EMU

EMU is an Italian manufacturer of designer outdoor furniture for restaurants, hotels, terraces and public spaces, founded in 1951 in Marsciano, in the heart of Umbria. The brand specialises in metal outdoor furniture, combining more than seven decades of technical expertise with contemporary Italian design. Today, EMU chairs, armchairs, tables, bar stools, lounge furniture, sun loungers and shade solutions are specified for private and professional projects around the world.

EMU — Italian outdoor furniture for restaurants, hotels and terraces

EMU is one of Italy’s most recognisable names in designer outdoor furniture. The company specialises in furniture that combines visual lightness and distinctive design with the performance required for long-term use outdoors.

The EMU range includes chairs, armchairs, bar stools, tables, sofas, lounge chairs, sun loungers, daybeds, poufs, accessories and professional shade systems. This allows the brand to furnish restaurant terraces, rooftop spaces, pool areas, hotel patios, beach clubs and other outdoor environments within a consistent design concept.

EMU heritage: from Elettro-Meccanica Umbra to an international outdoor brand

EMU’s story began in 1951 in Marsciano, a small town in Umbria. Brothers Aldo and Angelo Biscarini, together with Dante Menconi, founded Elettro-Meccanica Umbra, initially manufacturing radio communication equipment and drawing on the technical expertise of its founders.

By the end of the 1950s, the company had changed direction and moved into furniture production. Its first products were designed for schools and offices, but experiments with protective metal treatments gradually opened up a new field: furniture capable of withstanding weather exposure and performing reliably outdoors.

This expertise in metal processing and protection became the foundation of EMU’s future specialisation. The company developed one of Italy’s first industrial facilities for plastic coating metal, while its early outdoor collections quickly expanded beyond the domestic market.

One of the defining products of this period was the Rio chair. During the 1960s and 1970s it became an international commercial success, with annual sales exceeding half a million units at the height of its popularity. A local Umbrian manufacturer was steadily becoming an international outdoor furniture brand.

Made in Italy and expertise in metal

EMU’s manufacturing culture is built around steel and aluminium. Decades of experience have allowed the company to develop technologies that combine structural strength and resistance to outdoor conditions with the visual lightness that characterises many of its collections.

In 1984, a new manufacturing complex of approximately 50,000 m² was opened in Marsciano. Continued investment in automation, robotic welding, finishing systems and metal-protection technologies enabled EMU to combine industrial-scale production with demanding standards of design and quality.

Cataphoresis treatment plays an important role in protecting metal surfaces and improving corrosion resistance. Quality control extends from product development and production testing through coating and final inspection of the finished product.

EMU follows a Made in Italy manufacturing philosophy, with product development, engineering and quality control centred around its headquarters and production facilities in Marsciano. The brand considers the combination of technology and accumulated human know-how fundamental to the durability of its outdoor furniture.

Italian design and international designers

Collaboration with internationally recognised designers has become an important part of EMU’s development. Over the years, collections have been created for the brand by Patricia Urquiola, Jean Nouvel, Paola Navone, Christophe Pillet, Patrick Norguet, Arik Levy, Jean-Marie Massaud, Sebastian Herkner, Stefan Diez, Federica Biasi, Marco Acerbis, Pio & Tito Toso, Lucidi / Pevere and other designers and studios.

Patricia Urquiola reinterpreted the tradition of classic metal garden furniture with Re-Trouvé, where a repeating geometric pattern creates a distinctive openwork structure. Christophe Pillet designed collections including Round and Café, combining clean geometry with the functionality required in professional spaces.

Shine by Arik Levy combines aluminium and teak across chairs, armchairs, bar stools, lounge seating, tables and sun loungers. This illustrates an approach typical of EMU: rather than designing isolated products, many collections operate as complete furniture systems for different areas within the same project.

Other recognised EMU collections include Ronda, Heaven, Nef, Twins, Darwin, Yard, Riviera, Mom, Terramare, Cannolè and Tami. Together they explore different expressions of outdoor design, from compact metal café chairs to complete lounge systems for hotels and resorts.

EMU for restaurants, hotels and professional terraces

Contract furniture is a key part of EMU’s business. The company develops dedicated solutions for hospitality, restaurants and bars, public spaces and marine environments. In these applications, resistance to intensive use and weather exposure, easy maintenance and efficient management of large seating areas are particularly important.

