MOUNT PLEASANT - Putzmeister America employees have suffered another blow, in the form of layoffs, from the virtually nonexistent construction industry.

The German company on May 29 laid off 29 people, or 23 percent of its work force, at its North American headquarters and manufacturing plant here. The company, at 1733 90th St., has 161 employees after the layoff, Human Resources Director Kathi Haugh said Tuesday.

She said the positions were eliminated about equally between production and administrative employees.

By company policy, their benefits will continue for 90 days; but at that point, if they have not been called back, their employment would end.

Putzmeister makes stationary and truck-mounted concrete pumps and truck-mounted belt conveyors. They are used to pour concrete, primarily for housing construction.

"(The layoff) is really a function of the sales," Haugh said. "When you don't have sales, you don't have work. We're so aligned with housing construction."

For years, Putzmeister had shown very strong employment growth here, increasing both its work force and facilities with several additions.

But that trend began to reverse last year. In 2008 the company laid off about 80 production workers and eliminated about 20 office positions, according to company President and Chief Executive Officer David Adams.

He said the company started 2008 with about 380 employees. It is now at about 42 percent of that level.

Asked about the chances of call-backs for the latest employees let go, Haugh replied, "That's the big unknown."