At the heart of every artisan company beats a dedicated production department. A prime example can be found in businesses committed to the artisan production of lamps, where practicality and manual skill meet creativity. A well-managed production department is a true engine, a source of added value. Each lamp produced is not merely a piece of furniture, but something more: it tells a story of hard work and dedication. Without a solid production department, an artisan lamp company would lose its essence. This is precisely where design takes shape, and where functionality marries aesthetics. In short, it is here that a company’s vision transforms into a luminous reality.

The production department’s key role in artisan production of lamps

The production department has the concrete task of transforming ideas into tangible realities. Artisans carefully assemble each component. The required precision is not just about aesthetics; it ensures the product’s durability, a crucial aspect for the consumer. This process demands specific skills and hands-on experience, from a deep knowledge of materials to the manual dexterity that gives each lamp its unique and recognizable touch. Unlike mass production, in an artisan company, every piece is truly unique. Its small imperfections tell a story, and its details reveal the artisan’s hand. This approach elevates the finished product, making the production department the guardian of a tradition that also embraces innovation.

Quality and innovation: pillars of success

An efficient production department is fundamental for guaranteeing high quality standards. Every lamp undergoes rigorous checks at each stage of production, from material selection to final assembly, with particular attention paid to the electrical system’s safety. These controls not only ensure complete customer satisfaction but also strengthen the brand’s reputation. Beyond quality, the production department acts as a true innovation laboratory. Artisans don’t just replicate; they experiment with new manufacturing techniques and seek creative solutions to production challenges. They collaborate closely with the design team, providing invaluable feedback that contributes to the creation of original and captivating products, capable of meeting the demands of an evolving market. This capacity for innovation and adaptation is what keeps the company competitive and allows it to stand out.

Process optimization and sustainability

Operational efficiency is another concrete benefit derived from a well-structured production department. Optimized organization allows for the reduction of material and time waste, improving delivery times and ensuring punctuality and reliability. This effective cost control does not compromise quality; on the contrary, intelligent optimization can even enhance the overall quality. Furthermore, many artisan companies are increasingly integrating sustainable practices into their production. Using recycled or ethically sourced materials and committing to reducing the environmental impact of every stage of the process. The production department plays an active role in this, implementing low-impact procedures and contributing to more responsible manufacturing. This approach is not only ethically commendable but also a strong appeal to modern consumers, who are increasingly aware and sensitive to environmental issues, besides offering cost savings for the company.

Linea Zero and the artisan production of lamps

Linea Zero perfectly embodies these values, having always prioritized craftsmanship and the importance of local heritage. Every lamp is a tangible testament to the artisan production of lamps in a sector that, unfortunately, is increasingly leaning towards imported products. Moreover, it represents meticulous attention to detail and demonstrates a profound passion for Made in Italy design and light. The materials used are carefully studied and selected. Linea Zero places great emphasis on continuous innovation, creating unique and functional designs that simultaneously furnish and illuminate. The production department is the beating heart of the company, staffed by qualified individuals capable of transforming creative vision into luminous realities. Choosing a Linea Zero lamp means choosing quality, design, and a story of excellence.

The lamp

Moved by a desire to experiment with new materials, Enea Ferrari created the Toucan lamp in 1970. It was the first children’s lamp of that kind produced with the then innovative polypropylene Moplen, a plastic material with excellent mechanical strength qualities. The lamp was born from the idea of representing a toucan in a linear and essential form but with really intense colors, capable of capturing the interest of children.

The Toucan lamp remained on the market for about 6 years and was very successful almost all over the world. After producing thousands of pieces under the Old Timer Ferrari brand, in 1973 the branding was changed from OTF to Linea Zero and the lamp was renamed Cocorì. Although in the mid-1970s the success of this lamp waned, half a century later the Toucan lamp has returned to extraordinary success among lovers of modern antiques and vintage products.

In 2024, Linea Zero’s collaboration with Supreme lays the groundwork for the lamp’s long-awaited return, presented in a brand new version with integrated LED, USB-C input for power supply and touch on/off.

The designer

Enea Ferrari was born on July 9, 1938, in Verona, Italy. Already during his childhood, he manifested an aptitude for creativity, beginning to make his own small toys. Manual dexterity and craftsmanship have always characterized his achievements: in fact, he often spent entire days in the workshops of artisan friends to learn the tricks of the trade and make them his own. All the products made by Enea were handmade at the prototype stage and then mass-produced.

