Kino Flo
Kino Flo Lighting Systems is an Academy Award-winning manufacturer of premium LED soft lighting fixtures for motion picture, television, broadcast, and virtual production, operating since 1987 in Burbank as part of Chauvet Cinema.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersBurbank, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kino Flo does
Kino Flo Lighting Systems is an Academy Award-winning manufacturer of professional LED and fluorescent soft lighting equipment, founded in 1987 in Burbank, California and now operating as a subsidiary of Chauvet Cinema, a division of Chauvet & Sons LLC following its 2024 acquisition. The company designs and builds premium softlights for motion picture, television, broadcast, and photography production, with product families spanning Celeb, Diva-Lite, FreeStyle (including FreeStyle Air panels and FreeStyle Tube configurations), Image LED, Celeb Studio, and the newer Diva Lux, Celeb IKON, and MIMIK lines. Underlying all products is the proprietary True Match firmware and patented color science, with newer innovations including the Matchmakker technology — a patented system that translates incoming RGB video signals into five individual emitters (warm white, cool white, red, green, blue) to generate synchronized foreground lighting on virtual production LED volumes. Hardware sales flow through a global authorized dealer network spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Oceana, and Africa, supplemented by direct Kino Flo Rentals to production houses, a Student Discount Program for film students, and financing partnerships with Shine EQ Fin and Chauvet Lighting. Revenue derives from hardware unit sales, replacement parts, and rental transactions; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Named customers and brand references include Disney, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Paramount, DreamWorks, MGM, broadcast studios, and individual directors of photography and cinematographers. The company holds CE and ETL certifications and operates a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Burbank acquired in 2005, with a European sales office in Munich.
Kino Flo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kino Flo
- Legal name
- Kino Flo Lighting Systems
- Website
- https://kinoflo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kino Flo Lighting Systems is an Academy Award-winning manufacturer of premium LED soft lighting fixtures for motion picture, television, broadcast, and virtual production, operating since 1987 in Burbank as part of Chauvet Cinema.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kino Flo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Cinema Lighting Equipment
- NAICS
- Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)
- SIC
- Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)
- akta.pro primary industry
- LED Drivers, Ballasts & Power Modules for Lighting (Constant-current/voltage drivers, ballasts, control gear) (IMAGAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Kino Flo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burbank
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kino Flo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- LED Lighting Equipment Sales: Kino Flo generates revenue through the sale of LED lighting fixtures, systems, and accessories including Celeb, Diva-Lite, FreeStyle, MIMIK, and Image product families. Products are sold through authorized dealers and directly to rental houses.
- Parts and Accessories: Sale of replacement parts, ballasts, LED tubes, mounting equipment, cases, diffusion, and other accessories for Kino Flo lighting systems
- Equipment Rentals: Kino Flo Rentals supports local rental houses and studio lighting departments to supplement production needs with rental equipment catalog available
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Student Discount Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kino Flo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kino Flo manufactures LED soft lighting fixtures, panels, tubes, and image-based video lighting tiles used in cinema, television, broadcast, photography, and virtual production environments. The company's product portfolio spans families such as MIMIK (virtual production), Celeb IKON, Diva-Lite, Diva Lux, FreeStyle, FreeStyle Air, FreeStyle Tube, and Image LED, with proprietary True Match firmware for color control. Products are sold through a global authorized dealer network and supported by Kino Flo Rentals, accessories, and replacement parts.
