Cantarella & Molteni’s story is a testament to Italian entrepreneurship and, above all, a family story: a journey that began with artisanal craftsmanship and grew into industrial-scale production of colour sample tools.
un percorso che nasce dalla cura artigianale e cresce fino a diventare produzione di campionari colore su scala industriale.
The early days
Nata nei primi anni del XX secolo da una tipografia milanese convertita alla produzione di campionari colori da Fioravante Cantarella.
Growth and development
Agli anni ’70 la fusione con la Campionaria Colori di Romano Molteni diede vita all’attuale Cantarella & Molteni Srl. Negli anni ’80 l’azienda si specializza nei campionari per Automotive e Car Refinishing, acquisendo clienti prestigiosi come Fiat, Herbert e Max Meyer.
The 2000s
Nel 2000 diventa la prima azienda al mondo a installare uno spraying completamente automatizzato per campionari Car Refinishing; nel 2004 aggiunge un impianto per campionari a vernice waterborne conformi alla normativa europea.
Today
Oggi dispone di tre impianti spraying e due linee coating e opera a livello globale nei segmenti Automotive, Industrial Coatings e Architectural. Ha ricevuto il premio Supplier of the Year da PPG Industries nel 2014. La filosofia aziendale resta orientata all’innovazione, alla crescita condivisa e ai valori familiari.
The early days
In the early 1900s, Fioravante Cantarella transformed a Milan-based printing business into an activity built around a clear challenge: making colour a communication tool that is clear, repeatable and reliable. This is where the first sample tools were born—designed to help companies and professionals select, compare and reproduce shades with precision, leaving no room for interpretation.
Growth and development
In the 1970s, the merger with Romano Molteni’s Campionaria Colori led to today’s Cantarella & Molteni Srl. In the 1980s, the company specialised in sample tools for Automotive and Car Refinishing, working with leading customers such as Fiat, Herbert and Max Meyer.
The 2000s
In 2000, Cantarella & Molteni became the first company in the world to install a fully automated spray system for the production of Car Refinishing sample tools. In 2004, it introduced a dedicated system for waterborne sample tools, in line with growing environmental awareness and the new European regulations.
Today
Today our main focus is the architectural segment, where innovation and research are essential to keep pace with increasingly demanding aesthetic and performance requirements. With three coating lines and two spray lines, we have a production capacity that positions us among the global leaders in our field. Among our most significant recognitions, PPG awarded us “Supplier of the Year” in 2014.
