Jan. 24--More Eastern Iowa companies are laying off workers as the slowing economy takes its toll on manufacturing.

PMX Industries in Cedar Rapids on Thursday notified United Auto Workers Local 1024 that it will be laying off 32 production employees on Feb. 2.

Jim Richardson, vice president of human resources at PMX, said in a statement that the company is reducing its work force in an effort to become more efficient. He said employees have been told to expect that the layoffs are permanent, but all 32 will have recall rights under the company's contract with the UAW.

PMX, which manufactures copper and copper base alloy sheet, strip and plate products, employed 419 on Jan. 1, according to Richardson. The company supplies metal to customers like the U.S. Mint and electrical equipment manufacturers.

Alcoa's Davenport Works in Riverdale announced Friday it is reducing the hourly work force at the plant by about 220 positions as part of the global reduction Pittsburgh-based Alcoa announced Jan. 6. The number of salaried plant employees affected has not been finalized, according to Alcoa.

The Davenport Works employs about 2,100. The plant manufactures aluminum sheet and plate for a variety of industries, including aerospace and defense, and cars and trucks.

Malcolm Murphy, vice president and general manager of Alcoa's Davenport Works, said management is working with union leaders to identify the employees who will be laid off. The company said it will coordinate the work force reduction with state officials to ensure workers have access to unemployment services.

"We have done everything possible to avoid a layoff, but the dramatic global economic downturn has impacted our business volume forcing us to take action," Murphy said. "We are seeing business volumes in 2009 that are significantly less than they were in 2008.

"A work force reduction is never easy and we are taking the time necessary to make the right decision. We need to make the best decision for the people of the community and the business, both now and for the long-term." The community of Waverly on Thursday learned that about 150 employees of Terex Cranes will be laid off because of the economy.

In a statement issued Friday, Terex said "a global softening in the mobile crane market" prompted the company to reduce its Waverly work force "in order to better align our resources with market demands and our current production levels." The Terex plant in Waverly manufactures boom cranes.

Earlier this week, two other companies with Corridor operations disclosed plans for work force reductions.

Terex/Cedarapids announced plans to lay off 58 workers at its plant in northeast Cedar Rapids. The factory employed 188 union workers making road-paving and rockcrushing equipment before the layoff, which began Friday.

Whirlpool announced plans to lay off 54 employees next week at its Middle Amana operation. The appliance manufacturer attributed the layoffs to market conditions and continued soft consumer demand.

-- Contact the writer: (319) 398-8366 or george.ford@gazcomm.com

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