Absent Friends

Gathering with Friends 

Trade shows have always been more than just business—they’re reunions. A chance to catch up, share stories, and shake hands with the people who have been part of the fabric of our industry for decades. As we gather at one of the biggest gatherings in plastics on the West Coast, I can’t help but feel the absence of some familiar faces.

One of those is Jim Healy. 

A fixture in the plastics industry

For 40 years, Jim was a fixture in the world of plastics automation. His career path wasn’t exactly linear—he started out selling farm equipment in Nebraska and Iowa after graduating from the College of St. Thomas in 1977. But in 1984, a high school friend convinced him to take a chance on something new: automation.

That was the beginning of a journey that would define his career. He helped build the automation division of AEC (Application Automation) from the ground up, even though, by his own admission, he had no idea what a robot was at the time. That didn’t stop him. He learned fast, and his work at AEC paved the way for a move to Conair in 1988, where he played a key role in growing Sepro’s market share in North America.

Jim took great pride in the fact that when he started, Sepro held just 4% of the market. By the time he retired at the end of 2024, that number had climbed to 23%. That’s not just a statistic. It’s the result of his dedication, his ability to build relationships, and his commitment to putting the customer first.

And what a sense of humor

Everyone who knew Jim knew his sharp sense of humor. He had a way of making even the most technical conversations entertaining. He could lighten the mood in a tense negotiation, crack a joke in the middle of a long day at a tradeshow, or tell a story that left you laughing long after you walked away. But behind that humor was someone deeply serious about his work. Jim was known for his honesty, his integrity, and his belief that business was built on trust. If he gave you his word, you could count on it.

That’s why it feels strange to walk into a show knowing he won’t be there. Over the years, I got used to running into him in the aisles, grabbing a quick coffee, or catching up over dinner. He was always in motion, always talking with someone, always making an impact.

Gratitude

So, as we continue to enjoy this trade show, we’ll be thinking of absent friends like Jim. We’ll miss the quick-witted remarks, the laughter, and the conversations about how much things have changed (and how much they’ve stayed the same). But more than anything, we’ll be grateful. Grateful to have known him, to have worked alongside him, and to have called him a friend and to have shared many wonderful adventures together.