Flos is an international company and brand synonymous with high quality and the ultimate expression of fine design, recognised the world over as a leading in the residential and architectural lighting sector. Established in Merano -northern Italy- in 1962 by Dino Gavina and Cesare Cassina, in 1964 the Gandini family took up the helm and transferred the company’s headquarters to the Brescia area. Right from the outset, Flos commissioned great masters of Italian design to work with the company, such as the Castiglioni brothers -Achille and Pier Giacomo- and Tobia Scarpa. One of the first experimental projects was cocoon, a plastic material made in the U.S. The aim was to create industrial archetypes and ground-breaking products, which soon went on to become design icons, like the Arco floor lamp.

In the late 1980s, the company began its exclusive collaboration with Philippe Starck, an emerging designer on the international scene, who introduced some revolutionary concepts for Italian design. Sergio Gandini’s son Piero was appointed CEO in 1996 and Chairman in 1999. He gave a strong impulse to internationalization and called on other great designers to work with him, including Antonio Citterio, Piero Lissoni, Jasper Morrison, Konstantin Grcic, Patricia Urquiola, Marcel Wanders, Ron Gilad, the Bouroullec brothers, Michael Anastassiades, Vincent Van Duysen, Nendo and Formafantasma.

The 1990s saw the development of the contract business area. In response to growing demand for specific solutions addressed to high profile custom lighting projects, the Light Contract division was established in 1996. Recently renamed Flos Bespoke, it represents a standout among the custom lighting companies at a global level.

In the 2000s, the architectural sector was given a strong boost by the acquisition of Antares, a Spanish company specialising in technical lighting. This union of a Spanish manufacturer of professional lighting equipment and an Italian manufacturer of designer lamps for the residential market resulted in the Flos Architectural division, which successfully combines advanced, cutting-edge lighting technologies and unique poetic quality of light.  

In November 2014, the entry of the European private equity fund Investindustrial into the Flos’ capital marked the start of a further period of industrial development and international expansion for the company, through both organic growth and selective acquisitions. Flos Group acquired an additional interest of Antares (Flos Architectural), thus taking its share to 100%. In June 2015, Flos acquired Italian architectural outdoor lighting company Ares. The Flos Outdoor division thus became the Group’s fourth production unit, alongside the historical design, architectural and custom products sectors. In November of the same year Flos also acquired NYC-based Lukas Lighting, a company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of sophisticated custom lighting products. This move was aimed to give a strong boost to the Flos growth in the North American contract market.

In November 2018 Flos, together with B&B Italia, Louis Poulsen and Arclinea, joined The Design Holding, a project arisen from the partnership of investment firms Investindustrial and The Carlyle Group, representing the biggest global high-end interior design group with a European heritage. In June 2019, Roberta Silva was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Flos, to further strengthen the holding’s management teams and to contribute to the growth of the Group.

Flos is today the only company in the lighting field that is able to offer a complete range of fully integrated solutions. It exports to more than 90 countries worldwide and has single-brand stores in Rome, Milan, Paris, New York and Stockholm. The brand’s creations have received numerous international awards and many of them are now featured in the permanent collections of leading international art and design museums.

 

www.flos.com

 

For further information:

 

Donatella Matteoni

PR, Events & Cultural Initiatives Manager

+39 02 37011023 - +39 366 6139506 - [email protected]

 

 

COMPANY Established in 1985 as a company specialised in the installation of sheaths and PVC materials. Today, Impertek is one of the most well-known and successful companies in Italy, as well as abroad, for manufacturing and marketing waterproofing and construction components. A family-run business, the company has its headquarter and production facility in Ceggia, in the province of Venice: 27,000 square meters, nearly ten thousand of which are covered, where the Giacomini family, originally from Jesolo, chose to move in 2001, transferring a business, which in over thirty years, has become a positive example of Made in Italy. In last years smart and exponential growth led to a turnover of millions of euro with potential growth that goes hand in hand with the desire to expand. Nearly 60% of Impertek’s market is destined for export: from Europe to Asia, from the Middle East to Africa, from the U.S. to Canada, the Impertek brand is known and appreciated not just for the quality of materials offered. Cutting-edge technology, customized product development, exclusivity afforded to the customer, but also a grass roots organization capable of responding with simplicity, ease and above all fast delivery. Product and service quality that have enabled the company to achieve ISO 9001 Corporate Quality Management System Certification. The transition from that small warehouse to a wellestablished business seems long ago. The company’s success - present in the most important trade fairs in Italy and abroad - is based on its constant and continuous technological products innovation, as well as on its attention to the daily needs of an evolving Market. THE PRODUCTS Italian quality, italian technology, italian manufacturing Impertek’s range is extensive. From roofing elements to components for foundations, from waterstops to fixing components for the building industry, from equipment to special items for construction sites. Roofs / Floorings / Foundations / Tunnels / Fixings / Equipment / Special items BESPOKE SERVICE From the initial project based on client’s specifications to the selection of the best-suited raw material for the product’s features and developing the best packaging for quick, widespread distribution, Impertek is the one-stop partner for demanding clients and keeps a close eye on the changing patterns of a constantly evolving market. Logistics management is an integral part of the product as well: with more efficient delivery times and a smaller stock featuring almost tailor-made products: with Impertek everyone can find their bespoke product. EFFICIENCY & SPEED Efficient and qualified staff, profitable synergy throughout the various departments (project engineering, production and sales) and 90% of items in our catalogue on stock are key factors in guaranteeing the company fulfills primary objectives, such as: reliable, quality products and orders completed quickly. Production automation which ensures greater control, elasticity, customization of products and an accurate selection of suppliers in relation to the search for new materials for the development of innovative products, are the new company targets. SUPPORTS Since 2008, Impertek’s flagship has been the production of external raised floor supports. Innovative technology, for new buildings, renovation and restoration, with indisputable advantages for laying and quality performance. It can be used with different types of flooring - wood, stone and synthetic - Impertek’s support allows: • fast installation; • total elimination of any damage to the waterproofing below; • overall lightness of the actual package; • elimination of normal slopes at the base; • natural flow of water; • wiring; • improved durability of the wood. The support produced and marketed by Impertek is created from recycling controlled industrial plastics. All leftover materials, in compliance with qualitative specifications, are re-used with a view to careful and environmentally sound production.