Surface Technology International
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersHook, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Surface Technology International firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Surface Technology International industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Surface Technology International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hook
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Surface Technology International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
Surface Technology International product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Surface Technology International
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Surface Technology International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Surface Technology International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- NOTE UK (NOTE AB)coreSTI 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 GroupsupportingTrade 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 DefencesupportingTrade 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 GroupcoreAwarded 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
Surface Technology International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Surface Technology International social profiles
Digital presenceSurface Technology International compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
Surface Technology International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Surface Technology International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Surface Technology International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Surface Technology International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Surface Technology International
What does Surface Technology International do?
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.
Is Surface Technology International a public or private company?
Surface Technology International is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Surface Technology International founded?
Surface Technology International was founded in 1989. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Surface Technology International based?
Surface Technology International is headquartered in Hook, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Surface Technology International make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Electronics Manufacturing Services are the primary driver. The others are through-Life Support and Sustainment.
Who are Surface Technology International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NOTE AB, Ultra Electronics (Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions), Benchmark Electronics, TT Electronics, Chemring Group and Plexus Corp. Broad incumbents are Sanmina, Jabil and Thales UK. GKN Aerospace is listed as a regional player.
Does Surface Technology International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Surface Technology International.
What industry is Surface Technology International in?
Surface Technology International's product category is Defence Electronics Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAGAD, Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs), with a secondary code of IMABAFAH, Avionics Displays & Human-Machine Interface (EFIS/HUD/HMD). Its NAICS code is 334418 and its SIC code is 3812.