It is with great sadness that we record the sudden passing of Andreas Gabriel on the 10th August 2021, at the age of 51. Andreas immigrated to New Zealand from Stuttgart Germany, in 1995. He started working in NZ as a research assistant in the Materials Performance Technologies division of Industrial Research Limited (IRL – formerly DSIR) located in Parnell, Auckland. While working at IRL he enrolled in the University of Auckland Chemistry Department and in the following years he graduated BSc (1998) and MSc with 1st class honours in polymer science (2002). While working at IRL from 1995 to 2005 he became the Laboratory Manager and a Materials Scientist/Senior Consultant, specialising in polymers and coatings science.
Andreas built up the polymers/coatings section at IRL in Auckland and in 2005 he left to establish Felix Research Laboratories Ltd. The start-up company he established specialised in materials degradation with testing facilities and associated chemical testing services. As Technical Director and Laboratory Manager at Felix Laboratories he established an independent materials research/testing facility that became highly sought after by many companies throughout NZ. The Felix laboratory facility was operating in Silverdale, north of Auckland. Felix Laboratories was working on a number of industrial projects for clients when Andreas passed away.
Andreas was an active member of the Australasian Corrosion Association (ACA) over the years. He served ACA NZ Branch in several senior roles including Auckland Division Chairman (2008-2009) and NZ Branch President (2010-2013). Andreas was highly respected for his contributions to the corrosion control community throughout NZ. He completed many client reports, gave a number of conference and seminar presentations, and he published six papers in international journals. He was an expert witness in a number of legal court cases that involved work done by Felix Laboratories. Andreas was also a member of the Surface Coatings Association of NZ (SCANZ).
Andreas lived in Silverdale and he was married to Karen with whom he had a daughter. The ACA extends its deepest sympathies to the Gabriel family. We encourage anyone who is able to contribute to this givealittle campaign set up by Andreas’s Colleagues at NZ Corrosion Services Ltd to assist Andreas’s family during this time. Andreas will be missed very much by his work colleagues and his many friends.
Les Boulton