OLIGO buys RSL from Trilux
(Germany) – OLIGO expands field of activity with acquisition of RSL – a new partner for challenging project-focused solutions.
OLIGO Lichttechnik is expanding its portfolio by welcoming aboard another partner, RSL, offering customised luminaires as project-based solutions.
At the beginning of 2017, OLIGO took over the company based in Sankt Augustin, a former member of the Trilux group, further expanding its expertise by multiplying synergy effects within its divisions.
Following this acquisition of RSL, OLIGO’s portfolio now comprises three core business areas: the two existing divisions – one specialising in light-based surface control and colour matching for industrial and auto-motive clients (OLIGO surface controls) and one specialising in premium luminaires for home and business environments (OLIGO Lichttechnik), which have now been complemented by RSL, a brand offering project-manufactured premium luminaires.
OLIGO has now become a one-stop-shop capable of supplying lighting products across the range – be it standard, customised or multi-functional project-based solutions.
With immediate effect, Mr. Thomas Dulas, the CEO and managing director of the two German founding companies of the OLIGO group, i.e. surface controls in Lenzen and OLIGO Lichttechnik in Hennef, is also in charge of affairs at the newly found ROL Lichttechnik in Sankt Augustin.
‘‘Made in Germany’’ will remain the foremost feature of the OLIGO product range. All its divisions and departments design, develop and manufacture in Germany exclusively. With its technology – CNC machines, sheet metal chamfering, wet painting cabins, powder coating – and its test laboratories, RSL complements its business philosophy.
Maison et Objet thrives
(France) - Maison et Objet found an increase of 12.31% in visitors compared with January 2016.
Foreign visitorship has also registered a 17.4% increase, totalling 43,127 international visitors. Overall the fair received 135,875 visits from professionals. Managing Director Philippe Brocart commented: "The significant growth we have seen this season in the number of visitors, especially from abroad, is a very auspicious sign for the interior, design and lifestyle markets worldwide. Over the last few months, we have undertaken a large number of actions and initiatives in order to reach out to buyers and specifiers all over the world, working closely with out exhibitors. This collaboration has created a powerful dynamic that had a direct impact on attendance figures."
With 2,871 exhibitors, Maison et Objet managed to bring together the finest examples of the French and international design industry. More than 800 new exhibitors have taken part, with a number of exhibitors that remained stable compared with January 2016. The 1,719 exhibitors that travelled from abroad - accounting for 60% of total exhibitors - have proved the fair's attractiveness worldwide; 307 exhibitors from Italy, 184 from the UK, 159 from Belgium, 150 from Germany, 137 from the Netherlands and 80 from Japan.
"The launch of the online platform MOM also helped raise awareness of the fair with new categories of buyers. As they discover new products on MOM all year long, buyers and specifiers realise the wealth of the offering shown at Maison et Ojet, and that makes them want to visit the fair."
In addition to its impact on the industry's community, the fair generates significant economic benefits. The fair's direct and indirect impact was assessed in 2016, using a new analytical tool. The January and September 2016 events thus generated 370 million euros in direct and indirect economic benefits, including transportation, accommodation, food service and local retail business.
Highlights included Molo soft wall and Cloud lights, Paris Au Mois d'Aout lantern like creations and Magic Circus Hall's elegantly perched globe lights.
The next edition will be Maison et Objet September 8-12 2017.
imm cologne achieves record numbers
(Germany) - imm cologne and LivingKitchen achieves over 150,000 visitors for the first time.
Cologne expands its position as the global capital for interior design, as imm cologne and LivingKitchen achieved a record number of visitors this year. "We met our target and have broken the 150,000-visitor mark," said Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH, who is delighted with the results.
Roughly every second trade visitor came from outside Germany, with foreign trade visitors accounting for nearly 50%. "That shows we are right on track with our drive to internationalise the events," Böse continued.
Dirk-Uwe Klaas, Managing Director of the Federal Association of the German Furniture Industry, was similarly pleased with the figures. "The Cologne furniture show was a wonderful summit for interior decor. The German furniture industry is completely satisfied with imm cologne. It was the ideal start to 2017, which will no doubt be an excellent year for the industry," said Klaas.
On behalf of retailers, the President of the German Federal Association of Furniture, Kitchens & Furnishing Retailers (BVDM), Hans Strothoff, gave the following verdict: "The trade fair met retailers' expectations. The quality of the exhibitors was high; a large number of new launches were on show, and visitors had a chance to experience attractive product presentations. This makes a visit to the trade fair well worth its while. And it's why retailers also see the trade fair as a fantastic way to launch the 2017 furniture year."
