Attitude

Attitude

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SINCE 1949

Ezio Cristina founded CRISTINA Rubinetterie in Gozzano, Northern Italy, in 1949. The development of the company closely followed the route laid out by the founder until the arrival of his sons, Alberto and Riccardo, who drove the company towards transformation on an industrial scale. At the end of the 1980s, the acquisition of SILFRA takes place, a company specialising in the production of soil pipes, electronic and time-controlled taps and fittings. With this expansion, CRISTINA Rubinetterie moves further into the industrial sphere, strengthened in June 2017, when the brand became part of the Caleffi Group, a leader in the manufacture of heating, air conditioning, plumbing and drainage parts. Through this partnership, CRISTINA secured both the continuity of the brand and its growth at an international level. Additionally, 2017 saw the launch of an exclusive showroom space in Milan. Cementing the company’s public image, it became a place to enter into dialogue with a creative community of designers and architects, conduct business and design meetings and host a vast array of events. 

CRISTINA Rubinetterie was among the first to introduce the thermostatic mixer to Europe in 1968 and to propose an extensive range of 100 surface colours. Leading the way once more, the company was also the first in the world to introduce the single lever mixer in the 1980s. In 1994, the decision to produce single lever mixer cartridges, an important investment in technology, allowed a high degree of safety in the control of the production process and in the quality of the products themselves. Similarly, the use of stainless steel (guaranteed by a Centro Inox quality mark) was introduced in 2003, with the company dedicating an entire division to the material. The expansion of the Gozzano logistics centre followed in 2007, housing a fully automated warehouse. Today, with four production sites located in the upper area of Novara, totalling 35,000 square meters, with employees numbering over 250, CRISTINA Rubinetterie continues to operate a completely Made in Italy production. The export turnover share exceeds 60% and the company is present in over 60 countries. CRISTINA is a member of the Green Building Council Italia that uses the Leed rating (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as an evaluation system of the sustainability of buildings.

In 2020, CRISTINA Rubinetterie renewed its strategy, focusing on the company's path in the coming years, orientating it towards design, wider project work and the hotel sector. In addition to a diversified range of products across its catalogue, the company confirms the development of tailor-made solutions (in terms of dimensions, finishes and types of use) to meet varied design requirements. The range, intended for bathrooms, kitchens, wellness centres and outdoors, is designed to be functional, durable and aesthetically in line with contemporary interior design projects.

EVERY TAP IS A STORY: FIND OUT FROM THOSE WHO CREATE THEM
EVERY TAP IS A STORY: FIND OUT FROM THOSE WHO CREATE THEM
CRISTINA People
Discover More
Timeline
  • 1949
  • 1965
  • 1968
  • 1973
  • 1978
  • 1981
  • 1982
  • 1984
  • 1994
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2002
  • 2003
  • 2005
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2008
  • 2010
  • 2011
  • 2017
  •  
  •  
  • 2020
  • 2021
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • 2022
  •  
  • 2023
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • 2024
  •  
  • 1949
    1949

    Ezio Cristina begins his entrepreneurial activity in Gozzano, founding the company CRISTINA & GALLIANO with a partner. These are the years of economic recovery during which the company goes from being a subcontractor - therefore a supplier of semi-finished products - to a full-fledged producer.

  • 1965
    1965

    Still in production today, 1965 saw the launch of the Impero series with its trademark cross-shaped handles, a timeless and elegant silhouette.

  • 1968
    1968

    In 1968, it is among the first Italian companies to produce the thermostatic mixer. Thanks to a thermosensitive heart, the mixer “automatically” regulates the water temperature and keeps it constant.

  • 1973
    1973

    CRISTINA Rubinetterie launches the Impero and Balilla lines in new colourful finishes, both finding great success.

  • 1978
    1978
    The Cristina family become the sole owners of the company in 1978. In the same year, elder son Alberto joins the company, followed a few years later by his brother Riccardo.
  • 1981
    1981
    in 1981, the company began producing the first lines with single lever mixer, a single lever that allows regulating the water temperature. The successful Modulo and City series were born.
  • 1982
    1982

    CRISTINA Rubinetterie buys SILFRA in 1982, a company that produces bathtub draining columns. Talks around the ”Cristina Group” begin.

  • 1984
    1984

    Since 1984, for the whole decade, the explosion of colour. The company invested in the varnishing department, with a colour palette counting 100 finishes, and became the reference point of the coloured product.