After a life dedicated to work, Enea spent his last years together with his life partner Corinna, never completely abandoning his innate passion for researching shapes in his small workshop at home. On October 23, 2020, Enea Ferrari passed away at the age of 82.

The company

Linea Zero is an interior lighting company founded in Verona in 1973 by Enea Ferrari. The company’s history actually has its roots even earlier, in 1964, when Enea himself founded Old Timer Ferrari (OTF) together with his father. The company specialized in the production of objects, accessories and plastic lighting.

Later, the focus was shifted entirely to the production of children’s lamps. It was at this point that the now anachronistic name changed from OTF to Linea Zero. In its 50-year history, the company has evolved considerably and now mainly produces contemporary and functional design-oriented lamps. Linea Zero’s products are entirely Made in Italy: this, in addition to enhancing the territory, allows the company to closely follow the entire production process.

TIMELINE: the history of Linea Zero

On the occasion of the Exclusive Cocktail Party in Verona, Linea Zero illuminates McLaren Artura, the new hybrid supercar of the British manufacturer. During the event, the company also presented its 2023 Design Collection.

Verona, 18 November 2022 – Linea Zero, lighting brand for domestic and contract spaces, took part in an exclusive Cocktail Party by McLaren Milan on Saturday 12 November in Verona.

On the occasion of the event, Linea Zero presented its PREVIEW 2023: Arena, Arcadia and Clessy are the new lamp collections that illuminated the stall at Corso Porta Borsari 44, accompanying guests inside Palazzo Guerrieri Rizzardi, the Verona headquarters of Roche Bobois, which hosted the Cocktail Party.

During the evening, guests were able to admire Artura, McLaren’s new hybrid supercar which, for the occasion, was enhanced and illuminated by a series of portable battery-operated lamps from the Rose collection. Furthermore, McLaren Milan displayed several cars of the prestigious brand next to the Linea Zero products in the stall. Finally, inside the building, light effects created by the most iconic collections in the catalogue of the company founded by Enea Ferrari helped to embellish the event.

AN EXCLUSIVE COCKTAIL PARTY

The Exclusive Cocktail Party was attended by personalities from the world of sport and show business, influencers, sponsors and insiders. This evening is part of a series of events in which Linea Zero is participating: this one in particular is part of the “To Share The Italian Good Living” circuit, conceived with the aim of promoting Italian style and taste in the world and produced by UNited STudio in collaboration with GP Luxury, Feel Studio and McLaren Milan. The evening’s main partners included Organics by Red Bull, Maia Wine, Nespresso, NH Collection, Coati, Civico21 and Signorvino.

The event was accompanied by the voice of mezzo-soprano Alessandra Gambino and the house sounds of Dee Jay Clara Romero. There was also a Jazz performance with piano and saxophonist and a classical music live performance with young artists from the academy of Verona. Thanks to the numerous partners in the Food & Beverage sector, there was no lack of bubbles, aperitifs paired with finger food, cocktails, fresh seasonal fruit, cold cuts, pizzas, parfaits and coffee. To conclude the evening, celebrations and a toast with Angelo Lella and the partners who contributed to the realisation of the event.

Finally, representing the institutions were the deputy and newly appointed president of the Justice Commission Ciro Maschio, the regional councillor Enrico Corsi, the vice-president of the City Council Antonio Lella, and representatives of hoteliers, restaurateurs from the Veneto region, and category associations. We would like to thank Mayor Damiano Tommasi and the Municipal Administration for allowing the organisation of this event that confirms Verona as a magical place for events of international calibre.

LINEA ZERO ILLUMINATES MCLAREN ARTURA
AN EXCLUSIVE COCKTAIL PARTY

Thanks to:

The Italian Good Living
McLaren Milano
UNited Studio
GP Luxury
Feel Studio

Organics by Red Bull
Maia Wine
Nespress
NH Collection
Coati
Civico21
Signorvino

Martina Piana Gioielli
Villa Cariola
Velox Servizi
Lollo’s Group

Renato Bosco
Yogorino
Gin Benacus
Ramazzotti Food
La Hoja del Carrasco
Puro

It is normal to think about how to clean lamps made of Polilux™ or methacrylate. Usually a dusting with a feather duster is sufficient but sometimes a deeper cleaning is necessary. If you follow the advice in this article step by step, you won’t go wrong!

