AST Research Trimming European Operations

AST Research Inc. said Tuesday it is slashing its European work force, selling its plant in Ireland and focusing sales efforts solely on notebook computers as it struggles to return to profitability. The reduced operation is part of AST’s plan to focus on U.S. sales this year, said spokeswoman Camerone Welch-Thorson. The Irvine computer maker, owned by South Korean conglomerate Samsung Electronics Corp., said the changes are part of the 37% reduction in AST’s worldwide work force announced in early December. Though exact numbers aren’t available, an estimated half of the 600 jobs with the AST Europe subsidiary will be cut.