Of the 104,000 trade visitors, around 56,000 came from Germany and approximately 48,000 from abroad (an increase of 4 per cent). Within Europe, increases in visitor figures were recorded in particular from Spain (up 25 per cent), Russia (up 26 per cent), Italy (up 19 per cent) and the UK (up 13 per cent). Visitor numbers from the Netherlands and Poland also increased. Numbers of overseas trade visitors rose, in particular visitors from China (up 5 per cent), South Korea (up 12 per cent) and India (up 5 per cent).
A rise was also recorded in visitor numbers from the Middle East (up 19 per cent), with particularly strong growth from the United Arab Emirates. With these excellent numbers of foreign visitors, the two trade fairs will boost exhibitors' exports. Koelnmesse Chief Operating Officer Katharina C. Hamma emphasised the quality of the trade visitors: "No other event brings supply and demand together as effectively in this quality as imm cologne and LivingKitchen."
Initial evaluations of the results showed that the trade visitors included large numbers of the global top 30 retail chains, such as John Lewis, Home Retail Group, Harveys Furniture -all from the UK - as well as Conforama from France and Nitori from Japan. The major industry players in online retail - including Amazon and the Otto Group - also used the event intensively for their businesses. With these results, the trade fair duo has confirmed its importance for the interior design industry's global commercial operations on a national and an international level.
The next imm cologne will take place from 15 to 21 January 2018 in Cologne, co-located with LivingInteriors.
New lines from Hubbardton Forge
(USA) - Hubbardton Forge introduced two new lines of lighting – Synchronicity and Vermont Modern during Lightovation 2017 in Dallas, Texas.
Synchronicityrepresents the unity of craft and glamour, incorporating Swarovski crystals in many of its designs, including the international début of the Swarovski Strass Wave Cut crystal in the Courbé and Courbé Duet pendants. Steel from the fires of the forge join with crystals and hand-blown artisanal glass to juxtapose elements in beautiful and unexpected ways. Each of the seventeen designs can now be viewed online and many will soon be available to see in showrooms across the country.
Vermont Modern introduces 32 unique, contemporary designs in bold colours, perfect for modern spaces. The initial offering includes large and mini pendants, semi-flush fixtures, sconces and lamps. Technology and style are hallmarks of the line with LED leading the way. Edison and other bulb styles are seen as design choices in several pieces, as well. Every Vermont Modern piece is handcrafted using environmentally responsible manufacturing techniques including non-VOC powder coats, a phosphate-free bioremediation cleaner for wash solutions, and recycled and recyclable materials.
Hubbardton Forge introduced 31 new designs in 2017, expanding some design collections and introducing many stunning new pieces. Offerings include large and mini pendants, sconces, portables and outdoor lighting. As with its two new lines, every piece by Hubbardton Forge is designed, engineered and handcrafted under one roof in Castleton, Vermont.
Acoulite partners with John Cullen Lighting
(UAE) - Acoulite adds John Cullen Lighting to portfolio of international lighting manufacturers.
With its clients base including Flos, Future Designs and Tom Dixon, working up with John Cullen Lighting on their projects in the Gulf Region was a natural step.
John Cullen Lighting is celebrating their 35th Anniversary by opening their new Dubai office to better serve the region. They are a leading name in discreet lighting offering a complete service for all aspects of interior and exterior lighting for the residential, hospitality and superyacht markets. They manufacture a unique collection of energy efficient light fittings, designed in-house and manufactured in the UK, and offer an award winning lighting design service.
The John Cullen Lighting design team is headed up by Creative Director Sally Storey. Storey developed her passion for lighting whilst training as an architect at Bristol University and is now considered one of the UK’s leading lighting designers. She has written three books on the subject of lighting and is a regular speaker at interior design and architectural events.
John Cullen Lighting will be officially launching in Dubai with an event on Thursday February 23, where Storey will be sharing her ‘5 Ultimate Villa Lighting Tips’.
Prandina opens new store
(Italy) - Prandina opens flagship store in historic centre of Bassano del Grappa.
After various flagship stores abroad and in Milan, this space marks another milestone in the strategy that aims to strengthen the brand's presence in the national and international scene.
This shop is proposed as a new benchmark for end consumers and industry professionals who live and work in the territory where the company has had its own production and administrative activities for over 30 years.
DesignAgency opens LA studio
(US) - Toronto-based multi-disciplinary design firm DesignAgency opens studio in Los Angeles following a successful 2016.
The LA studio is led by newly appointed West Coast Director Alexandra Bruemmer, who comes from the firm Perkins Eastman in Washington, DC, and will add her hotel and design expertise and network within the US industry to focus on managing DesignAgency's current base of west coast clients, as well as developing new business within the region.
Bruemmer commented: "Both DesignAgency and their high profile clients are so inspirational. The work that they do and the buzz that they are generating excited me to join the DesignAgency team and hep to cultivate new relationships for the firm on the west coast."
