It's been a bad week for layoffs. Struggling to cut costs to offset lagging orders, several New England tech firms cut workers, including Lotus (200), NaviSite (126), Network Engines (65).

Add Avid Technology to the list. The Tewksbury, Mass., maker of digital video editing equipment will cut 140 workers -- half of which will come from the company's headquarters.

The figure represents about 9 percent of the company's total workforce.

"Given the current economic environment, we recognize the need to carefully manage our expenses," said David Krall, Avid's president and CEO. "We're taking these difficult but important steps to further improve our cost structure and profitability, while preserving our investments in the future."

Krall said customers Avid's offerings or service should not suffer as a result of the moves.

The cuts are expected to save $11 million annually. As a result, operating expenses, excluding amortization and restructuring, should be pared to approximately $56 million for the third quarter of 2001 and $55 million for the fourth quarter of 2001.

The company expects to take a charge of approximately $8 million in the current quarter in connection with the restructuring.

The news was released after markets closed Wednesday. Earlier, shares of AVID closed up 0.56, or 6 percent, to 9.41. In the last 52 weeks, the issue has ranged from 8.75 to 22.5.