Molex completes Smiths Interconnect deal to widen reach

Molex has completed its acquisition of Smiths Interconnect in the largest deal in its history.

The purchase brings Smiths Interconnect, a subsidiary of Smiths Group, into Molex and adds products used in aerospace and defence, industrial, medical, space and semiconductor test markets. It expands Molex's product range and engineering capabilities in high-reliability connectivity.

After the deal, the combined organisation includes more than 90 plants across 22 countries and more than 55,000 employees worldwide. The broader manufacturing base is expected to improve supply chain resilience and provide customers with more local design and engineering support across North America, Europe and Asia.

Smiths Interconnect makes ruggedised custom connectors, contacts, RF components and optical transceivers for harsh environments. It also adds semiconductor test products that complement Molex's data communications and data centre activities, as well as medical interconnect products for medtech customers.

The acquisition advances Molex's push into markets where reliability is critical, including aerospace and defence, space exploration, industrial systems, medical equipment and semiconductor testing.

"We are excited to finalise the Smiths Interconnect acquisition, which expands our portfolio and engineering expertise worldwide," said Joe Nelligan, Chief Executive Officer, Molex.

"Along with their products and technology, we are excited about Smiths Interconnect's global team and the strong customer relationships they have established," he added.

Sector Reach

The transaction strengthens Molex's position in specialist interconnect markets at a time when demand remains tied to defence spending, medical device development and semiconductor investment. It also broadens the company's exposure to test equipment for artificial intelligence infrastructure, including semiconductor testing and related data centre supply chains.

Combining Smiths Interconnect's product lines with Molex's manufacturing and engineering network should help the company serve customers across multiple end markets from a larger global base. Molex also highlighted stronger technical alignment between the two businesses.

Michael Cole, Senior Vice President and President of Molex's Aerospace and Defence Solutions Division, said the deal strengthens the company's position in sectors where failure rates and operating conditions are tightly controlled.

"This acquisition reinforces Molex's position as a leader across every sector where high reliability is critical," Cole said.

"By unifying these high-reliability solutions under the Molex banner, we provide a borderless platform that enables engineers to leverage ruggedised, precision-engineered connectivity."

Expansion Path

The Smiths Interconnect purchase follows Molex's acquisition of AirBorn in November 2024, another deal aimed at strengthening its position in aerospace and defence. Together, the moves point to a sustained expansion strategy focused on specialist connectivity markets rather than broader consumer electronics segments.

Smiths Interconnect built its business around customers that need connectors and components to operate in demanding environments, including defence systems, medical applications and industrial settings. That profile aligns with Molex's effort to deepen its presence in markets where long product cycles, certification requirements and reliability standards can create higher barriers to entry.

The deal also has implications for distribution partners and design engineers specifying interconnect products for complex systems. The enlarged business will offer a wider product line-up and engineering support through Molex's global network.

"The integration of Smiths Interconnect into the Molex engineering ecosystem is a significant win for the global design engineering community," said Lew LaFornara, Senior Vice President, Global Interconnect Business Strategy, TTI.

"As a prominent Smiths Interconnect distributor, we are excited to continue offering our customers access to a robust line of mission-critical solutions-spanning aerospace and defense, medical, industrial and semiconductor test-all backed by Molex's world-class logistics and technical support."