Odetics Inc. Blames Shift to Robotics for Loss

As it predicted last month, Odetics Inc. of Anaheim announced Monday that it lost $510,000 last quarter because of the cost of shifting more of its high technology business into robotics. In the first quarter of its fiscal 1985, Odetics reported net earnings of $205,000.

Revenues for the company’s first fiscal 1986 quarter, ended June 30, were $7.5 million, about 3% higher than the $7.3 million recorded the year before.

Joel Slutzky, Odetics chairman, said he expected recent cost-cutting efforts to pay off in an improved second-quarter performance. Earlier, Slutzky said he expected the first quarter to be the weakest of the company’s 1986 fiscal year.