Given the composition of the materials, it is not always obvious how to clean Polilux™ and methacrylate lamps properly. Often it is natural to use abrasive detergents or rough sponges, but these materials can be seriously damaged by doing this. As a result, defects may appear on the lamps. Furthermore, in the case of methacrylate, the appearance of the lamp will be duller.

How to clean lamps in a few steps

First of all, the amount of dirt on the lamp should be checked. One of the most common mistakes is to apply more household cleaning product than necessary. Unfortunately, this can lead to damage to the properties of the material.

Depending on the amount of dirt present, Linea Zero recommends the following operations for the correct cleaning of the products:

• If only dust has settled, it is sufficient to use an ordinary static duster;
• If the lamp is dirty on the surface only simply wipe it gently with a soft cloth dampened with water. Circular movements should be avoided when carrying out this operation: if your lamp is made of methacrylate these may cause scratches on the surface of the material;
• If the material has more complex stains, a mixture of water, detergent and glass cleaner can be applied. After disassembling the lamp, the water can be allowed to run over the object for a few minutes. This will immediately remove at least some of the dirt;
• Avoid products containing ammonia or alcohol, especially if the lamp is made of methacrylate.

How to clean lamps: the final steps

After having explained how to clean our lamps, our last advice is to always dry the product. Wiping the lamp with a soft cloth on its surface will prevent stains caused by humidity.

In addition, for lamps made of methacrylate (commonly known as Plexiglas or PMMA), when the surface is completely dry, you can apply a product to give it a shine. In this way, the material will shine as it did when it was purchased.

The properties and advantages of Polilux™

Thanks to continuous research, Linea Zero has developed a special material that combines aesthetics with efficiency and practicality. Polilux™ is an eco-friendly technopolymer that gives products a luminosity equal to that of glass, offering many other advantages. The collections produced with this material are in fact:

• light;
• flexible;
• unbreakable;
• antistatic;
• very versatile.

But that’s not all. Thanks to its special composition, Polilux™ is non-toxic, highly resistant to light and weathering and does not yellow over time. It is also highly resistant to solvents and household cleaning products.

The strong impact of methacrylate

A selection of Linea Zero lamps is made of methacrylate, a very clear material that is perfect for being exposed to light. In addition, special cleaning products make it resistant to dust. Finally, it boasts greater transparency than glass, but with much reduced fragility.

In 2020 we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Toucan lamp, the first lighting product made of plastic specifically for children. Thanks also to an interview given by CEO Alessandro Zavater to Alice Invernizzi of Barnebys, Linea Zero has decided to reconstruct the history of the Toucan lamp, which in recent years has returned to being a much sought-after product among collectors around the world.

The mind behind this iconic product is designer Enea Ferrari, founder of Old Timer Ferrari (OTF), which later became Linea Zero. A lover of reading, art, physics and cultural travel, Enea found inspiration in real life to create objects and lamps. Manual skills and a strong artisan aspect have always characterized his creations, so much so that he often spent entire days with artisan friends in order to learn the tricks of the trade and make them his own.

All the products made by Enea were handmade in the prototype phase, to be then industrialized for the real production. The materials used in the first period were metal, sheet metal and wood. Later, starting with the creation of the Toucan, he began to design lamps in plastic.

Toucan lamp: the story of a success

The desire to experiment led Enea Ferrari to try his hand with the then innovative polypropylene Moplen, a plastic material for industrial use with excellent electrical and chemical resistance. Shortly thereafter, Enea created the world’s first children’s lamp of that type and material, the Toucan. The product was so successful that it inspired other designers to create similar products, creating a trend that is still sought after today.

The Toucan remained on the market for about 6 years, sold in Europe mainly through lighting distributors and wholesalers. After having produced thousands of pieces under the OTF brand, in 1973 the marking was changed from OTF to Linea Zero. In addition, the lamp was renamed Cocorì.

As a result, over the years, models of the lamp have been produced under both the OTF brand and the Linea Zero brand. Moreover, there are several models that, for purely commercial purposes, do not bear any brand name. Some large foreign importers have in fact requested and obtained this small variation. In any case, these changes do not affect the originality, the important thing is that the shape of the body, beak and foot is identical and that the lamp was Made in Italy. In fact, there are neither authentic versions produced in other countries nor authentic versions with different shapes or sizes. On the other hand, the colours of the various parts that make up the Toucan can vary.

