Page 16 - 2019 December E-issue

Introducing L3Harris Technologies:
Built on more than a century of innovation

One company with common goals. Shaped by a rich history of innovation. Ready to fast forward into the future.

by Natalie Ciao
L3Harris has its roots in both the entrepreneurial spirit of the Harris Automatic Press Company in Niles, OH.
the American Industrial Revolution and the earliest days Harris built on that early innovation by evolving in the
of the space program. following decades into an electronic communications
provider. As the space race accelerated, Harris acquired
Radiation Inc., and became a leader in miniaturized
L3Harris heritage is drawn from two companies one electronic tracking and pulse code technology.
with a proud history of more than a century of technology After relocating to Melbourne, FL, in the 1970s,
and communications leadership (Harris Corporation) Harris Corporation transformed itself into a global
and a younger company (L3 Technologies) comprised communications and information technology company.
of some of the most successful aerospace and defense
enterprises in history.

History of Harris Corporation
In 1895, Alfred Harris disrupted the printing industry In 2015, Harris continued its transformation by acquiring
Exelis Inc., a Virginia-based global aerospace,
problem by creating a faster printing press, establishing
defense, information and services company with a
strong presence in Rochester. The acquisition created
a company with greater scale, capabilities and core
franchises focused primarily on U.S. and international
government markets where the company provides
differentiated technologies.

In 2015, Harris continued its transformation by acquiring
Exelis Inc., a Virginia-based global aerospace, defense,
Harris RF Communications Founders: Roger Bettin, Bill Stolze,
Herbert VandenBrul (as photographed by founder Elmer Schwittek) in information and services company with a strong
the basement of a friends apartment building on Park Avenue. presence in Rochester creating a company with greater
scale, capabilities and core franchises focused primarily
History of Rochester s RF Communications on U.S. and international government markets where
Launched in 1960 by three engineers and a local the company provides differentiated technologies.
attorney Bill Stolze, Elmer Schwittek, Roger Bettin
and Herbert VandenBrul Rochester s well-known RF History of L3 Technologies
Communications provided superior long-range two-way L3 Technologies was created in 1997 as L-3
radio communications to a wide range of government Communications, named for the three initials of founders
markets. Frank Lanza and Robert LaPenta in partnership with
Lehman Brothers. Lanza and LaPenta previously
The four founders spent six months developing their served in executive roles at Loral Corporation and
initial radio products in a Park Avenue basement Lockheed Martin, respectively. L3 was created through
in Rochester before opening the first official RF the divestiture of business segments following the
Communications office in a vacant beauty parlor on merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta
Merchants Road. Two years later, they moved to 1680 business segments that had originally been part of
University Avenue in Rochester, which today remains a Loral Corporation and had been acquired by Lockheed
headquarters for administrative and engineering staff. In in 1993. Under Lanzas leadership, L3 experienced
early 1969, RF Communications was acquired by Harris massive growth through 100+ acquisitions in its first
Corporation. 19 years. The company changed its name to L3
Technologies in 2016 to more accurately describe its
Harris innovative spirit was spawned out of necessity by two In 2011, Harris opened a 573,000-squarefoot operations wider scope.
entrepreneurs whose first invention – a faster printing press – center which was then, and remains today, one of the
launched the Harris Automatic Press Company. worlds most advanced manufacturing centers.
16 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER DECEMBER 2019 cover article