Revamping Operations : AST Research May Sell Macintosh Product Unit

In an effort to revamp its operations after an $8.9-million quarterly loss, AST Research Inc. is considering selling a small operation that makes enhancement products for Apple Computer’s Macintosh personal computer.

“We have received inquiries about puchasing the Apple product line outright,” company spokesman Joel C. Don said Thursday. “We’re talking with interested parties, but we have not signed on the dotted line.”

The Apple unit, which makes products to boost the performance of Macintosh computers, accounted for less than 5% of AST’s 1988 sales of $412 million, Don said.

“There has been a steady growth of our Macintosh products, but it hasn’t been a big percentage of our sales,” Don said.

The Irvine company entered the Apple market in the early 1980s as a supplier of accessories for the Apple II computer, and more recently for the Macintosh computer.

AST’s main business is manufacturing personal computers and accessories compatible with International Business Machines Corp. computers.

AST has previously disclosed plans to sell its Camintonn division, which makes products for Digital Equipment Corp. computers. Sale of the unit is expected soon, Don said.

“We have taken a position that the IBM-compatible world is going to be the focus of the company,” Don said.

After losing $8.9 million for the second quarter ended Dec. 30, AST reduced its 2,025-person work force by 6%.