Another round of layoffs has struck Moore County.

Ingersoll-Rand laid off 29 employees at its plant on U.S. 1 in Southern Pines this week. The cuts come just days after FirstHealth of the Carolinas eliminated 28 full-time and 26 regular and casual part-time positions to reduce operating expenses.

Susan Jaramillo, director of communications for Ingersoll-Rand's Industrial Technology Sector, which includes the Southern Pines facility, told The Pilot that the move was announced last week. Five employees volunteered for the layoffs and 24 more were let go Monday.

"We did have a reduction in work force this week," she said.

Ingersoll-Rand purchased the facility in 1990, and it has 180 employees. Jaramillo said it produces a "wide variety" of products, primarily for the tool side of the business.

Jaramillo attributed the layoffs to a "decrease in volume because of the economy."

Ingersoll-Rand is a New Jersey-based global diversified industrial company that provides "products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and enhance industrial productivity and efficiency," according to its Web site.

Ingersoll-Rand also produces products under a number of different brand names, including Club Car golf carts, Hussman refrigeration equipment, Schlage locks, Thermo King transport temperature-control equipment and Trane air conditioning services.

Ray Ogden, executive director of Moore County Partners in Progress, said the area had managed to avoid a lot of the hardships the rest of the country has experienced as a result of the ongoing recession, but it is now starting to feel them.

"It's indicative of what's going on in the economy," he said. "It's tough out there, and we're feeling it."

Ogden said that unemployment is the highest it's been in a while, making it even more vital that efforts to be made to help existing businesses and industries.

"We just need to do everything we can to help these businesses hold on to these people," he said.

Contact John Krahnert III at 693-2473 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com