RAYMOND – Citing economic troubles, the general manager of Dielectric Communications, based in Raymond since 1954, announced late last week that the SPX Communications subsidiary would be closing its doors permanently.

“After careful consideration, SPX has decided to discontinue the broadcast television and radio and wireless antenna operations of its Dielectric Communications business unit worldwide, due to extremely difficult global economic conditions in the broadcast marketplace, and SPX’s ongoing efforts to further focus its future growth strategy on its Flow Technology business. We have made the impacted Dielectric employees in the U.S. aware of this difficult decision,” wrote Mark Fichter, general manager of Dielectric Communications’ broadcast and wireless antenna operations.

The closure comes after several rounds of layoffs in recent years. Company officials wouldn’t elaborate on the closure until April 29 citing a need to “focus on coordinating next steps,” Fichter wrote. Fichter wrote that the company is still taking orders on in-stock equipment and that all employees would be terminated by June 29.

Fichter did say that all 57 employees, ranging from assemblers to salespeople, would be terminated but that they are encouraged to apply for open positions at a sister company SPX owns in Raymond, Radiodetection Ltd.

Dielectric, one of the largest employers in Raymond, was founded by Raymond native Doc Brown in 1942 at the debut of television broadcasting.