GUELPH, Ontario—Theodorus "Ted" Van Veggel, who was the longest serving member of the ACS Rubber Division when he retired in 2005, died on Dec. 22. He was 86.
Van Veggel was instrumental in the start-up of Air Boss of America Corp., one of North America's largest custom rubber mixers serving rubber products manufacturers.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Van Veggel began his career as a chemist for Bata Shoe in the Netherlands, then was transferred to Belgium. In 1956, he was promoted to factory manager for the Bata Shoe plant in Baghdad, Iraq, responsible for more than 600 employees.
According to a company profile, Van Veggel immigrated to Canada in 1964. He joined Uniroyal in 1966 as the materials development manager at the footwear division in Quebec, then transferred to the research lab in Guelph. In 1972, he moved to the Kitchener, Ontario north plant, working there until the plant closed in 1992.
Van Veggel then began working to start a new compounding business that eventually became ITRM, then AirBoss. In his last role with AirBoss, he focused on the retread market.
In 2004, the Rubber Division's 25-Year Club honored Van Veggel for serving 54 years in the rubber industry.
Van Veggel is survived by his wife, Helen, and three children.