Sparton
Sparton is a publicly traded (NYSE: SPA) U.S. electromechanical device manufacturer, founded in 1916, providing concept development, industrial design, and contract manufacturing of complex electronic and electromechanical systems for defense, medical, and industrial customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1916
- HeadquartersSchaumburg, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sparton does
Sparton is a U.S.-based, publicly traded electromechanical device manufacturer (NYSE: SPA) founded in 1916 and headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, employing between 501 and 1,000 people. The company provides engineering and manufacturing services spanning concept development, industrial design, and production of electromechanical assemblies, with operational footprints in the Americas (United States) and Asia-Pacific (India).
Sparton's core product offering centers on electromechanical devices and complex electronic systems, supplied into mission-critical end markets. The historical product set has included sonobuoys and other naval/defense electronics, medical devices, and industrial sensing/control hardware — categories that require AS9100/ISO-grade quality systems, long qualification cycles, and engineering depth in mechanical, electronic, and firmware integration. The company's technology base combines mechanical engineering, electronics manufacturing, and embedded systems design, with in-house industrial design capabilities (evidenced by a Director of Design Engineering on staff).
Commercially, Sparton operates as a contract design and original equipment manufacturer, generating revenue through program-based and contract manufacturing engagements rather than consumer pricing models. Public pricing details are not disclosed, consistent with a B2B/government-contract model where unit prices are negotiated per program. The company's growth model from 2010 through 2015 was driven by an aggressive acquisition program — completing at least 13 disclosed transactions across EMS, marine electronics, medical systems, and display subsystems — indicating a roll-up strategy focused on capability extension and vertical integration rather than organic headcount expansion.
Sparton firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sparton
- Website
- https://sparton.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1916
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Sparton is a publicly traded (NYSE: SPA) U.S. electromechanical device manufacturer, founded in 1916, providing concept development, industrial design, and contract manufacturing of complex electronic and electromechanical systems for defense, medical, and industrial customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sparton industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronics Manufacturing Services
- NAICS
- Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing (3359)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) (IMAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ruggedized/Harsh-Environment Electronics Manufacturing (IP-rated, shock/vibration, wide-temp) (IMAGAGAF), Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD)
Keywords
Where Sparton is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schaumburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Sparton business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Sparton product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sparton provides electromechanical devices with capabilities that include concept development, industrial design, and contract manufacturing services. The company supports OEM customers across medical, defense, and industrial markets through an integrated engineering-to-production model, operating manufacturing facilities in the United States and India.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Electromechanical device design and manufacturing
Companies that use Sparton
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Sparton technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sparton partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Sparton competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sanmina: Large-scale EMS and ODM company with defense/aerospace, medical, and industrial communications businesses that overlap with Sparton's core verticals.
- Jabil: Global tier-1 EMS provider with broad end-market exposure including defense, medical, and industrial; competes with Sparton on complex electronic assemblies and design services for mid-to-large OEMs.
- Ultra Electronics: UK-listed defense and aerospace electronics specialist with significant overlap to Sparton's defense ruggedized electronics business; relevant as both a competitor and as a strategic acquirer of similar defense-EMS assets.
- Flex Ltd: One of the world's largest EMS/ODM providers (formerly Flextronics), serving industrial, medical, defense, and automotive OEMs across global geographies — a broad incumbent against whom Sparton competes for the same mid-volume complex-electronics programs.
Direct peers
- Kimball Electronics: Mid-tier EMS focused on durable, high-reliability electronics for medical, automotive, and industrial end markets — comparable in scale and complexity orientation to Sparton.
- Creation Technologies: Mid-market EMS focused on complex, mission-critical electronics for aerospace/defense, medical, and industrial — a comparable scale and end-market peer.
- Benchmark Electronics: Mid-to-large tier EMS provider focused on complex, high-mix, low-to-mid-volume programs in aerospace/defense, medical, and industrial — closely matching Sparton's positioning and customer profile.
- Celestica: Global EMS provider with Aerospace & Defense and Industrial businesses that mirror Sparton's defense/industrial complex-assembly focus, though at a larger scale.
- Plexus Corp: Mid-tier EMS specializing in complex, regulated products for medical, aerospace/defense, and industrial markets — a near-direct peer in scale, customer mix, and service offering.
- Spectrum Control (formerly API Technologies): Designer and manufacturer of ruggedized electronic components and subsystems for defense, aerospace, and industrial — directly comparable to Sparton's ruggedized/harsh-environment electronics portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Sparton social profiles
Digital presenceSparton financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sparton leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sparton funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sparton M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A13 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sparton
What does Sparton do?
Sparton provides electromechanical devices with capabilities that include concept development, industrial design, and contract manufacturing services. The company supports OEM customers across medical, defense, and industrial markets through an integrated engineering-to-production model, operating manufacturing facilities in the United States and India.
When was Sparton founded?
Sparton was founded in 1916. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Sparton based?
Sparton is headquartered in Schaumburg, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Sparton's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sanmina, Jabil, Ultra Electronics and Flex Ltd. Direct peers are Kimball Electronics, Creation Technologies, Benchmark Electronics, Celestica, Plexus Corp and Spectrum Control (formerly API Technologies).
Does Sparton have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sparton.
What industry is Sparton in?
Sparton's product category is Electronics Manufacturing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAGAA, Industrial Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), with a secondary code of IMAGAGAF, Ruggedized/Harsh-Environment Electronics Manufacturing (IP-rated, shock/vibration, wide-temp). Its NAICS code is 33531 and its SIC code is 3600.