PORTRAITS IN CHEMISTRY

Francesco Paquinelli:
from J.S. Bach to Chemistry

Geneva 1949: Concours International

something totally different. He focused on the
dExecution Musicale Genve (CIEM): one of
building sector and, in 1950, he started a
the most prestigious international music awards.
business in the field of thermal and acoustic
Among the participants was also Francesco
insulation for the construction business and for
Pasquinelli, a pianist of brilliant promise.
the industry in general. At the same time, he
Francesco was born in 1922 in Milano to Emilio,
obtained licenses for exploiting perlite mines in
a music teacher, and Alma Bernstein. He
Sardinia and started a company: PERLITE S.P.A.
graduated from the Giuseppe Verdi music
Extraction plants were set up in Sardinia, while
conservatory in Milan in 1941, just as the war
perlite was processed in manufacturing plants
had broken out. His public activity resumed in
in Corsico (Milano, Italy). Almost immediately,
1945 with the participation in a competition for
the business took an international scope thanks
young pianists in Milan. He wins first place tied
to a partnership with UK-based BPB INDUSTRIES
with two other colleagues. He made his debut
LTD, a deal that allowed to strongly grow the
as a concertist in 1946 at the Angelicum theatre
companys market since it secured distribution
in Milan and started advanced pianism studies
of perlite to the UK market.
with the great Romanian pianist Dinu Lipatti,
In 1953, the SOCIET ITALIANA DELLA PERLITE
who unfortunately died at the age of only
SAS (ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR PERLITE) company
Pasquinelli: the pianist
thirty-three, and then with another pianism
was founded. The new company acquired all
legend of the 1900s, Wilhelm Backhaus. The young Pasquinelli
the plants that were not directly involved in the perlite-extraction
held concerts all over Italy and his popularity grew stronger all the
operations and developed the business by broadening the range
time. He was also broadcasted by the Italian-language Swiss
of materials, besides perlite, whose demand by the
Radio station where he premiered two songs by Frank Martin.
manufacturing sector was growing (polyurethanes, rubbers and
After that, he participated in the Geneva contest we were telling
especially expanded polystyrene, with PERLITE S.P.A. being able to
about before. He thought it didnt go well, his performance didnt
buy an exclusive license for Styropor from BASF which allowed the
meet his expectations and his disappointment was great. As a
company to flood the Italian market for many years thereafter
matter of fact, Pasquinelli won second place and, though he
with this new product). In 1959 Mr. Pasquinelli installed a second
wasnt personally happy about it, it was an extraordinary
production plant in Campania to penetrate the southern Italy
achievement that gave him worldwide popularity. Still, the young
market and reduce the shipping costs across Italy. For this
Francesco simply couldnt accept to come second. How did he
purpose, he founded a new company, SOCIET MERIDIONALE
really feel about it no one can say. He probably experienced a
ISOLANTI TERMOACUSTICI, which he then merged with SOCIET
whirlwind of feelings. He probably felt like the very ground he
ITALIANA DELLA PERLITE S.A.S., thereby creating the company
stood on was shaking, his certainties shattered to pieces. After the
PERLITE ITALIANA S.A.S.
Geneva contest, he took a decision that would change the rest
An important turning point occured in 1959 when the American
of his life. Francesco Pasquinelli told his beloved piano instructor
company GREAT LAKES CARBON CORPORATION Ltd. contacted
Lipatti he was quitting the piano. The beautiful Steinway piano
Mr. Pasquinelli to design two manufacturing plants for the
that can still be seen today in his apartment abruptly went silent,
production of perlite-derived chemical materials to be used in
never to be played again.
filtration systems. At that time, Italy and Europe were spending
Youre probably wondering what this account of a musicians life
huge amounts of money to get filtration aids from the US and
has got to do with Chemistry Today. A lot, actually. Quitting music
PERLITE ITALIANA S.A.S. had just begun to produce small amounts
led Pasquinelli to become one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs
of this material. In an attempt to optimise business and avoid
in the Italian chemical industry, something weve all benefited of.
unnecessary market competition, a partnership deal was made
Its a fascinating story, worth telling for the many twists and
that led to two new companies: Italian-owned DICALITE EUROPE
implications it offers.
SUD S.P.A., based in Corsico (Milano), and US-owned DICALITE
After quitting pianism, what could a young man determined to
EUROPE NORD S.A., with headquarters in Belgium. In 1968, a new
succeed in life possibly do for his future? He grew an interest in
production plant, DICALITE ESPANOLA S.A., was opened in Rubi
chemistry applied to constructions. After building his extraordinary,
(Barcelona) and, a few years later EUROPERLITE SA was set up,
though short, music career, it seemed Francesco wanted to build
again in Barcelona, to market products based on perlite and

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Chimica Oggi - Chemistry Today - vol. 33(3) May/June 2015

