It is with great sadness that the industry has learned of the passing of one of the great characters and contributors to the South African fluid power industry.

Charles Patrick MacKay dedicated more than 40 years of his life to the hydraulics industry. He spent his early years working in Cape Town before moving to Johannesburg in the late 1970s where he joined Vickers Hydraulics. After leaving Vickers, Charles teamed up with Robert Marshall and in 1980 started ForceTec hydraulics. In 1992 Charles started his own business, Hydralogic Hydraulics, which he ran successfully until his retirement due to illness in 2004.

“Charles was successful at everything he did,” says SAFPA spokesperson, Russell Gill. “He was a hard working person that carried out his work with dedication and professionalism. He believed in giving and receiving only the best service. There is many an hydraulic salesperson that will remember Charles for 'keeping them on their toes' as he strove to achieve his service goals.”

In 2003 Charles was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Realising that he would no longer be able to continue to work in the manner to which he was accustomed, he retired in 2004. Charles’ fight with the disease ended on 21 April 2010.

On behalf of The South African Fluid Power Association and the industry at large, we wish our sincerest condolences to his wife Robyn and his family. We salute the role played by one of our industry’s respected participants.