Who we are - Infrared heaters

Phormalab is an Italian company with 20 years of experience in the production of designer infrared heating lamps.

Its roots are located in an area rich in tradition, between Lake Garda and Lake Iseo. It is precisely in the province of Brescia where the entire production cycle of each heater, designed for outdoor use, takes place. The headquarters are in Lumezzane, the beating heart of Lombardy’s metalworking production. Phormalab was born from the long of experience of Urbani S.r.l., active for over 60 years in the metalworking sector. Respect for nature and the art of aluminum processing are the pillars on which the company identity is based, a combination of tradition and innovation that guides the company towards the future.

Today, the Urbani family continues to direct the growth and development of the company, aiming for new goals and actively committing to people and the territory. Since its inception, Phormalab has established itself as the leading brand in the infrared heater sector, attracting the attention of numerous luxury hotels and restaurants around the world, which have chosen to offer maximum comfort to their customers in outdoor spaces. Phormalab products stand out for their high range and allow you to quickly heat internal and external environments even in the coldest months, without sacrificing aesthetics.

In Phormalab artisanal art is expressed in different forms, adapting to a new type of environment and satisfying the tastes of design lovers. From the creation of the Hotdoor collection, a bestseller designed by Antonio Di Chiano, to the collaboration with the designer Stefano Pasotti for the creation of Aura, each product is a fusion of craftsmanship, technique and aesthetics, designed to offer elegant and functional solutions to a demanding clientele.

Paolo Urbani - CEO

Paolo Urbani represents the second generation of the Urbani family, carrying on a long- standing tradition in the metalworking industry with passion and expertise. Drawing on years of solid experience, he conceived and developed the Phormalab project with the aim of revolutionizing the world of infrared heating.

Realizing that traditional gas heaters are polluting, hazardous, and aesthetically unappealing, Paolo set out to create a safer, more sustainable, and stylish alternative. This gave rise to Phormalab: a brand known for its focus on design, efficiency, and style—created to blend seamlessly even into the most exclusive and sophisticated settings, where elegance is non-negotiable.

Designers

Stefano Pasotti

Stefano Pasotti is an Italian designer born in Lumezzane (BS), an environment that has deeply influenced his design approach. His work develops along two main paths: industrial design and communication within the design field. In the design sector, Pasotti works closely with companies and manufacturers, following the entire design process—from concept to production—with a method strongly focused on industrialization. He has collaborated with numerous companies including Casa Bugatti, Becchetti Bal, Phormalab, Colombo Design, Pininfarina, and other notable Italian brands. In parallel, he is dedicated to education and knowledge sharing, collaborating with academic institutions such as IAAD – Institute of Applied Arts and Design and LABA – Free Academy of Fine Arts, where he teaches Materials Technology and History and Culture of Design. In 2016, he founded the first Italian YouTube channel entirely dedicated to industrial design, with the aim of making high-quality content accessible—covering design history, production technologies, and interviews with leading institutions such as MoMA, Herman Miller, LEGO, Alessi, and many others. Through his editorial and design work, Stefano Pasotti seeks to bring the general public closer to the world of design, promoting the dialogue between design culture and industry.

Antonio Di Chiano

After studying Industrial Design at the Politecnico di Milano and Lapin Yliopisto in Rovaniemi, Finland, Antonio Di Chiano collaborated with various companies in the furniture and automotive sectors, specializing in medium-to-high complexity projects in the field of industrial machinery. For Phormalab, he designed Hotdoor, an infrared heater that combines technical innovation and design, elevating this typically functional product into a true furnishing element capable of enhancing the space in which it is placed. The concept behind Hotdoor lies in the union between nature and technology. Shaped like a floral element, the lamp delivers the pleasant sensation of warmth on the skin that the sun naturally provides throughout the day. Thanks to Hotdoor, Phormalab has established itself internationally by offering solutions that both heat and furnish terraces, outdoor areas, and the spaces of the most exclusive and refined hotels and restaurants.