A central Iowa factory is slashing jobs. An estimated 145 employees at an Ames hydraulic equipment company learned yesterday that they are now without work. Officials of Sauer Danfoss made the announcement of the job cutbacks.

The reason is due to the continued weak demand for their products as a result of the current economic conditions. Sauer Danfoss reported last month a first quarter loss of 78 point four million dollars after sales fell 43 percent. Last year, the Ames Sauer Danfoss facility employed 1,150 people.

Since then it has laid off an estimated 39 percent of its work force. Once the layoffs are complete Sauer Danfoss expects to employ 700 at its Ames facility.