Anti-reflective, with a unique tactile sensation, finger-print resistant and... in case of micro scratches on the surface, it is heat repairable. We’re talking about Fenix®, the smart material by Arpa Industriale, a company based in Bra, in Piedmont, which has been designing and manufacturing high quality panels with HPL technology since 1954 for a wide variety of uses: from architecture to interior design, and the healthcare, shipbuilding, transport, hospitality, retail and kitchen design sectors.

Fenix®, launched on the market in 2013, has been developed with the use of proprietary technologies by an international and multi-disciplinary team of fifteen researchers. The exterior part of Fenix® is obtained with the aid of nanoparticles and is characterised by a surface treated with next-generation acrylic resins, which are hardened and cured through an innovative Electron Beam Curing process. Thanks to the use of nanotechnology, superficial microscratches on Fenix® can be repaired with the help of heat, as the choice of its name also emphasises. A stylish, hard-wearing product, Fenix® can withstand serious knocks and scratches, but is also highly resistant to the aggressive action of solvents and reagents typically used for household cleaning. All characteristics immediately appreciated by architects, designers, kitchen manufacturers and interior design brand, who use the innovative Arpa material in their projects. The versatility of Fenix®, which can be used for both vertical and horizontal applications, is a particular favourite in the creation of kitchen environments, where it is matched with natural materials (marble, wood, stone) and also present in mono-material form, from worktops to cabinets, hobs and sinks. Fenix® is also hygienic and dust-resistant. It is cleaned with a damp cloth, warm water and mild cleaning products.

The Fenix® line currently includes two materials: Fenix® NTM (in 19 aesthetically modular colours) and Fenix® NTA (a metal surface available in the colours Steel, Gold and Silver). The thickness ranges from thin (0.7 / 0.9 - 1.2 mm) to compact with matched colour core (4 - 6 - 8 - 10 - 12 mm). Fenix® is distributed in over 60 countries and has won many awards and titles, including: MaterialPREIS 2014, «Best Design Material» Dwell On Design 2014, ADI Design Index 2014, «Best of the Best» Interzum Award 2015, «New Product Award» Archidex 2015, «Honourable Mention» Compasso d’Oro ADI 2016, «Best of Best Product» Iconic Awards 2016 and InteriHotel 2018. Continuous innovation, a focus on the theme of sustainability, integrated solutions for interior design and co-design processes, are all fundamental elements for creating the materials of Arpa Industriale.

And it is indeed from a perspective of collaboration that Match was created: «The idea behind this partnership - explains Luca Fava Piz, Nobili Kitchen Sales Manager - is the will to detach the mixer tap from the sink and to associate it with the other elements of the décor, overstepping the traditional dictates of worktop design». The «Match» design confirms Fenix® as a «brand ingredient» that adds value to the world of interior design. A material for timeless design and architecture stories.