De Gelsey set up the business in 1951 and remained active as chairman of Sericol and as an executive director for Burmah Chemicals, which bought Sericol in 1983.

"People from many walks of life will sadly miss Alex de Gelsey," said Fujifilm Sericol chief executive Ed Carhart. "His imprint remains to this day on virtually every aspect of the company and the screen printing industry."

There will be a service of thanksgiving on 28 April, held at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Boughton-under-Blean, near Faversham in Kent.

In 1946, de Gelsey left his native Hungary to escape Communist rule and arrived in the UK to pursue his education and passion for science and colour photography. Shortly afterwards, he graduated from Cambridge University, after which he joined Kodak's research department.

Since setting up Sericol, de Gelsey held several chairmanships of senior regional civic committees and was awarded a CBE, as well as appointed a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Kent.