Computer manufacturer Fujitsu said it would prune its European product range after buying out Siemens’ half in their former joint venture Fujitsu Siemens Computers. Joseph Reger, chief technology officer of the venture, which is soon to drop Siemens from its name, said in an interview with the dpa-AFX news agency in Hanover that jobs would also be slashed during its absorption into the Japanese group. Fujitsu Siemens has already ceased sales of personal digital assistant (PDA) computers and flatpanel television sets, and would move next to thin out its range of personal computers.

The absorption would lead to a loss of 1,000 of the 10,500 jobs at Fujitsu Siemens, with the German workforce of 6,000 alone shedding 600. He said there would be no layoffs, but declined to specify how much the company would pay for buyouts for those who agreed to leave. Fujitsu paid 450 million Euro to acquire the remaining stake in the business in November. It will become a regional division of Fujitsu from April 1, but its name has not been announced.