latest trend setter products: Aim (Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec), Noctambule Suspension (Konstantin Grcic), Romeo and Smithfield suspensions (Philippe Starck, Jasper Morrison), the “Coordinates” system of linear lighting, Obliquo, Wireline (Formafantasma), Bellhop (Barber & Osgerey), In Vitro Unplugged (Philippe Starck). In 2021 Design Holding purchased YDesign Group, a major US player in the e-commerce lighting, particularly in the upper-end segment.
Artemide currently has around 600 employees, including 60 in the R&D unit and some 300 abroad. LED share is today around 80% of total sales. Contract is the second distribution channel (25% in 2021), after lighting specialists (30%) and before e-commerce (18%). 2019 patents include Turn Around (track and strip LED), Antarktikos (Carlotta De Bevilacqua), Vitruvio 8Atelier Oi); an App for circadian rhythm (managing up to 500 luminaires, till 15-30 meters with Apple and Bluetooth Android). A 24 is a DALI configurator for an open platform based on a single linear magnetic track. Also, RGB white and tunable white. “Metamorfosi 2.0”, a sophisticated RGBW system merges within a single luminaire the superior performance quality of white light with the freedom to reproduce all the colors of the visible spectrum); Nebula (suspensions), Foster + Partners (Takku, portable light), Herzog & de Meuron (Dreispitz, suspension horizontal, vertical and floor), Mario Cucinella (Katà Métron micro-architecture linear system, Trilix). More products by Carlotta De Bevilacqua (Efficiency more than 90%, extreme glare control, 145 lm/W high efficacy), Davide Oppizzi and Alexander Bellmann.
Slamp follows artistical trends using the last generation of materials manually moulded, with sartorial approach. New products include Modula (floor, with a plissè effect), Tulip (Marc Sadler, hand moulded, table), La Lollo (linear), Clizia (wall, in cristalflex).
Around 40% of L&S sales are connected (smart) lighting. Italy, Germany, France, and China are the main markets o f this company, offering mainly solutions for retail shops and kitchen furniture. L&S is owned by Clessidra private equity since 2019.
Vistosi is one of the iconic players from the Murano art glass cluster. Turnover is around 10 million Eur. Armonia is the new range of products. The company accounts mainly for Hospitality and Retail sales. 20% sales in Italy with the United States and Spain other relevant markets. Standard products are usually priced between 600 and 1000 Eur (online sales).
Venini is a manufacturer of high-end Murano glasses since the Twenties of last century. Venini has recently become a part of the Damiani Group, specialized in fine jewellery. The acquisition went through in the run-up to Venini's centenary celebrations in 2021. Silvia Damiani is vice president of the Damiani Group as well as president of Venini.
The foreign expansion of the brand, especially on the Asian markets, includes the recent opening of a Venini showroom in Gnangnam-gu, the liveliest district in Seoul, South Korea.
Axo Light is inspired by the Venetian tradition of glass making. The company offers two catalogues: Axo Light (for consumers) and Lightecture (for professionals). Axo Light uses 1-10V, DALI and Casambi controls. CRI over 90, CCT 3000-2700-3500. Integrated and remote LED drivers. Lm/W 103. Thanks to Dim to Warm technology, it will be possible to decrease the luminous flux of the fixture while varying the LED’s colour temperature at the same rate towards a warmer tone.
Auralis Lighting recorded a consolidated turnover of 21 million Eur in 2022 and a mid-term plan for 40 million Eur. It joins the companies Castaldi Lighting, Penta and ArredoLuce. Around 150 employees. Export accounts for 70% of total sales (Germany, France, United Kingdom, United States, Singapore). Ongoing projects in Abu Dhabi, London, Milan, Paris. Castaldi Lighting was founded in April 2011 from the merging of “Ing. Castaldi Illuminazione” and “Norlight”, respectively in the Outdoor and Indoor segments.
Among 2023 products: Glo (Carlo Colombo), Way Linear for office spaces. Also IoT and HCL products with the BeSmart technology (in cooperation with Vitrum switches). Gems suspensions since 2024 New finishings for Altura and Clip suspensions. Italy (40%) is the main market. ArredoLuce reedits models from Gio Ponti and Castiglioni brothers. New Gems collection for Penta.