  • 1994
    1994

    CRISTINA Rubinetterie develops and commissions the production of cartridges for single lever mixers in 1994. This allows them to rationalise their offer and retain maximum control over the quality.

  • 1998
    1998

    The company recognise the importance of establishing collaborations with architects and designers in order to widen the aesthetic of their tapware. Consequently, Compass was born, designed by architect Massimo Farinatti.

  • 2000
    2000

    The new millennium marks the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with internationally renowned designer Makio Hasuike. A new CRISTINA Rubinetterie logo and Esempio, a single lever mixer with a futuristic line, make their debut.

  • 2002
    2002

    Up & Down, the washbasin drains line, patented and produced by SILFRA, appeared in 2002. It was revolutionary, with the water opening and closing completely released from the tap control with just light pressure on the cap.

  • 2003
    2003

    A new division dedicated to stainless steel emerges, CRISTINA INOX dedicated to the study and application of a material that’s both eco-sustainable and extremely versatile in the production of bathroom and kitchen taps and fittings.

  • 2005
    2005

    SILFRA continues to grow, becoming one of the leaders in the Italian sector. In addition to the production of bath waste columns, timed and electronic taps and fittings are added and the brand becomes a strategic supplier for many Italian companies in the market.

  • 2006
    2006

    In 2006, the merger of CRISTINA Rubinetterie SPA, SILFRA SPA and GODIO SPA (taps and fittings acquired in 2001) gives birth to CRS SPA, a group that, by combining various skill sets, aims to increase synergy and overall strength.

  • 2007
    2007

    The organisation’s continued evolution called for the development of its production facilities. The Gozzano plant in Via Don Minzoni was expanded in 2007, creating a structure of over 2000sqm which would host a fully automated warehouse.

  • 2008
    2008

    In 2008, the new ultra-thin Sandwich showerhead launched. Patented by CRISTINA Rubinetterie, it leads the way on every front, from its design to its eco-friendly credentials.

  • 2010
    2010
    In 2010, the logo was transformed, the yellow field resized and shaped from a rectangle into a square to perfectly hold the company’s name, expressing its exclusive character with discreet charm.
  • 2011
    2011

    Renovated by architect Naomi Hasuike of studio Makio Hasuike & Co., the company’s historic nineteenth-century Gozzano HQ is completely renewed, becoming the group’s real headquarters.

  • 2017
    2017

    With the aim of fostering dialogue with designers and strengthening brand awareness, the company opens its first showroom in Milan: four windows on the historic Via Pontaccio, located in the heart of the Brera design district.

  • 2017
    2017

    The Italy series launches in 2017, combining industrial production with craftsmanship, representing, in a single collection, the excellence of Made in Italy. The series, envisioned by Busetti Garuti Redaelli designers, offers a range of finishes with the option to combine the tap body with marble or stone knobs.

  • 2017
    2017

    The company announces the acquisition by the Caleffi Group, a leading Made in Italy manufacturer of components for heating, air conditioning and plumbing systems. An important operation, aimed at guaranteeing an absolute continuity for the brand and its ceaseless growth at an international level.

  • 2020
    2020

    Rebranding. A fresh chapter, the company presents its new identity, the culmination of intense artistic and creative work across multiple levels of the organisation. New graphics and content outline an even more cohesive identity, expressing a desire to be immediately recognised as a key player in the sector, both within Italy and across the sixty countries in which CRISTINA is present.

  • 2021
    2021

    East side angelettiruzza design won the prestigious German Design Award 2022 in the Bath & Wellness category with the special mention for ”Excellent Product Design”. The series, in the same year, was also awarded the Archiproducts Design Awards 2021 and BIGSEE Product Design Award 2021 as Grand Prix Winner.

  • 2021
    2021

    The increasing sensitivity to environmental issues and attention to the world in which we live, have led the company to implement improvements in terms of environment and sustainability, born the initiative From Yellow to...Green!

  • 2021
    2021
    FOIL design Marco Pisati - Winner of the 2021 Archiproducts Design Awards, with a special mention for sustainability.
  • 2021
    2021

    Opens the first exhibition space abroad made in collaboration with the partner company TECHNOLOGY ITALIAN SERVICES s.r.o. The showroom of about 50 square meters is located in the Czech Republic in the heart of Prague, the space is intended for the public but also for professionals and offers a wide range of products.

