NEW BEDFORD, MA – And another one falls.

Epec LLC, a printed circuit board manufacturer since 1952, is exiting the production business. The company will sell its equipment at auction and concentrate on its board distribution business.

One of America’s first PCB shops, Epec's founders also cofounded the IPC, in 1957. Primarily a single and double-sided prototype shop, in recent years it added capabilities up to 16 layers. Of late, production made up about 25% of the company’s business, with the remainder brokered boards, general manager Gene St. Onge told Circuits Assembly.

Epec will retain a small amount of equipment to handle repair work.

The auction takes place Sept. 21. A preview will be held Sept. 20 at the company’s plant.