Rockwell International

Rockwell International was a big American manufacturing conglomerate. It made many important things, like airplanes, space projects, defense tools, and car parts. The company also made printing presses and electronics for planes, among other industrial products.

At its peak, Rockwell International was one of the largest companies in the United States. It had many assets, sold goods worth a lot, and employed many people.

The story of Rockwell International started with the Rockwell Manufacturing Company, begun in 1919 by Willard Rockwell. Over time, the company grew and changed. By 1973, it joined with aerospace products and became Rockwell International. In the 1980s, the company began to split into smaller parts, finally dividing into Rockwell Automation and Rockwell Collins in 2001.

History

Rockwell Manufacturing Company

Willard Rockwell started his company in Boston in 1919. He made a new bearing system for truck axles. In 1928, he merged his business in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with another company. He became its leader in 1940.

Rockwell Manufacturing grew over the years. In 1945, it bought Delta Machinery and renamed it the Delta Power Tool Division. They made tools in Milwaukee and invented the world’s first power miter saw in 1966. Later, parts of the company were sold to other businesses.

In 1956, Rockwell bought Walker-Turner and moved some of its work to different cities in the United States.

The company grew through many mergers. In 1967, Rockwell Manufacturing merged with North American Aviation to form North American Rockwell. They also bought companies that made printing presses and avionics equipment.

1968–1974

During this time, Rockwell had many employees in different divisions. They made valves, gas products, water meters, power tools, transportation parts, and more. The company worked in many places in the United States and Germany.

Apex and break-up

Rockwell International became very successful in the 1980s, especially in defense and space projects like the Space Shuttle. After the Space Shuttle and B-1 bomber programs ended, the company sold parts of its business. By 2001, Rockwell International split into two new companies: Rockwell Automation and Rockwell Collins.

Rockwell was part of many important projects, from World War II aircraft to the Space Shuttle and GPS satellites. The company also made calculators, modems, and other technology products.

Products

Rockwell International made many important products, especially airplanes and spacecraft. Some of their famous airplanes include the Rockwell B-1 Lancer and the Rockwell Commander 112. They also helped build parts of the Apollo Command and Service Module and the Space Shuttle orbiter.

The company created rocket engines like the F-1 used in the Saturn V rocket and the RS-25 for the Space Shuttle. They also made missiles such as the AGM-53 Condor and unmanned aircraft like the Rockwell HiMAT.

Research laboratory

Rockwell International had a big research laboratory in Thousand Oaks, California. It started in 1962 as the North American Science Center and later became the Rockwell International Science Center.

The lab did important research for the U.S. Government and its own companies. It was known for studying new materials, making special cameras that can see heat, creating screens using liquid crystals, and working with fast electronics. The lab also helped develop new ways to make tiny parts for computers and worked on making computers easier to use. In 2000, part of the lab moved to Camarillo, California. After Rockwell International split up in 2001, the lab became its own company. In 2006, it was sold to Teledyne Corporation, which now uses the building as its main office. Some research still happens there today.