Plasma & Materials Fires 8% of Work Force

Plasma & Materials Technologies Inc. said it fired 8% of its employees because of a slowdown in the semiconductor industry and the need to consolidate its work force after a recent acquisition. The Chatsworth-based maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment bought closely held Electrotech Group in November for $145.7 million in cash and stock. The company didn’t say how many people it fired. Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show Plasma employed 142 people and Electrotech 539 before the firings, which would mean about 55 jobs were cut. Its shares gained 12.5 cents to close at $12.25 on Nasdaq.