Mid-1950s – Early 1960s
In Turin, at the height of the automotive industry boom, Andrea Bologna — an employee of the firm Carlo Bertoglio on Corso Tassoni — begins formulating abrasive pastes, polishes, and fillers for the finishing of car bodies and furniture. All products are released under the brand LINAS, a line dedicated to professional supply for Turin’s bodywork shops.

The 1960s – Collaborations and New Formulas
While keeping his job, Andrea responds to the growing demand for new products by collaborating with Tecnochimica, a company owned by Ugo Mestrallet specialising in products for winemaking and automatic bottle washing. From the exchange between the automotive world and the food industry, new expertise and formulations applicable to very different fields are born.

Late 1960s – Early 1970s
In the laboratories he frequents, Andrea develops QUICK, a universal detergent inspired by a well-known American formula. It is just the beginning: a floor cleaner and a glass cleaner follow, and with them the brand SILPAR appears for the first time — the name that will carry the entire venture forward.

1976
This is the turning point: the SILPAR business is officially founded, registered in the name of Silvana Parola, wife of Andrea Bologna. From this moment, the company has a name, a home, and a clear direction. 2026 marks its fiftieth anniversary.

Late 1970s – Early 1980s
The product range expands with new automotive formulations: car shampoo, tyre blackener, dashboard polish. Among them, VITREX stands out — a vitrifying finish for car bodies that is still considered a benchmark for finishing quality and the brilliance it brings to vehicle displays. Thanks to its innovative formulation for the time, VITREX guaranteed lasting protection and a high-impact glossy effect. The product helped consolidate the company’s reputation in the car care and maintenance sector, becoming a valued choice among professionals and enthusiasts alike.

1980 – The Birth of TK Line
The TK Line brand is registered by Mr Giorgio Morsetti, dedicated entirely to marine maintenance, who entrusts Andrea Bologna with the chemical consultancy. It is an important leap: from this point on, SILPAR — which becomes the supplier and formulator of the products — works not only for the roads, but also for the sea. SENTINET is born — a specific detergent for bilges — along with wax-based protectants for inflatable boats and spray lubricants.

1980 – The Birth of TK Line
The new line meets the needs of recreational boaters with products designed to withstand the most demanding conditions of the marine environment, such as salt, humidity and UV rays. Thanks to TK Line, the company broadens its technical know-how, establishing itself as a reliable partner in the boat care and maintenance sector.

1980 – TK COLORSPRAY
During this same period, TK COLORSPRAY is developed — a spray paint for touching up marine engines. The product quickly establishes itself on European markets and becomes a sector leader, with widespread distribution in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Sweden.

1987
Following the untimely death of Andrea Bologna, leadership of the company passes to his sons Ugo and Claudio, who inherit their father’s legacy and carry his vision forward. They remain at the helm of the business to this day. During this period, the historic LINAS brand is also acquired, reuniting the origins with the present.

1990 – 1993
Following the definitive acquisition and incorporation of the marine line, the TK and SILPAR brands are officially part of the same company. The following year, production leaves Via Pragelato in Turin and moves to the larger premises in Collegno, on Via Rosa Luxemburg. This is also the period in which contract manufacturing consolidates, an activity that continues to accompany the company today. In 1993, SILPAR S.N.C. is established.

1995
SILPAR participates for the first time in the Genoa Boat Show — 35th edition — with its own stand. It will be the first of dozens of participations. From Genoa, lasting commercial relationships are established with distributors in Spain, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Finland, Ireland, Cyprus and other countries; collaboration with various agents and representatives across Italy’s major regions also develops. That same year, the first TK ANTIFOULING enters the range — an antifouling spray available in multiple colours.

2001
In May, a further generational change takes place: founding member Silvana Parola exits the company partnership, and SILPAR TK S.N.C. is established — the same company still active today — which finally incorporates both historic brands in its name, merging its distinct production sectors into a single, enduring commercial vision.

November 2007 – METS Amsterdam
SILPAR TK makes its debut at METS, the leading European trade fair for the marine technical sector. It is a decisive step towards internationalisation: TK Line distribution reaches new markets including Denmark, Norway, Poland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and — with subsequent editions — Turkey and New Zealand. Participation in the event consolidates the brand’s international visibility, fostering new commercial partnerships and development opportunities.

2007 – TK GREEN LINE
Also in 2007, the first absorbent devices for the containment of pollutants at sea are introduced. From this idea, the TK GREEN LINE is born: a concrete response to the growing attention paid to the protection of the marine environment, which will become an integral part of the brand’s identity.

2009
GELCOAT SPRAY is launched — a special paint for retouching hulls and fibreglass parts. Its ease of use and quality results immediately win over marine professionals. In the years that follow, it becomes one of the most successful products in the entire TK range.

2015
SILPAR TK completes the renovation and definitive acquisition of the premises at Via Rosa Luxemburg in Collegno. What was once a production space becomes the company’s established and recognisable headquarters, a point of reference for clients and partners in Italy and abroad. A strategic investment that reinforces the company’s identity and supports its future growth.

2026 – Fifty Years and Beyond
In 2026, SILPAR TK celebrates fifty years of activity: a milestone that is not a finishing line, but a confirmation of an enduring commitment to protecting, preserving and enhancing what moves on water and on the road — with the same care as always.

SILPAR TK, a Turin-based history of craftsmanship
A story of craftsmanship, research and passion, built across two centuries of industrial transformation.

Credits
Finally, a thank you goes to all our collaborators, suppliers, agents and representatives, and to all our customers — old and new — who have accompanied us on this fifty-year journey.