A Tribute to Jim Craig
Rest in Peace Jim Craig
In Tribute to Jim Craig
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Jim Craig passed away on November 7, 2020 due to complications from COVID19. It was an honor to work with Jim for the last few years. He was without equal in the plastic pipe industry - both for the intense affection for him personally and the universal respect for his professional achievements. Jim will be missed and mourned by many in the coming days. His family is in our prayers. For an obituary for Jim Craig, please click here. McElroy published a wonderful article about Jim's career, please click here.
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Jim Craig passed away on November 7, 2020 due to complications from COVID19. It was an honor to work with Jim for the last few years. He was without equal in the plastic pipe industry - both for the intense affection for him personally and the universal respect for his professional achievements. Jim will be missed and mourned by many in the coming days. His family is in our prayers. For an obituary for Jim Craig, please click here. McElroy published a wonderful article about Jim's career, please click here.
Jim Craig had extensive expertise on heat fusion, having worked in the polyethylene pipe industry for 40 years. Beyond providing fusion training, Mr. Craig helped to develop many standards for heat fusion joining, having frequently worked on ASTM task groups and various PPI documents. Jim's more recent work focused on ASME codes relating to nuclear safety. Jim was a true specialist when it comes to heat fusion.
- Designed plastic pipe fusion equipment, training for those products, and developed industry standards for PE heat fusion
- Helped in the development of nationally renowned fusion training program
- 45+ years of heat fusion joining experience
- Chairman of the ASTM F17.20 Joining Sub-Committee for over 20 years
- Holds the ASTM Award of Merit
- Researched and tested butt fusion joints made using different parameters and procedures
- Gained the PPI Lifetime Achievement Award
Experience
Private Practice
2015 - Present
President
McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
1973-2013
Tulsa, OK
Industry Relations Manager
National Sales Manager
Director of Research and Development
Chief Engineer
Selected Past and Present Affiliations
ASTM Standards
PPI Documents and Procedure Work
ASME Document and Procedure Work
Private Practice
2015 - Present
President
- Consulting services in the plastic industry on standards development, heat fusion of plastic pipe, fusion evaluation, training, and troubleshooting.
McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
1973-2013
Tulsa, OK
Industry Relations Manager
National Sales Manager
Director of Research and Development
Chief Engineer
- Designed plastic pipe fusion equipment, training for those products, and developed industry standards for PE heat fusion.
- Researched and tested butt fusion joints made using different parameters and procedures.
- Helped in the development of a nationally recognized fusion training program.
- Provided fusion training for contractors, engineers, pipe manufacturers, and other end users for the last 30 years.
Selected Past and Present Affiliations
- Chairman of the ASTM F17.20 Joining Sub-Committee for over 20 years
- Past Chairman of the PPI Municipal and Industrial Division
- Past Chairman of the PPI Advisory Committee
- Past Chairman of the Mid-Continent Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASTM Standards
- Chairman, Task Group that developed ASTM F3190-16 Standard Practice for Heat Fusion Equipment (HFE) Operator Qualification on Polyethylene (PE) and Polyamide (PA) Pipe and Fittings
- Chairman, Task Group that developed ASTM F3124-15 - Standard Practice for Data Recording the procedure used to Produce Heat Butt Fusion Joints in Plastic Piping Systems or Fittings
- Chairman, Task Group that developed ASTM F2620 - Standard Practice for Heat Fusion Joining of Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings
- Task Group member that developed ASTM F3183-16 - Standard Practice for Guided Side Bend Evaluation of Polyethylene Pipe Butt Fusion Joint
PPI Documents and Procedure Work
- Chairman of the task groups that developed:
- PPI Generic Butt Fusion Procedure for Polyethylene Pipe TR-33
- PPI Generic Saddle Fusion Procedure for Polyethylene Pipe TR-41
- Technical Note TN-35 (how to repair HDPE pipe)
- Technical Note TN-36 (how to connect HDPE pipe to existing water systems)
- PPI Generic Butt Fusion Procedure for Polyethylene Pipe TR-33
ASME Document and Procedure Work
- Task Group Member that helped develop the ASME Code case to use PE pipe in nuclear safety-related service water applications and was instrumental in getting the fusion procedure approved in Section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
Education
Bachelors of Science, 1968
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas
Certifications
Awards
Bachelors of Science, 1968
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas
Certifications
- Mechanical Engineer, State of Oklahoma
- Butt Fusion Certified Instructor
- Certified Fluid Power Engineer
Awards
