In Memoriam: Walter Rubén González

The Argentine and international vertical-transportation (VT) sectors mourn Walter González´s passing. He founded Soimet SA in 1969 together with his dearest friend Nicolás Vrdoljak. In 1980, they obtained a European license to manufacture automatic elevator doors, marking a turning point in the history of the Argentine VT industry. Walter was born on December 6, 1937, in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Of very humble origin, he painted advertising posters as a child and worked with an ironmonger and a blacksmith in his teens. Walter was a skillful and creative technician, capable of solving elevator problems and manufacturing any type of elevator doors for more than 50 years.