Industrial Safety Pioneer & Entrepreneur Found Mezzanine Safeti-Gates 40 Years Ago
ESSEX, MA — July 12, 2022 — Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc., an innovator in the design and manufacturing of pallet drop safety gates that provide fall protection in material handling and manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and warehouses, today celebrates the life of its founder, James M. Conway, who died peacefully at home on May 23, 2022.
As a salesman and owner for Speedrack Distribution, he found a calling in the material handling industry. He started Mezzanine Safeti-Gates in 1982, bringing the first dual-gate safety system for fall protection, the Roly® safety gate to market. Conway then went on to design many other safety gate models, including the Pivot, Tri-Side, Rack Supported and Open Top Models, receiving a number of patents for his safety gate designs.
From the start of Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, James designed and sold safety gate solutions for the material handling and manufacturing industries throughout North America and beyond. He had transitioned to a more consulting role in recent years, but worked until the morning of his death, finally retiring from the industry he loved.
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, Conway was not only an entrepreneur, but a family man who believed strongly in the value of education. After completing an Associate Mechanical Engineering degree from Wentworth Institute, he continued his education earning a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University, a MBA from Babson University and Juris Doctor from the University of Suffolk.
Conway was a proud veteran of the United States Army, and was stationed in Germany with the 620th Engineer Company. He then served in Fort Benning Georgia with the First Infantry Brigade before retiring from service.
“It is never easy to lose a colleague, especially in a family business,” said Aaron Conway, president of Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc. “We lost a material handling safety industry pioneer, and are very fortunate to have had the leadership and keen insight of my father, James for so long. Chris and I have been proud to work alongside him for many years, and look forward to continuing and expanding the legacy that he has left behind in the safety gate industry.”
James is buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.
About Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc.
Headquartered in Essex, Mass, Mezzanine Safeti-Gates is an innovator in the design and manufacturing of safety products for material handling and manufacturing operations. Celebrating 40 years in business, the company designed the first dual-gate pallet drop safety system, the Roly® safety gate, which has been installed in thousands of facilities across the world. Any gate in the company’s product suite, which includes loading dock, dock-lift and mezzanine safety gates, can be customized to meet specific requirements and meets OSHA and ANSI fall protection standards. Contact the company via telephone at 978.768.3000, email at sales@MezzGate.com or on the web at http://www.MezzGate.com.
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