Obituary: Polyurethane pioneer Carlo Fiorentini

Saronno, Italy — Carlo Fiorentini, a former president of Cannon SpA with many patents to his name, died March 3 at the age of 91.

Fiorentini's inventions included the FPL mix head to dispense polyurethane into open molds and CarDiO technology for continuously cast flexible PU foams with liquid carbon dioxide. There were many others. He was awarded the FSK Gold Medal, and inducted into the Hall of Fame of Polyurethanes by the American Alliance for the polyurethane industry.

Aside from technology, Fiorentini also had significant commercial successes. He joined Cannon as director of its Afros business in 1963, and six years later set up Cannon's first agency in Denmark in 1969. This was followed by expansion into the US in 1977, and Japan in 1982. The latter was a European first. 

In a statement, Cannon said: 'Fiorentini was president of the Cannon Group for several decades. His innovative spirit and constant search for new solutions have inspired the group's research and development activities, which will continue with the same passion and determination in the future.'