The Foundation also supports education by

vermiculite to be used in the constructions,
offering scholarships to students of the
agriculture, cryogenic sectors and in
Bocconi University of Milan, it organises art
insulation systems in general. Meanwhile, in
exhibitions and music concerts tailored for
1965, Mr. Pasquinelli expands the range of
kids aged 6 to 10. Another important
materials being processed by adding fossil
activity is the co-operation with the
flours. DIATOM S.P.A. was founded for this
Chiamale Storie association to support
purpose, and then sold in 1993.
the MEMOMI web portal, a collection of
Pasquinellis companies grew steadily in
videos and other contributions to help bear
European and North African markets and
in mind the story of Milano, a project that is
this helped to reduce Europes
not just a remarkable testimony of a
dependance on the US for supplying these
glorious past, but also the cultural platform
materials.
for triggering future development, for
In 1975, Pasquinelli decided to opt out of
supporting a Renaissance for a city that is
PERLITE S.P.A. and PERLITE ITALIANA S.A.S.
considered a gateway to Italy in the world.
but continued to manage the DICALITE
The fact that this latter project has been
GROUP, until he sold his stake to
developed alongside EXPO 2015, the
HARBORLITE CORP. (Delaware - USA) on
universal exhibition being held in Milan from
the 30th of June 1995.
Pasquinelli: the entrepreneur
May to October 2015, is most important.
This is the story of a great entrepreneur. A
And we come to the end of our story.
story occurring in a time when the Italian
We wanted to pay a tribute to a
chemical industry was driving the country
beautiful person. A complex figure, rich
through strong research and development.
in values and interests. We wanted to tell
These years see the co-operation of
about the life of a virtuous entrepreneur,
chemical company Montecatini with Giulio
a model, an example to follow, a sign of
Natta, whose studies on polymer synthesis
hope in years that, we all know, have
led him in 1954 to the invention of the
been so challenging.
isotactic polypropylene molecule. Shortly
It makes me wonder about how life can
after, polypropylene was also developed,
take the most unexpected twists. One
a revolution that is a milestone in the history
day in 1949, the young Francesco
of chemistry and leads to the Nobel Prize
Pasquinelli lowered the lid of his piano for
for chemistry being awarded to Giulio
the last time. I can easily picture him, I
Natta in 1963, together with Karl Ziegler.
can feel the pain he went through. Then
Those were years of strong development,
his life took other paths, indeed
driven by men and women who had
unexpected ones. Pasquinelli created
experienced the burden and grief of war. It
Pina Antognini
innovation, has provided work, hope, a
was a time of economic boom for Italy,
future to so many people, so many
with jobs and prosperity being offered to a
families. Hes done a lot of good. His name today continues to
country that had just experienced utter devastation.
provide support to people, through the Foundation.
Alongside his commitment to his job, Francesco Pasquinelli
One day Francesco stopped playing the piano. I think he
has always shown the same dedication to social activities,
never really stopped being a musician though. Someone told
support to charities and organising charity events himself.
me that in the last days of his life he often asked to listen to the
However, deep inside, Pasquinelli had always remained an
"Chromatic Fantasia" by Bach. I dont think he picked Bach
artist. After music, he grew a vocation for the visual arts.
randomly. That music score is immense, a dizzying stream of
Today, the Pasquinelli art collection is one of the most
notes that never ends. He chose it because Bachs music is a
beautiful and important of the city of Milan.
clear reflection of the Eternity that was opening before him.
Francesco Pasquinelli died in Milan, in his home, on the 31st of
As a musician, Francesco managed to set up something that
January 2011.
only a few other musicians can boast. Hes been able to carry
Yet, his story didnt end that day. Giuseppina Antognini, his
on playing music, through the hands of the children who study
beloved partner for all his life, keeps the memory of Francesco
music thanks to the support of his foundation, and that we
alive. In November 2011, she created the Pasquinelli Foundation,
might be able to applaud one day in some famous concert
which has already become an important social and cultural
hall. If, back in 1949, that piano lid had been left open, we
reference for the city of Milan.
would have had many wonderful records to listen to today. It
The Pasquinelli Foundation organises, funds and develops a
didnt go that way. Yet, lowering that lid meant planting a tree,
number of projects. One of these projects supports music
which has grown strong today, in a world in many ways barren.
education for children, according to the education model
established in Venezuela by Jos Antonio Abreu and applied in
That tree grows still, shades us and offers its fruits and hope.
Italy by Maestro Claudio Abbado, supporters of music as a means
for helping disadvantaged children and giving them a better
future. The Foundation also supports the Start Cup initiative, a
Its the wonders of chemistry!
project for triggering off and supporting industry start-ups. Another
project supports teaching the idea of respecting the law to
www.fondazionepasquinelli.org
school kids by supporting the Association for rules created by
GIULIO FEZZARDINI
Gherardo Colombo, one of the three prosecuting judges who
Chimica Oggi - Chemistry Today (TKS Publisher)
became popular with the Italian Tangentopoli trial in the early 90s.

Chimica Oggi - Chemistry Today - vol. 33(3) May/June 2015

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