2 Rockwell Units Merge

Rockwell International Corp. said it’s combining its Collins and Communications Systems businesses into a single unit.

The change, which isn’t expected to result in any job cuts, takes effect Oct. 1. It’s prompted by Rockwell’s decision last month to sell all of its aerospace and defense operations except the Collins businesses to Boeing Co. for $3.16 billion.

The businesses being combined make aviation communications and navigation systems, and jam-resistant voice and data communications systems for the military. They’re expected to generate revenue of $1.7 billion this year.

The new Rockwell organization, which will be known as the Avionics and Communications unit, will be based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Collins’ operations are in Cedar Rapids, while the Communications Systems division is in Dallas.

The company also said it is changing its Illinois-based Switching Systems division, which makes components for electronic commerce systems, from Collins to its Semiconductor Systems unit.