Chemiplastica Founder Uberto Colombo Passes Away

October 7, 2011 - Uberto Colombo, founder of thermoset industry leader Chemiplastica (www.chemiplastica.com), died September 24, 2011.

Mr. Colombo was born June 19, 1919, in Milan Italy, and earned a law degree from the University of Pavia, south of the city.

After helping to manage his family's Milan-based precious metals trading company, Mr. Colombo co-founded Sprea Milano Italy, a producer of plastic molding compounds.

In 1955, he founded Chemiplastica with one plant, producing 5,000 tons of amino thermoset molding compounds, in Milan. Under Mr. Colombo's expert leadership, the company expanded strategically, first in the 1960s with a facility in Carbonate, Italy.

His goal of creating a global producer of amino thermosets was realized in the 1990s with the construction of a vertically integrated plant in Mexico.

With the assistance of Mr. Colombo's son, Claudio, who joined Chemiplastica's Board in 1989, the company has continued to expand internationally. Through carefully planned acquisitions and expansions, it has become a leader in the global amino thermoset industry, with annual production in excess of 75,000 tons.

Uberto Colombo gradually withdrew from active management of Chemiplastica until 2005, when he took on the position of Chairman Emeritus.

Aside from Claudio Colombo, who now serves as Chemiplastica's CEO, survivors include Uberto Colombo's wife, Maria Luisa Fiebiger, son Ugo and four grandchildren.