Rockwell’s Rank Dips 2 Spots to 45

Rockwell, the highest-ranking Orange County company on the Fortune 500, had dropped again when the annual listing of the nation’s biggest industrial companies was released Monday.

Rockwell, the giant technology conglomerate based in Seal Beach, dropped slightly to 45th place from 43rd, with $10.8 billion in revenues.

Rockwell makes products for the aerospace, automobile and telecommunications businesses. It was in 35th place two years ago with revenues of more than $12 billion.

On the other hand, AST Research in Irvine took another big jump--from 367th place to 287th, with revenues of $1.4 billion. AST makes personal computers; it debuted on the list only two years ago, when it was in 431st place.

Three other local companies had revenues large enough to make the list:

Western Digital in Irvine--which makes computer products--was in 318th place. That was up from 371st, with revenues of $1. 2 billion.

Allergan, an Irvine maker of eye-care products, was in 384th place. That was down slightly from 381st. Allergan had $888 million in 1993 revenues.

Beckman Instruments in Fullerton was in 389th place, down from 379th. The maker of medical instruments had revenues of $876 million last year.