Arpa Industriale, an industry leader in high-quality surfaces and innovative materials for interior design, is celebrating 70 years since it was founded. To mark the occasion, the company commissioned Francesca Ferrari to create a photography project that conveys the true spirit of its production facility in Bra (Cuneo): a visual journey that starts from its imposing industrial architecture and delves all the way into the beating heart of its production site.
Founded in 1954, Arpa Industriale and its materials have helped to shape Italian design, interpreting its many evolutions and trends. Since the outset, the company proved capable of seizing the opportunities offered by the advent of mass-produced furnishings and household appliances, using cutting-edge technical solutions to meet the needs of an age defined by rapid transformation.
Over the course of the 1960s and 1970s—which saw a vibrant explosion of colours and styles—Arpa Industriale expanded its décor range, pre-empting incoming interior design trends and crafting original finishes featuring an unmistakable tactile quality.
Arpa Industriale is constantly evolving, with developments on technological innovation, entering new markets, and the adoption of an increasingly sustainable approach. Over the years, the company has introduced a Code of Ethics and created a Safety, Health and Environment Division.
Among its many milestones, one of the most significant was the 2013 introduction of FENIX NTM®, a revolutionary material that combines strength, a matt and soft-touch effect, anti-fingerprint properties and an original, timeless colour palette. Inspired by the legend of the phoenix, a symbol of regeneration, FENIX® represents a turning point in the world of surfaces for interior design.
More recently, Arpa presented Tuet: the company's first deep surface. This new type of HPL, inspired by the reeds of the River Tanaro, plays with light and shadow to create an effect that is both elegant and dynamic. Included in the ADI Design Index 2024, the surface has won prestigious awards, including the Red Dot Award 2024 and the Interzum Award 2023, and is recognised as the ideal option for creating sophisticated, relaxing atmospheres.
Another innovation is Vis, a surface that combines aesthetics with excellent technical performance. Thanks to mineral and organic components, Vis offers durability, ease of maintenance, and a pleasant tactile experience.
Completing Arpa Industriale's range of cutting-edge offerings is Bloom technology, which is applied to the core of Arpa® surfaces and FENIX® materials and which uses lignin to reduce the amount of phenol in thermosetting resin. Lignin is a natural polymer and a byproduct the paper industry. Bloom's innovative approach has won numerous awards, including the Materialpreis 2020 and the Interzum 'Best of the Best' 2021 Award, as well as inclusion in the ADI Design Index 2020.
Since 2008, Arpa Industriale—along with its two brands, FENIX® and Arpa®—is part of Broadview Holding's Material Technology business unit. Sustainability, design and innovation are the cornerstones of the company. Between 2019 and 2002, Arpa Industriale reduced its energy consumption by 22%, its water consumption by 25% and its CO2 emissions by 20%. Its future targets, set to be achieved by 2026, involve reducing its carbon footprint by 28%, its primary energy requirements by 8%, and its water footprint by 5%, all thanks to the optimisation of production processes and investment in renewable raw materials.
Today, Arpa Industriale's focus remains working towards the next generation of high-quality surfaces, combining creativity, Italian design and premium finishes while creating solutions that address the needs of the present whilst anticipating the lifestyle trends.
The 70th anniversary represents not only an opportunity to celebrate the past, but also a reminder to look to the future, continuing to innovate while respecting both people and the environment.
More information:
Arpa Industriale
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www.arpaindustriale.com