What Cini&Nils does

Cini&Nils is an Italian design company that manufactures high-end decorative and technical lighting fixtures, founded in 1969 in Villongo Sant'Alessandro, Italy, by Mario Melocchi and Franco Bettonica. The company designs and produces lighting solutions spanning pendant lights, cable systems, and architectural fixtures, with foundational iconic products such as Cuboluce (1972), Gradi (1990), and the Tenso family of 230V cable systems, several of which have been acquired by MoMA New York. The portfolio has continued to expand with later collections including Acqua (2015), Sottile and Flip (2023), and Minima (2025), with artistic direction held by Luta Bettonica and Giancarlo Alci alongside collaborations with international designers such as Karim Rashid and Alessandro Scandurra. Products integrate advanced LED technology with IoT connectivity for smart-device interaction and variable lighting scenarios, supported by an in-house R&D laboratory that verifies flicker-free performance and colour accuracy.

The company's revenue model is hardware sales of premium lighting fixtures sold through B2B channels targeting the high-end residential and architectural-spec commercial market. Distribution is predominantly through the company's own multi-language website storefront (Italian, English, German, French, Spanish), supplemented by downloadable product catalogues and brochures for each collection and organic social channels on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Public pricing is not disclosed. Cini&Nils operates as a subsidiary of Lombardo S.r.l., which acquired the company in October 2022 in a going-private transaction that the company describes as a relaunch phase.

The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (since 1997), and added ISO 14001 environmental management and ISO 45001 occupational health and safety certifications in 2024, formalizing its quality, ESG, and worker-safety credentials. Brand positioning combines Italian craftsmanship with Nordic minimalism — visually expressed by the company name evoking both Venetian doges and Scandinavian design — and is anchored by 55 years of design heritage.

Name

Cini&Nils

Legal name

Cini&Nils

Website

https://cinienils.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cini&Nils is an Italian premium lighting designer and manufacturer, founded in 1969 and owned by Lombardo S.r.l. since 2022. It produces high-end decorative and technical LED luminaires, cable systems, and IoT-enabled smart lighting for the architectural and luxury residential market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Decorative & Architectural Lighting

NAICS

Residential Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335131), Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Indoor Lighting Fixtures Retail (Ceiling, Wall, Pendant, Chandeliers) (CRAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Smart Lighting & Controls Retail (Smart Switches, Dimmers, Hubs) (CRAIAHAF), Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ), Outdoor & Landscape Lighting Retail (Path, Flood, Security, Deck) (CRAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Decorative lighting design
• Architectural lighting fixtures
• LED cable systems
• Made in Italy lighting
• IoT smart lighting

Headquarters

HQ city

Villongo Sant'alessandro

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Lighting Fixtures Sales: Sale of high-end decorative and technical lighting products including pendant lights, cable systems, and architectural fixtures.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cini&Nils designs, manufactures, and sells high-end decorative and technical LED lighting fixtures and cable lighting systems under the Made in Italy label. The portfolio spans iconic lighting collections (Cuboluce, Gradi, Tenso, Acqua, Sottile, Flip, Minima, and more) integrating advanced LED technology with IoT/smart-device connectivity. Products are sold to premium residential and commercial customers through B2B channels and the company's own multi-language website.

