The global rotational molding community has lost two distinguished ambassadors, as Professor Roy Crawford and Ing. José Miranda Tamborrel recently passed away after battles with cancer.
Prof. Crawford, a 2006 inductee into the Association of Rotational Molders Hall of Fame, was instrumental in driving the credibility of rotational molding as a viable plastics manufacturing process. Through his establishment of Masters and PhD rotomolding programs at Queens University – Belfast, Prof. Crawford’s technical leadership helped shift the image of rotational molding from a “black art” to a manufacturing process with controllable, predictable outcomes.
Ing. Miranda, founder of Aguascalientes, Mexico-based Miraplastek, was a pioneer in the development of the rotational molding industry in Mexico, and worked tirelessly to raise awareness of rotomolding and the Association of Rotational Molders (ARM) on a global scale. He led the “Introduction to Rotational Molding” seminar in Spanish, which was presented at numerous global industry events including Argentina, Mexico, Spain, and the U.S., and exposed many industry newcomers to the capabilities, benefits and technical intricacies of the rotational molding process.
Both Prof. Roy Crawford and Ing. José Miranda Tamborrel were kind, generous, and passionate gentlemen who gave freely of their time and expertise gained over their many years in the rotational molding industry. Their shared impact on the worldwide rotational molding industry is immeasurable, as is the loss we feel at their passing.
We send our very best wishes for peace and comfort to the families of Prof. Roy Crawford and Ing. José Miranda Tamborrel.
Tom Innis is the President of Avantech and has been involved in the rotational molding industry for the better part of the past two decades. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and La Universidad Ibero-Americana in Mexico City, Tom leverages his knowledge of international business, multi-lingual skills, and sales and marketing experience to help drive Avantech and the global rotomolding industry forward.
