Rainer Heubach, Visionary Founder of Heubach Group, Dies at 71

Rainer Heubach, former chairman and owner of the Heubach Group, died on Oct. 21, 2020 after a brief illness in Salzburg. He had taken the reins from his father, Dr. Hans Heubach, in 1973 and guided the company from a regional player into a global leader in the color pigment sector.

With facilities in Germany, the United States, India, and China, the Heubach Group is a globally active manufacturer of corrosion‑protection pigments, organic and inorganic color pigments, hybrid pigments, and pigment preparations. These products serve the plastics, paint, ink, and building industries, as well as high‑quality specialty applications.

By acquiring the pigment division of E.I. DuPont de Nemours in Newark, N.J., and establishing Heubach Inc., Rainer secured a strong foothold in North America. In 1988 he founded Heucotech Ltd. in Fairless Hills, PA, and later expanded into India with Heubach Colour Pvt. Ltd. in 1994 and into China with Hangzhou Heubach Pigment Co. Ltd. in 2009. The 2002 takeover of Bayer’s light‑fast pigment business and the 2006 acquisition of Avecia’s organic pigments further accelerated the group’s international growth.

In 2015, Heubach transferred day‑to‑day operations to his son Johann, who continues the family tradition while expanding the business in the spirit of his father. Rainer was known for his long‑term vision, enthusiasm, curiosity, and strong sense of responsibility toward his employees. He was respected as a decisive yet fair partner in the industry.