Product overview
Kino Flo is an Academy Award-winning manufacturer of LED soft lights for cinema, TV, and digital production since 1987. The company operates under Chauvet Cinema and offers a comprehensive lighting portfolio organized into product families: MIMIK (image-based video lighting tiles for virtual production with Matchmakker technology), Celeb IKON (IP65-rated high-power softlights with RGB-cW-wW engines in 12 and 6 configurations), Diva (RGBwWcW LED softlights including Diva-Lite and the newer Diva Lux series), FreeStyle (modular portable systems including FreeStyle Air panels and FreeStyle Tube configurations), Image LED (large soft light fixtures), and Studio LED (Celeb models for studio use). All products integrate with Kino Flo's proprietary True Match firmware featuring tunable Kelvin, camera LUTs, and comprehensive color control. The portfolio includes complete accessory and parts ecosystems supporting the full product line.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MIMIK 120 Image-based video lighting tile for virtual production environments that mirrors LED volume content while applying Matchmakker technology to generate synchronized, full spectrum foreground lighting at 10,000 NITS output, capable of shooting up to 900 frames per second with 30 Alpha channels at 30 fps. Designed for virtual production facilities operating LED volumes.
- Celeb IKON 12 IP65-rated LED softlight with 1200W RGB-cW-wW LED engine delivering full power to all color points. Revives the iconic 4x1 form factor with wireless LumenRadio DMX control. Built for demanding location and studio production environments.
- Celeb IKON 6 IP65-rated LED softlight with RGB-cW-wW LED engine driving full power at all white and color points. Five-emitter R-G-B-WW-CW configuration for the broadest spectrum white light available. Designed for outdoor and studio use.
- Diva Lux 4 400W RGBwWcW LED softlight with full power at all white points and most color points. Features 4 independently controlled zones, built-in CRMX, removable diffusion, and RDM/sACN/ArtNet support. Designed for broadcast studio lighting.
- Diva Lux Family of indoor softlights featuring RGBwWcW LED engine with best-in-class white light and color space spectrums. Achieves TLCI >99, CRI >96, TM-30 Rf=96, TM-30 Rg=100+. Targets broadcast and indoor studio applications.
- Diva-Lite Professional cool lighting fixtures for studio and video location work. Available in multiple sizes (20/30, 21, 31, 41 LED models). Industry-standard portable softlight line.
- FreeStyle Air Lightweight slim profile LED panel (5 lbs) compatible with FreeStyle systems. Features color rendering TLCI >96, CRI >96, Kelvin range 2500K-9900K, with Lumen Radio wireless DMX.
- FreeStyle Air Mini Compact slim profile LED panel in the FreeStyle Air family.
- FreeStyle Air Max Slim profile LED panel in the FreeStyle Air family.
- FreeStyle Modular LED portable systems with remote LED controller, head cable, and removable LED tubes. Available in various sizes (21, 31, 41, Mini). For studio and location production.
- FreeStyle Tube Portable LED tube systems with Kino Flo designed LEDs and controllers. Models include T41/T21, T42/T22, T44/T24 LED configurations.
- Image LED Large soft light coverage fixtures with easy rigging options. Models include L40 and L80 LED variants for large-area lighting.
- Celeb Studio LED Studio lighting fixtures including Celeb 250, 450, 450Q, and 850 LED DMX models for professional studio environments.
- Accessories Comprehensive accessory lineup including barndoors, batteries, cases, diffusion, snapbags, snapgrids, expendables, louvers, mounting hardware, stands, and LED tubes for Kino Flo lighting systems.
- Parts Replacement parts and components including ballasts, ballast boards, BarFly, Celeb, combiners, splitters, Desk-Lite, dimmers, Diva-Lite, extensions, and various mounting hardware for Kino Flo lighting systems.
- Kino Flo Rentals Equipment rental services supporting local rental houses and studio lighting departments to supplement production needs with Kino Flo lighting equipment. Includes rental catalog and procedures.
Quantifiable outcome
- TLCI >99, CRI >96, TM-30 Rf=96, TM-30 Rg=100+ for Diva Lux products
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kino Flo
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Kino Flo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Kino Flo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Chauvet / Chauvet CinemacoreKino Flo is part of Chauvet Cinema, a new dedicated division focused on expanding cinematic lighting markets. The division was formed following Chauvet's acquisition of LiteGear and combines Kino Flo and LiteGear brands. Mike Wagner leads Chauvet Cinema with the objective of becoming the market leader in cinematic lighting. The merger enables expanded manufacturing capabilities and global reach while maintaining Kino Flo's brand identity and operations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kino Flo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rosco: Rosco is a long-established provider of color filters, gobos, and lighting equipment for film, TV, and theater. Its DMG Lumière SL line of LED soft lights directly competes with Kino Flo's portable and studio fixtures.
