Dante Aurelio Raccanello moves his first steps in the color world, opening a grocer's shop in Piazza delle Erbe in Padua

Only 10 years later, established a family company, ARD, together with his children, Gino and Giuseppe.

Since our origins we have produced a complete range of products for the building industry: from traditional latex paints for interiors, to the precious slaked lime for the most prestigious environments, from professional high-performance finishes for exteriors, to products for applying coats to buildings, which substantially improves their energy performance. We are in the economic boom years and ARD has to manage a growing market demand.

ARD moves in the Padua industrial area, in a 17.000 m² place. It is already a solid market reference.

a 10 year exclusivity agreement with Goodyear for the supply of Pliolite, a resin used in the Paintgum line. It lets the application also in winter and in extreme weather conditions, always guaranteeing an optimum performance. It is ideal for coastal environments.

To better support the external cycle selling as silicate, siloxane and elastomeric paints, ARD internally sets a free technical assistance service, to advice the best applying solutions and to manage possible complaints.

AZ-ARD was born, the 2nd Italian tinting system, which makes possible to retailers to directly color enamels & paints, starting from base hues. The benefit is clear: the retailer reduces stocks, fast meeting client's needs.

after several years of coaching Ilaria Raccanello succeeds Gino Raccanello, her father, in the role of CEO of the company. Inaugurating a period of attention to environmental, social and economic sustainability.

With the new millenium, the attention to the environment increases, towards ARD is really sensitive: products with low solvent levels are added to the range together with the insulation system for building facades, an ideal solution for the energy effectiveness.

the strong growth needs another expansion.The new manufacturing plant was born in Rovigo, with an high automation, dedicated to more than 90% of ARD production.

To reach primary targets as client satisfaction, worker safety and land protection, ARD is certified in compliance with the International Quality Management System UNI EN ISO 9001 and the plant in Castelguglielmo is also certified in compliance with the International Environmental Quality System UNI EN ISO 14001.

The WIZARD and SIXTEEN COLOURS tinting systems are both completely active, to offer to the client an important color range enlargement.

Rovigo production plant doubles, with a new building construction, used as warehouse for packs and raw materials.

Luigi Gorza, the fourth generation of the Raccanello family, joins Ilaria in the role of CEO. Co-management will create a stimulating mood with the development of multiple projects.

The company, faithful to its traditional values, goes towards the innovation of its company reality, answering to the always more technological and digital needs, as well as of expertise and differentiation.

ARD goes on TV and on the WEB with a commercial watched by almost 100 million views

ARD decided to build a 5 years industrial plan, the 1st business plan about its strategical intentions in the middle term. A guide useful to check, revise and advance mistakes and problems.

ARD is awarded Great Place to Work Italy (GPTW), a place where employees live and co-live well. It gets also the 'Blue Collar' title, it is among the 10 companies which are successful in valorising them in an inspiring way.

A new production plant is added in Rovigo, specific for thick coatings. The company starts a rebranding project.