James Conway

Creator of Pallet Drop Safety Gates James M. Conway dies at 80

Posted on Jul 12, 2022 in Nuts & Bolts

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, is honoring the life of its founder, James M. Conway, who died peacefully at home on May 23, 2022.

As a salesman and owner of 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, an 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.