- ARRI: ARRI is the dominant premium lighting and camera manufacturer for cinema and broadcast. Its SkyPanel and Orbiter LED fixtures directly compete with Kino Flo's Celeb and Diva families in high-end film/TV and broadcast markets.
- Nanlite: Nanlite manufactures professional LED panels, tubes, and soft lights for film, photo, and video production, competing with Kino Flo's FreeStyle and Diva-Lite families on price-performance in the mid-to-pro market.
- LiteGear: LiteGear (LiteRibbon, LiteMat, LiteTile) is now a sister brand under Chauvet Cinema, making cinematic LED lighting that overlaps directly with Kino Flo's product lines and channels.
- Litepanels: Litepanels (a Vitec Group brand) makes professional LED lighting fixtures widely used in broadcast and film production, including the Gemini and Astra series, directly competing in the same studio/broadcast segment as Kino Flo's Diva Lux and Celeb lines.
- Aputure: Aputure is a fast-growing LED lighting brand targeting filmmakers and content creators with high-output, color-accurate fixtures at significantly lower price points than Kino Flo, increasingly competing in the same Film/TV production segment.
Others
- Megapixel VR: Megapixel VR is a key technology partner whose HELIOS LED processor drives Kino Flo's MIMIK 120. They share the virtual production ecosystem and serve the same LED volume studio customers.
Emerging players
- BB&S Lighting: BB&S manufactures professional broadcast and film-grade LED lighting with high TLCI/CRI ratings, targeting similar cinematographer and broadcast customers as Kino Flo with an emphasis on compact, high-output fixtures.
- Digital Sputnik: Digital Sputnik designs modular professional LED lighting systems for film and TV production with a focus on color accuracy, partially overlapping Kino Flo's product capabilities in the high-end cinematography niche.
Broad incumbents
- Chauvet Professional: Chauvet Professional is the parent company's flagship lighting brand serving entertainment and architectural markets with a much broader product portfolio. As a sibling within Chauvet, it shares R&D and channel infrastructure with Kino Flo.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kino Flo social profiles
Digital presenceKino Flo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Kino Flo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kino Flo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Kino Flo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kino Flo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kino Flo
What does Kino Flo do?
Kino Flo manufactures LED soft lighting fixtures, panels, tubes, and image-based video lighting tiles used in cinema, television, broadcast, photography, and virtual production environments. The company's product portfolio spans families such as MIMIK (virtual production), Celeb IKON, Diva-Lite, Diva Lux, FreeStyle, FreeStyle Air, FreeStyle Tube, and Image LED, with proprietary True Match firmware for color control. Products are sold through a global authorized dealer network and supported by Kino Flo Rentals, accessories, and replacement parts.
Is Kino Flo a public or private company?
Kino Flo is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Kino Flo founded?
Kino Flo was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kino Flo based?
Kino Flo is headquartered in Burbank, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kino Flo make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. LED Lighting Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts and Accessories and equipment Rentals.
Who are Kino Flo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rosco, ARRI, Nanlite, LiteGear, Litepanels and Aputure. Megapixel VR is listed as an others. Emerging players are BB&S Lighting and Digital Sputnik. Chauvet Professional is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Kino Flo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kino Flo.
What industry is Kino Flo in?
Kino Flo's product category is Professional Cinema Lighting Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAIAJ, LED Drivers, Ballasts & Power Modules for Lighting (Constant-current/voltage drivers, ballasts, control gear). Its NAICS code is 33513 and its SIC code is 3640.