TECHNOLOGY : AST Research Names European Expert to Manufacturing Post

AST Research Inc. in Irvine has appointed Gordon Chilton, a veteran of European electronics manufacturing, to a new top manufacturing post.

Chilton’s selection suggests that AST is serious about building a manufacturing plant in Europe, a project that Safi Qureshey, AST chief executive, has discussed for several years.

“It’s premature to talk about that subject,” Chilton said. “But I would not be here if the company did not want to consider significant changes in the manufacturing business.”

Chilton will serve as senior vice president of worldwide manufacturing and as a member of AST’s corporate management committee. He formerly served as a manufacturing executive at Asea Brown Boveri, a Swiss manufacturer of electrical equipment, and held positions earlier at chip manufacturers Texas Instruments Inc. and Motorola Inc.

Based in Irvine, Chilton will oversee AST’s computer manufacturing in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Fountain Valley. He will also direct AST’s effort to receive quality certification for sales of manufactured goods in Europe.