Product overview

Cini&Nils is a high-end decorative and technical lighting company founded in 1969, acquired by Lombardo in October 2022. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of LED lighting solutions including: the foundational Cuboluce (1972), Gradi (1990), and Tenso cable systems including TensoClic and miniTenso variants; more recent collections like Acqua (2015), Sottile (2023), and Flip (2023); and the latest Minima (2025) launched at Euroluce. Additional collections include Manta, Korum, Volee, TensoSottile, Cordina, Meno, Fludd, Fischietto, Anda, Indice, Bouquet, Convivio, and Assolo. The company integrates modern IoT technologies for smart device interconnection, wireless interactions, and variable lighting scenarios, while emphasizing visual comfort through flicker-free laboratory testing and natural color perception. Products are designed in collaboration with notable designers including Franco Bettonica, Mario Melocchi, Luta Bettonica, Alessandro Scandurra, Giancarlo Leone, Victoria Azadinho Bocconi, Karim Rashid, and Giancarlo Alci. The company maintains a Made in Italy focus with 50 years of market presence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cuboluce Iconic lighting fixture born from Franco Bettonica's idea, bridging objects and lighting fixtures and marking Cini&Nils' entry into the lighting field.
• Gradi Lighting product featuring a small enamelled glass cylinder as the illuminating body.
• Tenso Cable System First 230V cable system, evolved into TensoClic and miniTenso variants, representing innovation in cable lighting architecture.
• Acqua Lighting collection designed by Luta Bettonica.
• Sottile Lighting collection launched in 2023.
• Flip Lighting product launched in 2023.
• Minima Latest lighting collection, presented at Euroluce with new generation designers.
• Convivio Lighting product designed by Luta Bettonica, artistic director.
• Assolo Lighting product designed by Luta Bettonica, artistic director.
• Manta Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure, part of the current product portfolio.
• Korum Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure.
• Volee Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure.
• Cordina Lighting collection (includes Cordina Cilindro 200) shown in company imagery.
• Meno Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure.
• Fludd Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure.
• Fischietto Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure.
• Anda Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure.
• Indice Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure.
• Bouquet Lighting collection available as a dedicated brochure.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vibia: Vibia is a Barcelona-based premium architectural lighting brand emphasising designer collaborations and contemporary aesthetics for residential and hospitality projects. Comparable to Cini&Nils in target customers, design-led positioning, and architectural lighting focus.
• Marset: Marset is a Spanish designer-led decorative lighting manufacturer serving residential and contract markets. Comparable to Cini&Nils through its designer collaborations, premium positioning, and emphasis on distinctive material and form language.
• Flos: Flos is an Italian premium architectural and decorative lighting manufacturer founded near Brescia. It competes directly with Cini&Nils in high-end residential and commercial decorative luminaires, designer collaborations, and architectural project specifications.
• Moooi: Moooi is a Dutch premium designer lighting and furniture brand offering decorative luminaires to residential and hospitality clients. Comparable to Cini&Nils in designer-collaboration model, decorative premium segment, and international distribution through design channels.
• Foscarini: Foscarini is an Italian designer-driven decorative lighting brand with comparable heritage, Made-in-Italy production, and designer-collaboration model (e.g., Patricia Urquiola, Marc Sadler). It targets the same premium residential and contract lighting market as Cini&Nils.
• Modular Lighting Instruments: Modular is a Belgian premium architectural lighting brand specialising in technical and decorative modular systems for residential and commercial projects. Comparable to Cini&Nils in technical-architectural lighting, premium positioning, and European design-led identity.
• Louis Poulsen: Louis Poulsen is a Danish premium lighting manufacturer known for Scandinavian design heritage (Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen) and architectural fixtures. It overlaps with Cini&Nils in the high-end decorative/architectural category and in design-heritage branding.
• Artemide: Artemide is one of Italy's largest premium lighting manufacturers with a strong Made-in-Italy identity, designer collaborations, and architectural project business. It overlaps directly with Cini&Nils across decorative, technical and architectural lighting categories.
• Tom Dixon: Tom Dixon is a British luxury design brand with a lighting line sold through its own showrooms and design distributors globally. Comparable to Cini&Nils in premium positioning, designer-driven identity, and decorative residential/contract lighting.

Broad incumbents

• Lombardo (parent): Lombardo S.r.l. is Cini&Nils' parent company since October 2022 and a broader Italian lighting manufacturer serving outdoor, technical and decorative segments. Comparable as an Italian lighting group with broader portfolio and scale that Cini&Nils benefits from operationally and distribution-wise.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cinienils
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cini&nils
• Instagraminstagram.com/cinienils

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cini&Nils