The inventor of the carpet tile
In 1924, P.J. van Heugten and his wife started in Amersfoort with the manufacture of saddle covers and cycling gloves. After buying a needle felt machine for the production of jute underlay, they started producing 1.5 m wide rolls of hair felt carpet with a bitumen backing in the early 1950s.
Mr. and Mrs. van Heugten
The first wall-to-wall carpet that could be laid loose! After Heugten Sr. experimented with leftover pieces, the idea of the carpet tiles was born. Initially, only in size 25 x 25 cm, but after 1956, the successful 50 x 50 cm size was introduced. In 1971, the son of the inventor, Piet van Heugten, left the business to start his own enterprise.

The name Kela was also registered that same year. Carpet tiles were the main source, which were introduced onto the market with special patterns. Piet’s eldest son Pieter, who is responsible for production, and son Alex, who is export manager for the company, now continue the family tradition.

Carpet tiles production halls in Amersfoort

Sports hall in Amersfoort. Here the floors were laid with carpet tiles for the World Billiards Championship.
   

The inventor of the production process
with a unique cutting method
Cutting Machine Piet van Heugten developed the production process of his Kela carpet tiles himself. It began with the manufacture of wall-to-wall rolls of carpet. Each roll is given a heavy, well-insulating bitumen backing and a non-woven glass fibre coating, so that the tiles do not need to be glued and stay in place. Next, the rolls are cut into tiles using a unique method. Thanks to this cutting technique, the carpet tile floor of many Kela carpet tiles appears absolutely seamless on any level supporting floor.

This production process is so flexible that it is always possible to deliver rapidly, even in special colours. No wonder that Piet van Heugten's Kela carpet tiles come out on top in every quality test, time and time again.

 

Some editorial articles about Van Heugten,
dating from the 1960s.