What Nautech does

Nautech is a New Zealand-based contract electronics manufacturer (CEM) headquartered at 120 Cryers Road, East Tamaki, Auckland, operating from a single facility with 60+ technical specialists. Founded in 1989 by Andrew and Alison Turner as a home-based marine electronics installation business, the company evolved into a high-reliability electronics manufacturer serving regulated industries: MedTech, Aerospace and Defence, AgriTech and Environmental, and Industrial and Marine. Its core service offering comprises four integrated lines — Printed Circuit Board Assembly (SMT and through-hole), Box-build Product Assembly, Testing Services (including FAI, 3D AOI, X-ray, HALT/HASS), and Product Design and Development — delivered as end-to-end programs from concept through production.

The underlying technology stack includes surface-mount and through-hole assembly lines, advanced inspection technologies, HALT/HASS environmental chambers, conformal coating, laser etching, and nitrogen gas generation. Production operations run on ASPECT MES (adopted 2020) for real-time process monitoring, Cluso smart inventory management for component-level traceability, and in-house traceability software capturing operator-level activity. Nautech holds ISO 13485 (medical devices, achieved 2025), ISO 9001, and IPC-A-610 certifications, with AS 9100D (aerospace/defence) currently in progress.

The business model is project-based contract manufacturing: pricing is quote-based and determined by complexity, volume, and certification requirements, with revenue generated through enterprise engagements in regulated industries. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales supported by content marketing, contact-form lead capture, and industry association memberships (Aerospace New Zealand, NZIAD). Customer mix spans enterprise MedTech firms (Tristel, Swaltech, CS-20A), government (NZ Police, Queensland Police, NZ Defence Force), research customers, and select startups. Since 2024, Nautech has operated as part of the Circuitwise Group following acquisition by Circuitwise Electronics, retaining NZ operations while gaining trans-Tasman manufacturing capability. Current leadership is headed by CEO Laurie Kubiak.

Name

Nautech

Legal name

Nautech Electronics Ltd

Website

https://nautech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Nautech is a New Zealand-based contract electronics manufacturer (60+ staff, Auckland) that delivers PCBA, box-build, testing, and design services to enterprise clients in regulated industries including MedTech, Aerospace and Defence, AgriTech, and Industrial/Marine. The firm operates within the Circuitwise Group since 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

East Tamaki

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electronics Manufacturing Services: Contract manufacturing of precision electronic assemblies including PCBA (SMT and through-hole), box-build product assembly, testing services, and product design/development. Revenue is generated through project-based manufacturing contracts with organisations in regulated industries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Nautech is a New Zealand-based contract electronics manufacturer that designs and manufactures high-reliability electronic assemblies. Its core offerings span Printed Circuit Board Assembly (SMT and through-hole), box-build product assembly, testing services, and product design and development, delivered from its Auckland facility for clients in regulated industries including MedTech, Aerospace, Defence, AgriTech, Environmental, Industrial, and Marine.

Product overview

Nautech is a New Zealand-based contract electronics manufacturer offering a unified suite of four core services: Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA), Box-build Product Assembly, Testing Services, and Product Design and Development. These services work together as an integrated electronics manufacturing offering, supporting customers from early concept and design through to PCB assembly, functional testing, final product integration, and packaging. The company specializes in high-reliability, regulated-industry applications across MedTech, Aerospace and Defence, AgriTech and Environmental, and Industrial and Marine sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) Surface mount technology (SMT) and through-hole PCBA services with advanced inspection including FAI, 3D AOI, and X-ray capabilities. Supports rapid prototyping, new product introduction (NPI), and production-scale assembly for customers in regulated industries.
• Box-build Product Assembly
• Testing Services Comprehensive testing including functional test development, test fixture integration, HALT/HASS environmental testing, automated optical inspection (AOI), X-ray inspection, and first article inspection (FAI).
• Product Design and Development Electronic hardware design, PCB layout, embedded firmware development, prototyping, design-for-manufacture (DFM), and design validation services supporting transition from concept to production-ready electronics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Unique clean room facilities in Australasian contract electronics manufacturing

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 minor.

• Circuitwise GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Nautech was acquired by Circuitwise Electronics in 2024, expanding trans-Tasman manufacturing capability. As part of the Circuitwise Group (pre-eminent electronics manufacturing services provider in Australasia), Nautech maintains its own operations and brand while benefiting from connected capability and innovation.
• ASLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASL in Christchurch operates alongside Nautech as part of the Circuitwise Group's New Zealand manufacturing footprint, providing secure and controlled production environment for clients in critical sectors.
• Aerospace New ZealandminorOthersIndustry association membership supporting growth of New Zealand's aerospace technology sector through industry engagement and education.
• NZIAD (New Zealand Defence Industry Association)minorOthersIndustry association membership for New Zealand defence industry engagement and representation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NOTE AB: Sweden-headquartered EMS company serving industrial, MedTech, and defense customers across Northern Europe. Comparable as a mid-market EMS focused on high-mix, regulated end markets with a similar vertically integrated service model.
• Neways Electronics International: European-based EMS provider serving industrial, automotive, medical, and semiconductor customers with PCBA, box-build, and full product lifecycle services. Comparable as a mid-tier regulated-industry-focused EMS with a similar high-mix, high-reliability positioning.
• Scanfil: Finnish-listed global EMS provider with strong focus on industrial, MedTech, and energy customers. Comparable as a mid-tier contract electronics manufacturer with regulated-industry specialization similar to Nautech's positioning.
• Compudigm: New Zealand-based contract electronics manufacturer providing PCBA and product assembly services. Direct peer operating in the same NZ contract manufacturing space with comparable mid-market service offerings.
• Qualitel: US-based contract electronics manufacturer specializing in high-reliability PCBA for medical, aerospace, and industrial customers. Comparable as a smaller-scale, quality-focused EMS targeting the same regulated end markets as Nautech.
• Mack Technologies: US-based mid-market EMS company providing PCBA, box-build, and testing for medical, aerospace/defense, and industrial customers. Comparable scale and vertical mix to Nautech, with similar regulated-industry focus and high-mix, high-reliability positioning.
• Enatel: New Zealand-based electronics manufacturer specializing in power conversion and energy products, operating in regulated industrial and telecommunications markets. Comparable as a NZ-headquartered electronics design and manufacturing business serving specialized industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• Circuitwise Electronics: Acquirer of Nautech and parent group entity; an Australasian EMS provider offering contract electronics manufacturing including PCBA, box-build, and testing. Highly comparable service portfolio and customer base, and the relevant benchmark for Nautech's trans-Tasman growth trajectory.

Emerging players

• Inventure Electronics: European mid-market EMS provider serving industrial, automotive, and medical customers. Comparable in scale and service mix to Nautech as a regional contract electronics manufacturer with a regulated-industry vertical focus.
• Bitron Electronics: Italian-headquartered electronics manufacturer serving automotive, appliance, and industrial markets. Comparable as a mid-tier electronics manufacturer with similar PCBA and box-build capabilities targeting regulated industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Nautech