Dornbirn, Austria – Zumtobel and Pininfarina are both well-established companies synonymous with high standards of quality and design, and with innovation and progress. Founded on their shared values and combined design, architecture, industry and technology expertise, the collaboration is focused on expanding and upgrading the TECTON continuous-row lighting system, helping the partners to meet future lighting requirements and to respond to changing customer needs in terms of flexibility, user experience and design.

TECTON – a success story…

For over 20 years, the modular TECTON product family has been helping buildings of all kinds to shine in top-quality light. The universal trunking system incorporates lighting, controls and emergency/safety lighting, while tool-free installation is a key factor in the TECTON system’s success. A range of different luminaire types, emergency lighting, sensors and other IoT components can be connected via eleven ports. The innovative concept and accompanying digital services from Zumtobel form the basis of a smart building structure and offer huge potential for digital applications in the future.

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Over the last two decades, Zumtobel has continually modernised its successful continuous-row lighting system and equipped it with the latest technologies. Now the new generation of TECTON is ready to go, with Zumtobel bringing prestigious design firm Pininfarina on board as a partner to help. "As we launch the next generation of TECTON, we want to continue offering planners, architects, installers, retailers and end customers industry-leading lighting solutions that are perfectly equipped to meet the requirements of the future," explains Andreas Fussenegger, Director of Product Management at Zumtobel. TECTON II takes into account users’ need and increased desire for more flexible, user-friendly and intuitive products, individual customisation, modern design, improved sustainability and increased durability. Fussenegger adds: "All the lighting components of the new generation will be backwards-compatible. The TECTON projects are and will always be future-proof. Our expanded range can be used to upgrade existing lighting solutions with the latest technology at any time."

Zumtobel and Pininfarina: a perfect match

The search for a suitable partner was based on clearly defined criteria. When expanding the TECTON portfolio, Zumtobel wanted a company who shares their brand values with regard to innovation leadership, quality and design requirements. The partner also needed to cover different specialist disciplines, approach the project from a neutral outside-in perspective and to demonstrate ways and means of optimising the user experience.

"In Pininfarina, we have gained a partner who fulfils all of these requirements perfectly. The prestigious design firm impressed us across the board, particularly with its forward-looking approach to user experience," says Alfred Felder, CEO of the Zumtobel Group. "Our collaboration with Pininfarina aligns extremely well with the values and long-term vision of the Zumtobel brand." A major advantage of the collaboration is that Pininfarina has an extensive, diverse pool of experienced architects and product design specialists at its disposal.

‘Develop the best into something better’

Pininfarina has made a name for itself in the automotive industry thanks to clear design language with high levels of brand recognition. "We are now bringing our ideas and concepts to lighting and architecture. Partnering with Zumtobel allows us to help shape the future of lighting, generate innovation and develop the best into something better," says Silvio Angori, CEO of Pininfarina Group. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Zumtobel, which has got off to such a constructive and smooth start."

One thing Pininfarina and Zumtobel definitely agree on: the lighting products must be sophisticated and timeless – and remain discreetly in the background. "We want lighting that doesn’t polarise opinion, isn’t a fad and won’t lose its impact, even after five years," says Andreas Fussenegger.