FMA/TPA mourn the passing of Ivaska

The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl.® (FMA), and the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl.® (TPA), mourn the Dec. 11 passing of Joseph Ivaska, former vice president of engineering at Tower Oil and Technology Co., Chicago; former FMA board chairman; and lifetime member of FMA and TPA.

A graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and in management, Ivaska began his career at Tower Oil in 1954. He developed the systems approach to controlled predictive maintenance of hydraulic fluids and systems components for more efficient operations, which extended fluid life and eliminated pump breakdowns. He also led the development of removal and finishing products for NC machining, flow-through deburring, and grinding.

In 1976 Ivaska developed the first nonmetallic, nonsolvent-bearing dispersant to fight silting, sludge buildup and varnish deposits on close-tolerance hydraulic components. In 1978 he helped introduce the first second-generation synthetic solubles for roll forming. In 1980 Ivaska and his Tower team developed a heavy-duty soluble for polished and commercial bright material.

Ivaska and the Tower team also developed innovative lubricants for the metal stamping and tube and pipe production and fabrication industries.

In 1989 Ivaska received FMA's highest award, the Fabricating Industry Award of Excellence, for his contributions to the education of the metal forming and fabricating industry and for his innovations and product development in roll forming, hydraulic systems, pressworking, tube and pipe fabrication, and tube mills.

Ivaska held various leadership positions on the FMA board of directors from 1975 to 1984 and served as board chairman for the 1982-1983 term. He was involved with conferences and committees for FMA, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Society for Materials (ASM), and the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE).

Speaking on behalf of FMA, President Jerry Shankel said, "The fabricating community lost a good friend and a long time supporter of providing education to future fabricating engineers and workers. FMA will continue to focus on providing education for today's and tomorrow's fabricators."

A certified manufacturing engineer, Ivaska was bestowed a Life Certification in Manufacturing Management by SME in 1984, and he also received the Management Achievement Award from SME in 1979.

Ivaska helped lead various industry tradeshows. He served on the Advisory Committee for the 1983, 1985, and 1987 FABTECH International Exposition and Conference and prepared several technical papers for those events.