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EMU: Italy's First Plasticisation Plant
The breakthrough that transformed EMU into a pioneer of the sector came in the early 1960s: the company experimented with and perfected a PVC finishing system applied to metal, which culminated in the creation of the first plasticisation plant in Italy. This process made products resistant to bad weather, UV exposure, and intensive outdoor use — a genuine technical revolution for the time. The direct result was the birth of the Italian market for quality garden furniture. In 1966 came the Rio chair, destined to become one of the best-selling pieces in the history of outdoor design: over 8 million units produced and distributed worldwide — a concrete symbol of how technical excellence can become popular and enduring design.
The IKEA Years and the New Luxury Design Era
In 1984 EMU inaugurated the new Schiavo facility — over 50,000 sq m of automated production. During those years, a strategic partnership with IKEA took shape that, throughout the 1980s and 1990s, allowed the company to develop industrial-scale production capacity and extensive international distribution. The decisive turning point came in 2005: the majority stake in EMU was acquired by L Capital, the LVMH group fund, opening the door to a new era of collaborations with internationally acclaimed designers such as Christophe Pillet, Rodolfo Dordoni, Paola Navone, and Patricia Urquiola. This was the moment EMU entered the accessible luxury segment — without ever betraying its Umbrian artisan and industrial vocation.
EMU-Coat: the Invisible Technology that Defies Time
The secret behind EMU's durability has a precise name: EMU-Coat, the exclusive anti-corrosion treatment process developed in-house over decades of metal research. Every piece is crafted from an iron and carbon alloy with a carbon content below 2%, subjected to the EMU-Coat process, which guarantees resistance to weathering, UV rays, and intensive use even in marine environments or in direct contact with water. The result is outdoor furniture that maintains its colour, structure, and appearance unchanged over time without requiring extraordinary maintenance — Design that endures, not merely impresses.
Bring EMU into Your Outdoor Space
Our team will guide you in selecting the EMU chair, table, sun lounger, or collection best suited to your garden, terrace, or contract space. We reserve an exclusive price and a dedicated consultation for architects, interior designers, and private clients.
The Collections: Modern Design for the Outdoors
The EMU catalogue covers every requirement for outdoor living — from private gardens to city terraces, from poolside to contract hospitality — with collections that combine technical materials, colour, and the signatures of international designers:
- Arc En Ciel: the iconic EMU collection, crafted in iron with EMU-Coat treatment; folding chairs and tables available in a wide and vibrant colour range — ideal for terraces, balconies, and informal gardens; versatile, lightweight, and wonderfully colourful
- Como: outdoor lounge system with sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables of contemporary profile; powder-coated metal frame with removable cushion upholstery, designed for prestigious outdoor entertaining spaces
- Ivy: a collection with an open-weave design inspired by nature, crafted in open-mesh worked metal that recreates the texture of rattan with the durability of treated steel
- Riga: stackable chairs for contract and intensive residential use; linear and functional design, among the most sought-after for hotels, restaurants, and outdoor public spaces
- Designer Collections: the full line born from collaborations with Paola Navone, Rodolfo Dordoni, Christophe Pillet, and Patricia Urquiola — signature design pieces for those who see the outdoor space as an extension of the luxury living environment
FAQ – EMU: Your Questions, Our Answers
What makes EMU furniture resistant outdoors?
EMU uses an exclusive process called EMU-Coat: an anti-corrosion treatment applied to iron and carbon alloys that protects pieces from UV rays, rain, humidity, and intensive use. The result is furniture that maintains its colours and structure unchanged over time — suitable even for marine environments or poolside use, with no need for extraordinary maintenance.
Is EMU furniture suitable for contract use as well?
Yes, EMU has been a reference in contract hospitality for decades: hotels, resorts, restaurants with outdoor spaces, clubs, and accommodation facilities worldwide choose EMU for the combination of recognisable design, resistance to intensive use, and ease of maintenance. Collections such as Riga and Como are specifically designed to meet the demands of high-end contract projects.
What is EMU's most iconic collection?
The emblematic piece in EMU's history is the Rio chair, launched in 1966: over 8 million units sold worldwide — an absolute record in Italian outdoor design. Today the most recognisable collection is Arc En Ciel, with its wide colour range and folding treated-iron structure, which has become an icon of Made in Italy outdoor design in gardens and on terraces across the globe.
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