Renold (Ray) Passien passed away on March 9 in Mesa, Arizona. 40 years ago Ray moved his family from Campbell, California, where he owned a high-tech machine shop, to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he started a machine shop that became Production Metal Forming, Inc.

Ray worked with pioneers in the steam extraction carpet cleaning machine industry and created tools and stainless steel tubing products. Eventually he started his own line of carpet and upholstery cleaning tools and received several patents. PMF is now the leading manufacturer of carpet, upholstery, hard surface cleaning tools and accessories that are “Made in the USA.”

Ray leaves a legacy of a thriving business in southern Oregon that employs 60 people.