Applied Data Reports Loss; Blames Price, Demand Dip

Citing slipping prices and soft demand for computer products, Applied Data Communications reported a net loss of $545,000 for its fiscal 1987 second quarter, contrasted with net income of $119,000 for the same period a year ago.

Revenue for the period ended Sept. 30 totaled $1.3 million, off 54% from revenue of $2.8 million for the comparable period last year.

The Tustin-based computer equipment maker said the loss also reflected research and development expenditures for new products.

For the six months, Applied Data reported a net loss of $714,000, contrasted with net income of $202,000 for the same period a year ago. Revenue for the first half was $3.2 million, down 46% from $5.9 million.

Separately, Applied Data said it has acquired the assets of privately held KJ Instruments Inc., a Northern California maker of rigid disk-drive test equipment.

Terms were not disclosed.

KJ’s marketing and research and development will remain in Campbell, Applied Data said, but manufacturing will be consolidated at Applied’s facilities in Tustin.

Applied Data also said William Ott, 56, vice president, assistant corporate secretary and co-founder of the company, retired Oct. 1 but will remain a director and was named a corporate secretary.

In addition to making equipment used to test disk drives, Applied Data makes equipment for duplicating diskettes and equipment used in the manufacture of diskettes.