While DesignAgency's headquarters remain in Toronto, Canada, opening a US-based, west coast office was a logical next step. "In the almost 20 years that we've been growing this company, the US, and the west coast market in particular, have always been exciting ones for us," said DesignAgency partner Anwar Mekhayech. "It was only a matter of time before it made business sense for us to have a real presence there in oder to better serve our clients and form new relationships."
Mekhayech went on to say: "We feel there is a real energy and creative pulse growing in LA and know that our collaborative spirit with both clients and creatives will thrive here! We are super excited to welcome Alexandra to our team and to embark on this new adventure."
In the US market, DesignAgency is presently developing a new hotel brand and concept, Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences for Sam Nazarian, and is working with hospitality group sbe on various projects including its Umami brand. The firm continues to build its work with an array of US brands and owners including Momofuku, Hilton, Marriott / Starwood, Thayer Lodging / Brookfield, Fairmont, Ritz-Carlton, The Wurzak Group and many others.
Glamox Luxo L-1 celebrates 80th anniversary
(UK) - 2017 marks the 80th anniversary of the original Luxo L-1 task light, designed by Norwegian industrialist Jac Jacobsen in 1937.
L-1 was designed by Luxo's founder, Jac Jacobsen. Jacobsen had received two crane-like spring balanced luminaires as part of a shipment of sewing machines from England. Being technically minded he took a fancy to the strange looking luminaires, with their great functionality and timeless beauty.
Although the technical invention was ingenious, Jacobsen realised the construction was primitive. He began improving it in 1937 under the name Luxo, derived from Latin, to mean I give light.
L-1 soon became known as a real productivity booster in schools, offices, industrial plants and health care facilities, and a design icon among architects and designers all over the world. L-1 remains a class because of its unique and advanced arm technology, combined with high light output and emphatic design features.
Chelsom Custom Orion
The Custom Orion pendant is one of eleven unique and creative designs that form the Chelsom custom lighting range, which launched in 2016 as part of the Edition 25 collection.
A true statement centrepiece, Custom Orion features shallow circular LED light sources with Opal acrylic diffusers sandwiched between top and bottom discs supported by randomly positioned arms to give an asymmetric effect. Clients can specify dimensions and shapes as well as finish. The pendant can be created with a long drop suitable for stairwells and atriums and there is a matching wall light.
ALW acquires Neidhardt
(USA) – Acquisition expands ALW product portfolio to include Neidhardt's line of primarily decorative architectural LED luminaires.
Architectural Lighting Works (ALW) – a privately owned, international manufacturer of high-performance, commercial luminaires – has announced the acquisition of Neidhardt, Inc. Neidhardt is a full-service lighting manufacturer founded in 1992 and based in Redwood City, CA, USA.
The Neidhardt acquisition will complement and build upon ALW’s portfolio of primarily linear architectural LED luminaires with the addition of Neidhardt’s line of primarily decorative architectural LED luminaires.
‘‘The addition of the Neidhardt brand and product line strengthens and enhances ALW’s market offering and broadens our target audiences within the architectural and design communities,’’ said ALW CEO Shira Steinbeck.
‘‘By combining ALW’s volume manufacturing capability with Neidhardt’s modern palate of design details, specifiers can now illuminate entire projects with all the ‘architectural lighting works’ all from one company,’’ continued Steinbeck. ‘‘Ambient to accent. Angular to artistic. Archetypal to atypical. Now our customers have a wide panorama of quality lighting choices.’’
Frank Neidhardt, founder and heretofore CEO of Neidhardt, joins ALW as vice president of product design and development.
‘‘I’ve been a product designer all my life and in my new role as VP of product design at ALW, I’ll now have the opportunity to fully focus on creating marketplace value through innovative design,’’ said Neidhardt. ‘‘I am excited to expand on the synergies of the two brands to create imaginative new luminaires to fulfill the needs of both the high performance and decorative lighting markets.’’
With the acquisition, ALW will assume management of Neidhardt’s 20,000sqft Redwood City manufacturing factory further expanding ALW’s West Coast operations where it also has facilities in Oakland and Hayward, California, and Ensenada, Mexico.
Neidhardt will maintain its separate brand name, web presence and workforce for the immediate future. Sales and customer service for both brands will be handled by ALW.
www.alwusa.com
www.neidhardtinc.com
Zangra Black Porcelain
In a collection of vintage design objects with a modern twist, the Black Porcelain lamp is designed and handcrafted in Belgium by Zangra for its collection of black porcelain lamps. The socket can swivel up to 90˚ due to its brass articulation, and is often used for the decoration of hotels, restaurants, bars and boutiques.
Neuhaus Q
The innovative Q-series paves the way for home owners to intelligent Smart Home technology. Q means floor, ceiling, wall and table lamps in different designs, retrofit LED-lamps and more. The included radio remote control allows setting individual atmospheres by RGB-White or cool-to-warm white light colours.
