Charles Sears (1940-2018) will long be remembered as someone who was never afraid to take on a challenge. In 1967, at 26, he moved to Hong Kong with his new wife, Esther, to start a manufacturing facility. After three successful years, he returned to the U.S. and entered the plastics industry.

The founder of Dri-Air Industries, a leader in compressed air and desiccant dryer technology, Sears was a pioneer in the auxiliary industry, having developed the two-bed and four-bed desiccant dryer system, one of the most energy-efficient systems in the plastics industry today. At Dri-Air, his expertise, leadership, and desire to create the best product for his customers resulted in double-digit growth each year. The holder of several patents, he was a noted authority on the science of drying technology and applications.

Sears received his BSME from Northeastern University and MME from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Before founding Dri-Air, he held senior positions with plastics industry companies, including Polymer Machinery, Automated Assevmlises, and Nelmor (AEC). He had over forty years of experience in designing and manufacturing drying systems.

An active advocate for the plastics industry, Sears served on the Plastics Industry Association Board (SPI—now PLASTICS) for many years and the association’s Equipment Council. He was also a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association and its Board of Governors.