Lumina, starting with the iconic Daphne lamp, products at the Brooklyn Museum, Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, Sammlung in Munich, Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Now Anima from Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
Astep has been honouring the vivid tradition of Italian design especially starting from the Gino Sarfatti’s heritage. The company runs around 180 stores worldwide (specialists and furniture). Sales mainly in Denmark, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Linea Light registered strong growth in foreign markets during 2022. Increasing also through Stilnovo brand. Recently it opened branches in the United States (Baltimore) and an office in Singapore. New products: Evo (downlights, 8w-15w, 3000K), White Goods, Nude-Modus (linear lighting, 2700-5000K), Flamp (hi bays), Optus (Museums), Cubit (residential outdoor), Big Lamp (outdoor architectural). Cooperation with designers as Richard Sapper, Piero and Achille Castiglioni.
Simes’ turnover (60% consumer, 40% commercial) is around 29 million Eur. 25% connected lighting (“ready to future” 75%). DALI solutions, specific plug in.
65% export to the Nordics, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States). Simes IP system offers adjustable optics, resistance in humid environments, linear lighting and accent effects. IP System was developed to ensure a watertight electrical connection that makes it possible to install plug-in products anywhere in the system and to reposition them if necessary. Two differentiated and independent power supply lines, one dedicated to the highlighter light bar and the other dedicated to plug-in products
Simes Feeling product is among the DesignPlus winners at L+B 2022 (implemented at Euroluce) . High and stable EBITDA around 16%.
Fael is a specialist in outdoor lighting for sporting plants and area lighting, with a 12,800 sqm manufacturing basis in Italy. Around 50 models (the last is Next, with connected options). Branch in Dubai. For “Porti di Roma” (Civitavecchia, Fiumicino, Gaeta) they have used Ledmaster Pro and Wi-Fi DALI. CHALLENGE (pole mounted), PROXIMO (street lighting) and DOMINO (urban lighting) models are certified Zhaga-D4. Interchangeable components, smart lighting (25% connected lighting). Solutions for swimming-pools (JUST) are also sold.
Fumagalli has a highly automatized plant for outdoor lighting (mainly residential, also street lighting up to 6 meters) near Varese, Italy. They mainly operate through wholesalers and distributors. Italy accounts for only 10% of the company’s revenues (2021: Eur 28.4 million, over 30 million in 2022) as 90% is directed to export worldwide. The main market is the Middle East (35% of total sales).
Most of their products are LED, but they also offer some solar luminaires. After the pandemic, Fumagalli has experienced strong growth, as they managed to substitute Chinese products in some markets.
Occhio is invested by EMH Group since 2017. Sales are mainly concentrated in the German speaking area. They offer mainly residential and office lighting, with “a balance among purish and extravagance”. Main models include Sito (brown and gold finish), Mito (suspensions since 2011, dimmable and with Bluetooth control), Linear. Main models are given in three different sizes. Positioning is upper-end. EBITDA 20%. Materials: plasma (PVD), silicone. Their European sales are channelled through premium specialty lighting retailers and the company's flagship stores in Munich, Cologne and now Milan.
Turnover booming from 60 to 130 million Eur from 2019 to 2022. The company employs 260 people.
Among major innovations: VOLT technology (230V LED), Touchless Control (gesture control), Occhio air (Bluetooth-based control via app) and many other innovative features. The new product family Mito Sfera and the extensions of Mito with Mito acoustic and Mito Circular with electrically height-adjustable lights were developed. In April 2021 Occhio opened a flagship store in Shanghai. Six new Occhio stores were opened in China within a year. In autumn 2021 the Munich-based company took over the Viennese company LR Innovation Lab. Most products include touchless control and also luxury bespoke variants are considered.
The Mito Linear series received the German Design Award in Gold4 and the IF Design Award in Gold5. With the Luna series launched in 2023 “we have successfully united a classic design with mesmerising finishes and innovative lighting technology in a comprehensive series of wall, ceiling, table and suspended luminaires," said founder and designer of Occhio, Axel Meise. The Luna series is the first to use Occhio's patented 'Fireball' light source.
Viabizzuno, founded by lighting designer Mario Nanni, has previously had the Benetton family as finance partner, and now the Clessidra Investment Fund. It is among the best renowned Italian companies in the architectural lighting segment. Turnover is around 49 million Eur (less than 10% in some years). The company runs flagship stores in London, Paris and Milan. EBITDA is over the average (10.5% versus 9.6% of CSIL company sample). 80% of sales are professional lighting, with more accent on retail, hospitality, museums and historical buildings.
