What Imi Flow Design does

IMI plc is a UK-listed (LSE: IMI) engineered fluid and motion control group headquartered in Birmingham, founded in 1862 and operating across more than 50 countries with a workforce exceeding 10,000. The group designs and manufactures valves, actuators, regulators, and control subsystems for severe-service applications, organised into five sectors: Process Automation (gas, power, hydrogen, nuclear, LNG), Industrial Automation (pneumatic and electric motion for factory automation), Climate Control (HVAC including data centre cooling and smart-building controls via Heatmiser), Life Science & Fluid Control (precision fluid handling for medical devices and laboratories, bolstered by the 2021 Adaptas acquisition), and Transport (commercial vehicle motion and fluid systems).

Revenue is generated through a combination of original equipment sales into OEM specifications and a substantial aftermarket and service stream that contributes approximately 45% of group sales, creating recurring revenue tied to the installed base. The group serves more than 10,000 enterprise customers globally, with engineering-led co-design, ISO 9001-certified manufacturing across 42 of 47 sites, and an enterprise field-sales model. In FY2025, IMI reported revenue of £2,304m, adjusted operating profit of £460.1m (20.0% margin), and adjusted EBITDA of £550m, with 5% organic revenue growth, 96% cash conversion, and 14.0% ROIC.

Recent strategic activity centres on the 2024 One IMI operating model rebrand unifying the five sectors, the TWTG acquisition adding IoT-connected asset monitoring to Process Automation, and the November 2025 announced divestiture of Truflo Marine as portfolio rationalisation. R&D intensity runs at approximately 3% of revenue, supporting new product launches in hydrogen, LNG, small modular reactors, and AI-data-centre cooling, while a refreshed executive team (Chair Jamie Pike from January 2025, CFO Luke Grant from August 2025, COO Jackie Hu from July 2024) is implementing the next phase of the strategy.

Name

Imi Flow Design

Legal name

IMI plc

Website

https://imiplc.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1862

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

IMI plc is a UK-listed engineered fluid and motion control group that designs and manufactures valves, actuators, and control systems for enterprise customers across process automation, industrial automation, climate control, life sciences, and commercial transport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Flow Control

NAICS

Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Sensors & Feedback Devices (Pressure, Flow, Position, Encoders, Transducers) (IMAHAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Filtration, Condition Monitoring & Fluid Management (Filters, Breathers, Oil Analysis, Cooling) (IMAHAGAL)

Keywords

• Fluid control valves
• Motion control systems
• Process automation solutions
• Industrial automation components
• HVAC climate control

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices45 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of engineered bespoke solutions including valves, actuators and controls that are critical to customer system performance
2. Aftermarket and Service: Approximately 45% of sales from aftermarket including service, support infrastructure and parts that convert product sales into long-term customer relationships
3. Custom Engineering Solutions: Bespoke engineering solutions developed in deep partnership with customers, customized solutions that are a small part of their systems but deliver outsized impact

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Imi Flow Design (operating as IMI plc) manufactures and supplies bespoke fluid and motion control products, including engineered valves, actuators, and control systems, applied across HVAC, process automation, industrial automation, life science and transport use cases. It sells engineered solutions directly to enterprise customers across five vertical sectors via sector-focused field sales, and earns approximately 45% of revenue from aftermarket service, support infrastructure and parts.

Product overview

IMI (Imi Flow Design) is a global leader in fluid and motion control offering a portfolio of engineered solutions including valves, actuators, and control systems. The company operates across five sectors: Process Automation (severe service automation for energy, gas, and nuclear), Industrial Automation (pneumatic and electric motion systems), Climate Control (heating/cooling solutions with smart connected products), Life Science & Fluid Control (precision flow technologies for healthcare), and Transport (commercial vehicle solutions). Products are highly engineered and bespoke, typically small in cost but critical in function, serving as essential components in customer systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Valves Advanced flow control valves for critical applications in energy, automation and healthcare markets, including LNG, nuclear, hydrogen and industrial process applications.
• Actuators Precision actuators that work in conjunction with valves to control fluid and motion in demanding industrial environments.
• