Surface Technology International

What Surface Technology International does

Surface Technology International (STI Limited) is a UK-based contract electronics manufacturer founded in 1989, delivering complex, mission-critical electronic systems for defence, aerospace and security primes and OEMs. From two UK Sovereign accredited manufacturing sites — a 5,800 m² primary facility in Hook, Hampshire and a Poynton, Cheshire site housing advanced systems build, RF/antenna work and an anechoic chamber with a 697 m² mechanical bay — STI runs a single integrated pipeline spanning design validation, design-for-manufacture improvement, procurement and obsolescence management, PCB assembly (PCBA), RF and screened work, wiring and electro-mechanical integration, full cabinet/rack and system build, on-site environmental/EMC/RF testing, and through-life support including 4th Line depot-level services. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting defence primes, with active participation in UK defence events (DPRTE, Subcon) and relationships to named programmes such as the UK Ministry of Defence Skynet Service Delivery Wrap contract via Babcock International Group.

Revenue is generated through project-based EMS contracts and long-term sustainment programmes. The pricing model is quote-based and negotiated per programme (not publicly disclosed), with revenue streams split between one-time manufacturing build programmes and ongoing through-life support professional services. The customer base is concentrated in three primary verticals — Defence, Aerospace and Security/Intelligence — supplied under long-cycle, mission-critical qualification regimes that produce multi-year revenue visibility but limit short-term switching. STI holds a dense stack of sector accreditations including AS9100 Rev D, Nadcap Merit for electronics, JOSCAR, ISO 9001/14001/45001, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, and Cyber Essentials Plus, and is a member of ADS Group and Make UK Defence.

Ownership and trajectory: STI was carved out and acquired by Rcapital in October 2023, executed a multi-year restructuring under CRO-turned-Chairman Tim Hair, secured an £11.3m asset-based lending facility from Cynergy Business Finance in July 2024, appointed Tom Garvey (ex-GKN Aerospace, TT Electronics, Cobham, Thales, Eaton) as CEO on 1 October 2025, and was sold in March 2026 to NOTE UK (a subsidiary of Swedish-listed NOTE AB), entering its next phase under European EMS platform ownership while retaining its UK-based, defence-focused delivery model.

Name

Surface Technology International

Legal name

STI Limited

Website

https://sti-limited.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Surface Technology International is a UK Sovereign accredited electronics manufacturer (founded 1989) that designs, builds, tests and sustains complex mission-critical electronic systems — PCB assembly, RF, wiring, full system integration and through-life support — for defence, aerospace and security primes from its Hook and Poynton facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Electronics Manufacturing

NAICS

Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing (334418), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Avionics Displays & Human-Machine Interface (EFIS/HUD/HMD) (IMABAFAH)

Keywords

• Electronics manufacturing services
• PCB assembly
• Defence electronics manufacturing
• RF systems integration
• Aerospace electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

Hook

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electronics Manufacturing Services: Project-based manufacturing services for complex, mission-critical electronic systems including PCB assembly, RF builds, wiring, cabinet integration, and full system delivery. Revenue is generated through long-term programmes with defence, aerospace and security customers.
2. Through-Life Support and Sustainment: Ongoing repair, rework, refurbishment, obsolescence management and depot-level support services for deployed military systems. Includes 4th Line Support services for prime defence customers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Surface Technology International (STI) is a UK contract electronics manufacturer that delivers integrated design validation, supply chain management, PCB assembly, RF and antenna build, wiring, full system integration, environmental/EMC testing, and through-life support for complex, mission-critical electronic systems. All manufacturing is performed at two UK Sovereign accredited facilities in Hook (Hampshire) and Poynton (Cheshire), serving defence primes, aerospace OEMs, and security customers.

Product overview

Surface Technology International (STI) is a UK electronics manufacturing services provider offering a unified, integrated engineering and manufacturing service rather than discrete software products. The core offering spans a six-stage lifecycle: Design Validation and Improvement, Supply Chain Management, PCB Assembly, RF Systems, Wiring, Environmental Testing, Full System Build and Integration, and Through-Life Support. These capabilities are delivered from two UK Sovereign accredited facilities in Hook (Hampshire) and Poynton (Cheshire), providing a single-source solution for complex, mission-critical electronic systems serving defence, aerospace, and security programmes. Key add-on offerings include 4th Line Support for Prime defence customers and EMC/Anechoic Chamber testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contract Electronics Manufacturing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced programme risk through early design validation and obsolescence management
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• NOTE UK (NOTE AB)coreOthersSTI was acquired by NOTE UK, a subsidiary of Swedish listed company NOTE AB, in March 2026. This represents a significant strategic milestone following STI's transformation under Rcapital. The acquisition provides STI access to increased scale, complementary capabilities and a broader European operational footprint while maintaining its UK-based delivery model and defence sector focus.
• ADS GroupsupportingOthersTrade organisation for companies in the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space sectors. STI is an active member, helping stay aligned with sector needs, skills development and wider industry standards.
• Make UK DefencesupportingOthersTrade organisation for companies in the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space sectors. STI is a member, supporting alignment with sector needs and industry standards.
• Babcock International GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded a contract to support Babcock International Group with services for the UK Ministry of Defence Skynet Service Delivery Wrap programme. Covers refurbishment, repair, material obsolescence management and stock services for programme assets supporting military satellite communications. Draws on extensive RF communications systems experience.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NOTE AB: Swedish-listed EMS group that acquired STI via its NOTE UK subsidiary in March 2026. NOTE operates Nordic and UK EMS sites serving industrial, medtech and defence customers, making it the most directly comparable peer and STI's new corporate parent.
• Ultra Electronics (Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions): UK defence electronics specialist (formerly Ultra Electronics, now part of the Cobham/AES portfolio under TransDigm) supplying mission-critical electronic systems to UK and allied defence primes. Overlaps with STI's RF, sensing and through-life support offerings for naval, air and land platforms.
• Benchmark Electronics: US-listed EMS with strong aerospace, defence and industrial complex-assembly capabilities. Targets similar high-reliability, regulated, low-volume programmes as STI and represents a relevant peer for cross-comparison on margins, capacity utilisation and programme mix.
• TT Electronics: UK-headquartered designer and manufacturer of electronic components and integrated assemblies for aerospace, defence and medical markets. Tom Garvey previously held senior roles at TT Electronics, and the company competes directly with STI in UK defence/aerospace PCBA and integrated build work.
• Chemring Group: UK-listed defence electronics and countermeasures supplier with a substantial electronic systems business serving land, air and maritime platforms. Comparable to STI in customer base (UK MoD, US DoD primes), certification profile and through-life support model.
• Plexus Corp: Global EMS provider with a recognised Aerospace & Defence segment offering complex PCBA, system integration and after-market services. Competes with STI for complex, regulated, low-to-mid-volume defence and aerospace builds across the UK and Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Sanmina: Global EMS provider with a dedicated defence and aerospace business serving complex, high-reliability integrated systems. A broader incumbent peer that competes for the same complex defence programmes as STI but at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• Jabil: One of the world's largest EMS providers with significant aerospace, defence and security capabilities across multiple geographies. Represents the larger, global incumbent benchmark for scale, pricing and capability breadth against which STI's specialised UK-sovereign niche competes.
• Thales UK: UK arm of the global Thales Group, a major defence prime with deep UK defence electronics, communications and sensing capabilities. Both an STI customer (defence primes) and a competitor for larger integrated electronic system programmes in the UK sovereign market.

Regional players

• GKN Aerospace: UK-headquartered tier-1 aerospace systems supplier (part of Melrose Industries) where incoming STI CEO Tom Garvey previously led major growth programmes. While higher up the value chain (airframe and engine systems), GKN overlaps with STI in UK defence/aerospace customer relationships and supply chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stilimited
• Facebookfacebook.com/1553692098224240

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surface Technology International