  • 2022
    2022

    The company has finalized the aggregation of the assembly and shipping units of the CRISTINA and SILFRA branded products in the single site of Fontaneto d’Agogna, this warehouse efficiency has led not only to a better management of the work and production flow, but also to the simplification of bureaucratic procedures and fewer transport operations aiming to reduce waste.

  • 2022
    2022

    Tabula, product series designed by angelettiruzza design, have been recognized with the iF DESIGN AWARD 2022, one of the most renowned design awards in the world. 

  • 2023
    2023
    Fractal, design Soo K. Chan, has won the Archiproducts Design Awards 2022, the prestigious German Design Award 2023 in the Bath & Wellness category with the special mention for ”Excellent Product Design” and the Good Design Award.
  • 2023
    2023

    Designed by the Elisa Ossino Studio for CRISTINA Rubinetterie, the Milan flagship store of via Pontaccio features an experiential approach to the discovery of new waterways.

     
  • 2023
    2023
    Piega wins Archiproducts Design Award 2023, with a special mention for Sustainability.
  • 2023
    2023
    New exclusive alux finish: the appearance is that of brushed aluminum, and we are the only ones to offer it on the market.
  • 2023
    2023

    INOX PVD Finishings. For the first time during CRISTINA Rubinetterie’s production history, we introduced the PVD treatment (Physical Vapour Depositation) until now used only for different metal versions. Besides the brushed Aisi stainless steel, the series is available in brushed pink gold PVD, brushed black chrome PVD and brushed brass gold PVD.

  • 2024
    We proudly announce the launch of our innovative galvanic line, a technological leap that elevates both product quality and commitment to the environment.
  • 2024
    2024
    75 years of CRISTINA Rubinetterie. We celebrate the history of the CRISTINA brand, born in 1949.
CRISTINA Design Lab
CRISTINA Design Lab
THE CONSTANT SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE

The internal R&D department, designing solutions and products present across the world.

Discover more
Distribution
Distribution
We are in over 60 countries around the world

We operate locally to be present globally.

Discover more
Headquarter
Headquarter
THE FULCRUM OF OUR ROOTS

Technology, research, creativity. The founding pillars of company operations.

Discover more

Aware that sustainability means protecting the territory and caring for future generations, CRISTINA Rubinetterie, far from mere green washing, is implementing a series of initiatives in which the company is increasingly committed to the ecological transition process.

The company claim “From Yellow to... Green!” is becoming more and more a firm ethical awareness and consequent concrete action.

Here is the news on the subject:

PACKAGING
PACKAGING

Progressive introduction of an internal component to packaging boxes, made of cardboard pulp. A material chosen for its excellent cushioning properties, which protects the product during transport ensuring its integrity until destination, it is sustainable, 100% recycled and recyclable, biodegradable product, easily stackable (thus allowing a reduction in storage volumes). The molded fiber, meets the requirements for modern industrial packaging but, at the same time, helps to reduce the impact of the life cycle assessment of the entire finished product on the environment by meeting precise dictates and obligations of continuous improvement of the environmental management system according to ISO14001. The product, deriving from recycling processes and being recyclable again, allows a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, is therefore eco-sustainable and meets the standards of European green points.

PACKAGING DISPOSAL
PACKAGING DISPOSAL

The QR code on the outside of the boxes allows you to identify the materials used for packaging and its disposal.

INDUSTRIAL WASTE
INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Production waste is being sorted with increasing attention to allow more specific disposal by type.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Low-energy LED lamps are progressively used in all plant lighting systems.

WAREHOUSE EFFICIENCIES
WAREHOUSE EFFICIENCIES

The company has finalized the aggregation of the assembly and shipping units of the CRISTINA and SILFRA branded products in the single site of Fontaneto d’Agogna, this warehouse efficiency has led not only to a better management of the work and production flow, but also to the simplification of bureaucratic procedures and fewer transport operations aiming to reduce waste.

AREATORE A RISPARMIO IDRICO
AREATORE A RISPARMIO IDRICO

The series introduced in 2016 include the reduction of water consumption, with increasingly marked progress in the area of sustainability.

WORKER WELFARE
WORKER WELFARE

The redevelopment of the internal spaces of the plant, which are more luminous, ventilated and salubrious, is also aimed at improving the well-being of the workers.