For the first time in 47 years, equipment remanufacturer Epco Machinery LLC is not being run by someone named Schroeder.
Steve Schroeder is out at Epco in Fremont. Schroeder, who was two months shy of his 30th anniversary with Epco, said his last day was Jan. 30.
``I have left the company to pursue other interests,'' said Schroeder, 51. He said he wants to stay in the plastics industry.
Chicago investment group Madison Capital Partners bought Epco, along with five other businesses including thermoforming equipment maker Brown Machine LLC, in 1998 from John Brown Plastics Machinery.
Madison Capital President Larry Gies did not return a Feb. 3 telephone call seeking comment for this story.
Schroeder declined to say why he left Epco. He has no ownership stake in the company.
Epco was founded in 1959 in Chicago by his father, Ronald Schroeder, and partner Sterling Cramer. Epco moved to Fremont in 1974, and three years later, Egan Machinery Co. purchased Epco from Cramer and Schroeder. John Brown Plastics Machinery picked up Egan in 1980.
When Epco moved to Ohio, Cramer retired as president and became chairman. The elder Schroeder became president and served in that role until he retired in 1996.
Steve Schroeder joined Epco in 1976. He became president when his father retired.
Epco reconditions several types of plastics machines and die-casting equipment. A few years ago, the company developed a business relocating plastics factories. Epco also has built new machines for injection molding, blow molding and thermoforming.