About Raytec

The Raytec Story

The Raytec story is one of faith in God, family, inspiration and determination.

Paul Zimmerman, Raymond’s father was a small farmer for most of his life. In 1953 Paul took a job with his father who owned a small steel fabricating company. This small family owned company was contracted to erect a building for Quaker State Metals later known as Howmet and Alumax. After the building was completed, Quaker State Metal offered Paul a job because of his mechanical skills. It did not take long before he was transferred to the tooling department.

In 1956 Paul was diagnosed with MS, a crippling and sometimes fatal disease. Soon unable to walk, he had to quit his job. Before he left, Paul had made a suggestion to automate the production of ferrules. A ferrule keeps a gutter solid when a spike is driven through it. Paul entered into discussions with Quaker State Metal about production of ferrules from his home.

So it began…

This one small business with only one item became the family’s only source of income. Raymond helped his father after school. In 1963, after completing the eighth grade, Raymond worked full time for his father until 1968, when Paul passed away. He ran it for his mother for one year, until in 1970 he took over completely.

1973 was a big year in the history of Raytec. That was the year a new addition was added to the old shop and a new machine to step up ferrule production was designed and built. Unfortunately, it was also the year Howmet’s Quaker State made a corporate decision to produce its own ferrules, and phase out the Zimmerman’s as a sub contractor.

The Raytec name was adopted in 1973 which incorporated Raymond’s name, and at the same time conveys the message the company would be forward thinking and use the latest technology to design and manufacture products. Raymond was familiar with satisfying one customer. He did not, however, know how to run a business. He had to learn every aspect of running a business. He relied on his personal experience, books, logical thinking and common sense. From accounting to marketing and product development, it was all a new learning experience. Reverting back to his farm background, the Herdex, a manual record keeping system for dairy cows, was developed.

Since those early days Raytec has developed several innovative products, which prove helpful to farmers and contractors in the building industry.

Today, Raytec LLC employs about 40 people and has several divisions. Distribution is from Pennsylvania, Missouri and the latest location, Idaho. Raytec LLC provides products to customers worldwide.

Thanks is given to past and present employees and customers that helped Raytec LLC grow into the company it is now. We move forward into the future, with the younger generation continuing the tradition of faith in God, family, inspiration and determination that served us so well many years ago.