Wang Laboratories Reports $30-Million Loss in Period

Wang Laboratories, the office-computer maker, reported a $30-million quarterly loss that it blamed on heavy investment and a sluggish U.S. market, especially for its big, high-profit computers.

Wang’s loss in its first fiscal quarter ended Sept. 30 contrasted with a profit of $7 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose 7% to $597.9 million from $560.9 million a year earlier, but the company said it was nevertheless below target.

Wang said orders for products picked up in September and helped set a record $701 million in orders during the quarter. Orders for high-end computers seem to be rising, the company said.

“We are continuing to press ahead with a very sound, long-term growth strategy, the results of which should become more evident in future periods,” An Wang, the company’s chairman and president, said in a statement.

In July, Wang announced that it was reducing its worldwide work force by 1,600 people through early retirements and layoffs.

Wang said Wednesday that the job reductions cut monthly operating costs by $5 million but added that this reduction had not been fully felt during the quarter.

The latest quarter’s results included $12.6 million in revenue and a net loss of $300,000 from Intecom Inc., which Wang acquired Sept. 3.