Unfortunately, in the mid-70s, the success of this lamp has been waning. However, in recent years, the Toucan has returned to success becoming object of desire among lovers of modern antiques and vintage products.

Not only Toucan, the other successes of Enea Ferrari

In addition to the Toucan, Enea Ferrari designed other iconic products for OTF, such as Olaf The Viking (dated 1971/1972), the Rolls-Royce pen holders and the Automobilina. The latter, made of sheet metal and copper, was a successful lamp that allowed the company to invest in subsequent projects, such as the Toucan.

During his career, Enea never dwelt too much on the success of his products, as soon as one project was finished, another one immediately followed. In the following years, he created other highly appreciated products, such as the Pink Panther lamp in 1984 (with the Pink Panther embracing the lamppost), the British Red Phone Box in 1985, the first version of the Biplano in 1993 and the Veliero in 1998. These, along with many other products, also found their way into very famous warehouses, such as Harrods in the UK.

In his later years, during which Linea Zero moved towards an increasingly contemporary and adult style, Enea designed many of the lamps now in the company’s catalogue:

• Helios in 2001
• Pois in 2007
• Globe produced in Polilux in 2011 but already designed in the ’60s in opaque material
• Litos in 2011
• Space Collection in 2013
• Atom in 2013
• Cloud in 2015
• Flat in 2015
• Vela in 2016
• Prisma in 2018
• Building in 2018
• Half Globe in 2019

The present and future of the Toucan lamp

Before the pandemic, the company planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Toucan lamp by organising an exhibition to which all known collectors would be invited to exhibit their Toucan for a few weeks in Verona, Italy, the birthplace of Enea Ferrari.

On this occasion, Linea Zero also intended to launch a crowdfunding initiative for the restyling of the lamp, with the aim of putting it back on the market in a version faithful to the original and updated in compliance with current regulations. Although these initiatives have been postponed for the moment, Linea Zero continues to make several posts on the company’s social network pages and on its blog, demonstrating that the passion for the Toucan lamp is more alive than ever.

In 2024, Linea Zero’s collaboration with the world-famous streetwear brand Supreme lays the groundwork for the lamp’s long-awaited return, presented in a brand new version with integrated LED, USB-C input for power supply and touch on/off.

The Toucan is back!

The all-new Toucan lamp is a playful throwback to the 1970s, now modernized with LED technology, USB-C power and touch controls – perfect for adding a touch of colour and nostalgia to any room.

The lamp is available for purchase on the new shop dedicated to the iconic lamp designed by Enea Ferrari!

Did somebody say MoMA?

The Toucan Lamp is now available at MoMA Design Store in New York City, Japan or on their online store. The store offers a range of products inspired by The Museum of Modern Art‘s collection and exhibitions, with a focus on making good design accessible to a wider audience. Products are carefully selected by museum curators for their innovation, educational value, sustainability, and connection to the museum’s holdings, ensuring that each purchase supports MoMA‘s educational programs and exhibitions.

Linea Zero, brand da sempre dedito all’illuminazione di design per spazi domestici e contract, è presente a Lichtwoche Sauerland in collaborazione con Andreas Kapahnke. Dal 6 all’11 marzo 2022, le collezioni 100% Made in Italy di Linea Zero saranno quindi esposte all’interno della fiera nella città di Arnsberg.

Linea Zero, domestic and contract lighting brand, will be at Lichtwoche Sauerland in collaboration with Andreas Kapahnke. From March 6 to 11, 2022, Linea Zero’s 100% Made in Italy collections will be on display at the fair in the city of Arnsberg.

Lichtwoche Sauerland is an event held every two years in the Sauerland region of Germany. It is one of the most important German trade fairs for the lighting sector together with Light+Building. Over the years, it has established itself as a fixture and a meeting place for well-known manufacturers, retailers and buyers of lighting and lamps.

During the fair, which has its organizational center in Arnsberg, exhibitors invite their customers to their respective showrooms to present their new collections and product lines. In just a few years, Lichtwoche Sauerland has become an important place to exchange information about new items, innovations and future trends.

LICHTWOCHE SAUERLAND – ULTERIORI INFORMAZIONI – FURTHER INFORMATION

Linea Zero s.a.s.
via Torino, 24 Negrar 37024 VR, Italia
T +39 045 989600 – commerciale@lineazero.it
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