Transformation by merging Italian groups  

From lighting specialty to taking care of total projects

Performance in Lighting closes 2023 with the merger of GEWISS' extensive lighting portfolio with that of Performance iN Lighting. This is a first step toward the complete merger of the companies, following the acquisition by the GEWISS group. 

"We joined the GEWISS Group at the end of last year," says Paul Beerepoot, director of Performance in Lighting Netherlands. "We are both Italian groups and a merger had been discussed for some time. The acquisition of Performance in Lighting by GEWISS turned out to be the best construction. Thus a new group was created, with a combined turnover of more than 600 million euros." This decision brings major changes. "We naturally have a very strong lighting business, GEWISS can now benefit from this. However, the Italian group offers much more than lighting, as it also specializes in energy (switching and security), e-mobility, plant engineering and building automation."

Two new lighting sectors

The two companies will operate in the Netherlands as GEWISS Netherlands, while Performance iN Lighting will remain as a lighting brand. "The merger creates a larger lighting business. We started selling GEWISS lighting in October. Until now we were present in seven segments, technical indoor, office, industrial (for us the largest component), residential, architecture, sports fields and large grounds and public areas. Now we are adding two sectors: logistics and hospitality. GEWISS lighting focuses more on the project market, with high end luminaires that meet all requirements for use on sports fields, marshalling and parking lots, food industry and heavy industry. For example, they offer explosion-proof fixtures. So we are adding the things they are good at to our portfolio."

However, in addition to lighting, GEWISS Netherlands will also distribute the four other segments of GEWISS in the Netherlands. "We are therefore in a very busy period of transformation to GEWISS Netherlands. We have already hired five new employees, and still have six vacancies open. With our larger team, we want to make demand in the market. We will change from a marketing office to a sales office and in time will also handle logistics from the Netherlands." 

Selling the total project

The changes make for a hectic time, but Beerepoot is very excited about the future. "In the field of lighting alone we have a lot of competition, but as GEWISS Netherlands we will soon also be able to provide the infrastructure around this and thus offer added value. So no longer just making lighting calculations and supplying fixtures, but also installation, maintenance and service." A concrete example is the case of a sports field. "Until now, we could provide the light calculations and fixtures, but for masts and cabling the customer had to find another party. As GEWISS Netherlands, we can sell the total project. Lighting, combined with charging poles, cabling, control systems and security. This offers our customers great advantages because they no longer have to look for other companies."