CEDAR FALLS - The slumping world economy has struck close to home with the announcement of cutbacks at Viking Pump in Cedar Falls.

The company was established in Cedar Falls in 1912 but became a subsidiary of Northbrook, Ill.-based IDEX Corp. in 1989 through a series of buyouts.

Viking officials would not provide details about the nature of the personnel cutbacks or the numbers involved.

The terminations come in the forms of voluntary retirements and layoffs among employees in the office and unionized manufacturing employees who are members of the International Association of Machinists' Local 1728.

"Based on current and really unprecedented economic outlook, both in the U.S. and abroad, we took steps to adjust our office workforce at all our locations," said Joe Michels, vice president of human relations at Viking Pump. "We did make some adjustments, and are making those, focused on our manufacturing operations and reflect our anticipated production requirements for this coming year."

The cutbacks follow a year of "record worldwide sales" and "growth in sales in new products," Michels said.

Wayne Laufenberg, the union's Dubuque-based business representative, said he had not yet talked with officials at Viking.

"I know they were looking for volunteers," Laufenberg said.

Michels said the company would not provide any information on how many employees are involved in the cutbacks.

According to the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, as of last September, Viking Pump had 480 employees.

Heath Mitts, vice president of finance for IDEX Corp., declined to disclose the number of employees affected by the move.

However, Mitts did say the action will affect "a good number" of IDEX locations worldwide.

"We're taking action in terms of right-sizing the businesses for the '09 economic situation," Mitts said.

The company has more than 70 locations worldwide, Mitts said.

"I don't think they have a number (of local employees affected) yet," Laufenberg said. "They didn't as of last Thursday."

There were no negotiations with the union before the move was announced, Laufenberg said.

"There's no settlement," he said. "Rather than lay off the less senior people, they look for volunteers first."

Michels said his company was following union guidelines.

"The steps we're taking are in conjunction with what's spelled out in our union contract," he said.

Laufenberg added that it's not an uncommon decision among manufacturers, particularly in a recession.

"I have several shops over here (in the Dubuque area) doing the same thing," he said. "The economy is really bad."

It could be worse, Michels said.

"Productivity improvements at all levels of our organization have allowed us to lessen the impact than at peer manufacturing companies who have been announcing cutbacks for the last year," Michels said.

Contact Jim Offner at (319) 291-1598 or jim.offner@wcfcourier.com.