Dynamism and innovation define Imoon’s approach in the lighting sector. The company does not limit itself to the production and sale of lighting fixtures but presents itself as a partner to enhance the perception of spaces, the aesthetics and functionality of environments through light. In 2025, the appointment will be at Euroluce, where a new vision will guide the evolution of the path undertaken.

Fifteen years of experience in the lighting sector, strictly Made in Italy production and an export quota that covers 60 countries. A diversified, integrated and complex offer that combines new technologies, research and development and strong customization ability, are the elements on which Imoon has consolidated its leadership in the world of retail food and non-food lighting. More recently, the company has also opened to architectural lighting in the Hospitality, Residential and Tertiary segments, thanks to international projects that have increased prestige and visibility. At the end of 2024, during the latest edition of Architect@Work, held in Milan in November, it was possible to take stock of the situation with Marco Antonacci, Commercial Manager of the Retail division of Imoon, and Filippo Squillace, Architectural Division Manager.

“In this year and with a strong acceleration in recent months, we have been busy bringing out something latent, but which has always been present within the company, with the precise aim of broadening the fields of interest and intervention“, was Filippo Squillace‘s first comment. Imoon’s image and positioning on the market are well-known in the lighting world for large-scale distribution, retail food and non-food. In recent years, the company has gradually developed the awareness of being able to work with LED technology in an increasingly specialized way, allowing the development of new applications for pursuing objectives other than the traditional ones for retail lighting: emphasizing the materials of products on sale, fabrics with their textures and colours, illuminating the display surfaces and the different environments present in a shop are all crucial areas for non-food, apparel and premium retail, towards which Imoon customers have long expressed needs specifications and very different.

“A perhaps extreme but at the same time definitive example is the fitting room: the place where the customer enters and evaluates whether to finalize the purchase. From the perspective of those selling their goods, it is, therefore, one of the most important areas, and given its simplicity and seriality, the correct lighting can be the element able to make the difference. With these assumptions, deciding to move on to architectural lighting was an almost natural choice“, and, in extreme summary, the reasons for the company’s evolution towards a broader lighting perspective, as represented by Filippo Squillace.

“The non-food retail segment is already very close to the world of architectural lighting that aims at interior design. Formally, Filippo and I lead two distinct divisions, even if we are a single company. From this point, Fashion Retail and the Luxury segment are completely contiguous to applications involving hospitality, luxury residential and the tertiary sector; for that reason, both divisions benefit from a continuous transfer of skills, know-how and experiences achieved in the field,” commented Marco Antonacci.

The fulcrum is represented by Imoon’s team of lighting designers, who make the entire process of defining an environment possible in terms of lighting technology thanks to the application of innovative solutions, whose added value for customers is that of being the result of a projected design in the long term, capable of being linked to attentive, flexible and fast service in the management of operations regarding both production and pre-and post-sales services. This approach allows Imoon to build relationships based on trust and loyalty, often transforming customers into real partners. On that basis, new products and projects’ development and constant evolution are achievable. “We are suppliers of lighting fixtures, but at the same time, thanks to our internal design capacity, we can offer concrete answers at every stage of the project, satisfying any need,’ stated Marco Antonacci“.

The consolidation of its position in the Food Retail sector has allowed Imoon to stand out in the panorama of companies involved in the application of LED technology, first and foremost for its competitiveness in reducing the operating costs of the systems and, therefore, the ability to guarantee a faster return on investments made by its customers. The definition of a sales strategy is greater sustainability and convenience with positive effects on margins. Subsequently, improving lighting management and control (the possibility of choosing how much light, where to direct it and at what time) is key to Imoon’s success.

More recently, however, lighting in the retail sector has entered a brand new phase, opening new future scenarios in lighting design to be explored. The continuous evolution of LEDs and the varied panorama of IoT continually shift the focus of projects. The work topics and challenges may concern, for instance, the possibility of combining audio systems within lighting fixtures (Hi-Fi) or anything related to the safety of environments and emergency lighting manageable with multifunction devices.

Finally, get to indoor positioning and data transfer via light (Li-Fi). All technologies can potentially disruptively impact the organization strategy of small, medium and large commercial spaces. “In all these cases, the problem that arises is the choice between internal production or integration of systems and technologies produced by third parties. In the second case, the design challenge does not concern the development of a lighting body or a new family of products. It is the ability to design and develop systems that can integrate these additional and specific ‘abilities’ (video surveillance and cameras, indoor positioning systems, communication systems aimed at the consumer or simple user of the spaces thanks to the “visual” part of the system)” underlined Marco Antonacci.

“In the field of architectural lighting, however, the issues we address are as different as they are complementary to those of consumption control, light management and the creation of complex and integrated systems. In this case, we are looking for increasingly specialized LEDs and the best cleanliness of the optics used to emphasize the perceived quality of the objects and architectural artefacts, materials and/or furnishing accessories that are present in a representative property or luxury residence” completed his reasoning Filippo Squillace. In these cases, Imoon is called upon to interface with some key figures (designer/specifier, the lighting designer) who, in conceiving their project, can also transcend questions of mere functionality and methods of use of light: it is fundamental to be able to excite and encourage experimentation the user of the designed space. The relationship between consumption and savings, yet relevant, may be secondary for some customers, and the particularly refined design, together with a high standard in terms of luminous performance, is the main priority.

With these words, Filippo Squillace opens with a quick reference to one of the latest creations, the Speed Factory, the new Dynafit headquarters in Kiefersfelden, Germany, inaugurated after two years of work. The structure, designed by architects Alberto Veiga and Fabrizio Barozzi of the Barcelona studio, is 32 meters high and mainly made of glass and concrete, featuring a double pyramid design. A total surface area of 10,000 m2 divided over six floors, including open-plan work spaces and other environments. “This project represented the opportunity to approach the lighting of an important building equipped with offices, relaxation areas, canteens and a shop inside. Thanks to it, we acquired awareness and confirmed our abilities“.

Even more relevant from the point of view of both our interlocutors is that “The German market, being very close to the Italian one, has put us in direct comparison with international clients and various players in our sector who they also developed in Italy. That demonstrates that we are ready and able to manage and operate successfully even at home, e.g. to acquire visibility and be certain of being increasingly at the same level as historical and important players. A challenge that we have definitively taken up and intend to complete“.

Imoon