The collections include outdoor chairs, armchairs, outdoor bar stools, outdoor tables in different sizes and heights, lounge furniture and sun loungers. Many models are stackable, making them particularly practical for cafés, restaurants, event spaces and seasonal terraces.

Professional collections are developed for frequent daily use and prolonged outdoor exposure. Metal frames, specialised protective finishes and outdoor-grade materials allow the furniture to perform not only on urban terraces but also in resort, poolside and marine environments where operating conditions can be considerably more demanding.

EMU furniture has been used in hospitality projects around the world, including hotels, restaurants, resorts, rooftop bars, spas and public spaces. Projects published by the brand include Porto Angeli Beach Resort Hotel in Rhodes, Priori Secret Garden in Perugia, Danubius Hotel, Terme di Saturnia, Club Med Cefalù, Maio restaurant in Rome and Elaine’s GreenHouse in Frankfurt.

Materials designed for long-term outdoor use

Steel and aluminium remain EMU’s principal materials and define the company’s historic expertise in metalwork. A significant part of the range consists of metal chairs engineered for professional use. Depending on the collection, metal is combined with teak, EMU-Tex, technical outdoor fabrics, synthetic rope, HPL, porcelain stoneware and other materials developed for outdoor applications.

Steel makes it possible to create slim yet rigid structures, mesh seating and distinctive graphic forms. Aluminium reduces overall weight and is particularly practical for professional terraces where furniture frequently needs to be moved or seating layouts reconfigured.

Teak is used in selected premium collections to combine EMU’s metal expertise with the natural tactile quality of wood. Collections such as Twins and Shine bring different materials together and increasingly blur the traditional distinction between indoor and outdoor furniture.

Design & Simulation Centre: treating outdoor space as a complete environment

In 2018, EMU opened its own Design & Simulation Centre in Marsciano, dedicated to research, product development and the simulation of different usage scenarios. The facility allows the company to work not only with individual pieces of furniture but with complete outdoor environments.

Designers, technical specialists and partners can evaluate the interaction between furniture, materials and their surroundings during the design process. This approach is particularly valuable in contract projects, where aesthetics, ergonomics, circulation and efficient use of space all need to be considered simultaneously.

Sustainability and a long product life cycle

For EMU, sustainability begins with product durability. The company regards a long service life as one of the foundations of responsible manufacturing and considers environmental impact throughout the product life cycle.

Steel and aluminium, which form the basis of many EMU collections, are 100% recyclable and non-combustible materials. Teak is used in collections featuring natural timber, while manufacturing processes are designed to reduce waste and encourage the reuse of materials.

The company is also progressively reducing plastic in its packaging and introducing more compact solutions based on recyclable cardboard. Part of the manufacturing facility’s energy requirements is supplied by a 1 MW photovoltaic system, helping to reduce dependence on fossil-based energy sources.

EMU and contemporary Made in Italy

EMU was among the first companies to receive ItalyX certification, an initiative by Il Sole 24 Ore in collaboration with Confindustria for businesses that go beyond simply manufacturing in Italy by combining Italian heritage with design, innovation, technology and industrial culture.

For EMU, this reflects the essence of the brand: long-established expertise in metal processing combined with modern manufacturing technologies, international product design and a deep understanding of how furniture needs to perform outdoors.

EMU stands for:

• an Italian outdoor furniture manufacturer founded in Marsciano in 1951
• more than seven decades of expertise in metal processing and protection
• a Made in Italy manufacturing philosophy and dedicated technological facilities in Umbria
• specialisation in furniture for restaurants, hotels, terraces, public spaces and marine environments
• chairs, armchairs, bar stools, tables, lounge furniture, sofas, sun loungers and shade systems
• steel, aluminium, teak and contemporary materials designed for intensive outdoor use
• collaborations with Patricia Urquiola, Jean Nouvel, Christophe Pillet, Paola Navone, Arik Levy, Patrick Norguet and other internationally recognised designers
• a dedicated Design & Simulation Centre for developing and testing complete outdoor solutions
• a 1 MW photovoltaic installation and a focus on recyclable materials
• ItalyX certification reflecting a contemporary culture of Made in Italy