The photo shows Zumtobel Group CEO Alfred Felder (second from left) and apl CEO Dominik Burghaus (second from right) sealing their partnership at L+B in Frankfurt. © Faruk Pinjo
At Light + Building 2026 – the trade fair for lighting and building technology in Frankfurt am Main – the Zumtobel Group, a leading international provider of integrated lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor use, announced a new distribution partnership: With its Zumtobel brand, the company will in future distribute the innovative lighting systems of the Germany-based start-up All Purpose Lighting (apl AG), focusing on Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
apl’s system innovation complements Zumtobel portfolio
In taking up apl systems, Zumtobel is purposely expanding its established portfolio with a product type that opens up new applications and approaches thanks to its innovative features. Its central characteristics are a highly innovative light source with a modular design and a miniaturised appearance. apl stands for the principle of ‘small product, big impact’, meaning minimal use of materials alongside a high level impact on function, design and systems.
“As a leading provider of lighting solutions, we see it as our responsibility for the future to adopt relevant innovations, apply them in a practical context and make them available to the market. The sales partnership with apl complements our portfolio with a new, resource-efficient approach that meaningfully expands existing solutions,” says Alfred Felder, CEO of the Zumtobel Group.
Modular components allowing a high level of design freedom
The system approach taken by apl is aligned with the principles and passion of the Zumtobel brand, which stands for holistic lighting solutions, architectural quality and decades of application expertise, with the aim of creating lighting solutions of total perfection and quality. As such, apl products do not primarily function as visible luminaires, rather as highly effective, integrated modular components that complement, expand or reinterpret existing lighting solutions.
The added value primarily lies in:
- the reduction of material, volume and complexity,
- the high degree of design freedom thanks to the modular components,
- and the efficient lighting effect with minimal use of resources.
Sustainability along the entire value chain
A defining feature of apl systems is their integrated sustainability. Thanks to the minimal use of materials, easy integration into existing structures and reduced transport, installation and maintenance costs, the benefits extend across the entire value chain – from manufacturing and logistics to installation, use and dismantling. For Zumtobel, this approach ties in perfectly with its own sustainability strategy, which focuses on durable products, circular design and resource-saving solutions.
Partnership represents a milestone for start-up ap
For apl, the sales partnership with Zumtobel is a decisive step towards establishing its new innovation more firmly in the market. As a start-up, apl benefits from Zumtobel‘s market presence, planning expertise and the trust it enjoys among architects, lighting designers and investors.
Dominik Burghaus, CEO of apl says: “With apl, we have consciously developed a modular principle that is highly effective whilst also being extremely compact, offering a new approach to existing lighting solutions. The fact that the Zumtobel Group has adopted this approach and is bringing it to market is a great honour for us and also provides the ideal platform for showcasing the wide-ranging potential of our innovation.”
Participation in Light + Building 2026
Light + Building 2026, which takes place from 8 to 13 March in Frankfurt am Main, not only provided the stage for the launch of the sales partnership today, but also offers the public the opportunity to experience apl systems on site: visit the Zumtobel stand (Forum 0, Stand A10) and apl in Hall 3.0, Stand F70.