
Magnetics & Controls Division (“M&C”)
The M&C division designs, manufactures and supplies
highly differentiated magnetic and power components, and
embedded computing and interface controls for industrial
applications. This division operates across 16 countries
through two operating units, Magnetics and Controls. The
Magnetics operating unit (“Magnetics”) comprises our
magnetic cluster of Noratel, Shape, Myrra and Flux. The
Controls operating unit (“Controls”) comprises our cluster of
embedded computing and interface controls businesses
(Beacon, Hectronic and DTI), our human-machine
interface (“HMI”) cluster (Cursor Controls and Storm) and
two business platforms (Sens-Tech & Vertec). Almost all
products are manufactured in-house, with the division’s
principal facilities being in China, India, Mexico, Poland, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, the UK and the US. Geographically, 5% of
sales by destination are in the UK, 50% in the rest of Europe,
25% in North America and 20% in Asia. During the year,
Flux, our high-reliability magnetics business, expanded
its manufacturing capacity in Thailand, while Noratel, our
power magnetics business, commenced construction of a
new, larger facility in Bangalore to replace its existing facility
(due to complete in the first half of the new financial year).
In December 2025, the Group completed the acquisition
of Keymat Technology Ltd, a UK-based designer and
manufacturer of differentiated assistive HMI products, into
the division, to sit alongside our existing Cursor Controls
business. Keymat trades under the name Storm Interface
(“Storm”).
Orders in the year increased by 12% CER and by 11%
organically to £274.8m (FY 2024/25: £246.0m CER) with a
book-to-bill ratio of 1.03 driven by strong order growth in
both Magnetics and Controls.
Sales increased by 2% CER and organically, with good
growth in Magnetics being partly offset by destocking
in Controls which has now worked through with sales in
Controls returning to growth in the final quarter. By territory,
Europe (including the UK) and Asia grew by 3% offset by
North America down 2%.
With little FX impact this year, reported divisional revenue
also increased by 2% to £267.0m (FY 2024/25: £260.8m
reported). Adjusted operating profit of £41.7m was £1.0m
(-2%) lower than last year at CER and £1.3m (-3%) lower on a
reported basis (FY 2024/25: £43.0m) reflecting good organic
sales growth in the lower margin Magnetics unit offset by
sales reductions in the higher margin Controls unit. This mix
effect also impacted adjusted operating margin which at
15.6% was 0.8ppts lower at CER than last year and 0.9ppts
lower on a reported basis (FY 2024/25: 16.5%).
Sensing & Connectivity Division (“S&C”)
The S&C division designs, manufactures and supplies
highly differentiated sensing and connectivity components
for industrial applications. This division operates across
ten countries through two operating units, Sensing and
Connectivity. The Sensing operating unit (“Sensing”)
comprises our sensing cluster of Variohm, Burster,
CPI, Limitor, Magnasphere, Phoenix and Positek. The
Connectivity operating unit (“Connectivity”) comprises the
RF & Wireless cluster (2J, Antenova and Trival from April
2026), the Components cluster (Contour, Stortech and
CDT), the Fibre Communications cluster (Foss and IKN)
and four business platforms (MTC, Santon, Silvertel and
Hivolt). Almost all products are manufactured in-house,
with the division’s principal facilities being in Hungary,
the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, the UK and the US.
Geographically, 18% of sales by destination are in the UK,
54% in the rest of Europe, 20% in North America and 8%
in Asia.
During the year, we completed the merger of two of our
UK Components businesses, Contour and Stortech, into
one site. Additionally, our MTC electromagnetic shielding
business expanded its manufacturing capacity in South
Korea. Since the year-end, the Group has completed the
acquisition of Trival Antene d.o.o. (“Trival”), a Slovenian-based
designer and manufacturer of communication antennas for
defence applications, into the Connectivity operating unit,
and announced the acquisition of 3G.
Divisional orders in the year reduced by 4% organically
to £173.0m against a strong prior year comparator, with
a return to growth in the second half (H1: -10%; H2: +2%).
Including the Burster acquisition last year, orders were up
4% CER with a book-to-bill ratio for the year of 0.98 with
good improvement in the second half (H1: 0.92; H2: 1.04).
The reduction in orders came mainly in Transportation and
Medical (following strong growth last year) partly offset by
other markets which were broadly flat.
Divisional sales increased by 2% organically, with sales in
North America increasing by 4%, Europe (including the UK)
increasing by 2% and Asia broadly flat.
Combined with a 6% sales contribution from the Burster
acquisition, overall divisional sales increased by 8% CER.
With little Sterling translation impact this year, reported
divisional revenue increased by 9% to £176.3m (FY 2024/25:
£162.1m reported and £162.5m at CER).
Adjusted operating profit of £31.4m was £2.0m (+7%) higher
than last year at CER and £2.1m (+7%) higher on a reported
basis (FY 2024/25: £29.3m). The adjusted operating margin
of 17.8% was 0.3ppts lower than last year (FY 2024/25: 18.1%).
Strong bank of design wins will drive
future recurring revenues
The Group has a strong bank of design wins, forming the
basis of the Group’s through-cycle organic growth. During
the year, new opportunities and design wins were ahead
of last year, building on the bank of previously registered
wins that are commencing production. Over the last
eighteen months, conversion of design wins into revenue
was delayed in some areas due to customers’ inventory
destocking activities. This has now generally completed and
we are starting to see new revenue and growth.
New project design activity remains at a high level, being
broad-based and across all our markets. The total pipeline of
ongoing projects continues to be very strong.
discoverIE Group plc Innovative Electronics30
STRATEGIC AND
OPERATIONAL REVIEW CONTINUED