Rockwell to Add Jobs in Newport, Colorado for Semiconductor Unit

Rockwell International Corp.’s Semiconductor Systems division said it has begun the first part of a $1.2-billion expansion of its Colorado Springs, Colo., semiconductor wafer fabrication plant.

The initial project, budgeted at $675 million, is expected to add enough manufacturing capacity to create 600 jobs there by the end of next year.

The Orange County-based semiconductor unit, which specializes in the chip sets for computer modems, also is spending $400 million to expand research and manufacturing facilities at its Newport Beach headquarters.

Semiconductor Systems is the fastest growing business segment of Seal Beach-based Rockwell International.

Investors apparently were heartened by Rockwell’s push to increase its already huge share of the telecommunications semiconductor market. The price of the company’s common stock rose by $1.75 Thursday to close at a record $62.625 in heavy trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has risen 36% in the past three months and is up 65% from its 52-week low of $37.25 last March.