Rockwell International Corp plans to shrink yet more, this time by spinning off its automotive component systems operations to shareholders. It will have about 44,000 employees and operations in nearly 100 countries after the spin-off and will consist of Rockwell Automation, with projected fiscal sales of $4.5bn, making it the largest Rockwell unit and a supplier of industrial automation products to the North American market. Rockwell Semiconductor Systems, the world’s leading supplier of facsimile and personal computer modem chip sets, does some $1.8bn a year; and Avionics & Communications is a supplier of Collins brand avionics and communications products for air transport regional aircraft, business aviation, and other commercial and government markets. Its sales are projected to approach $1.7bn.
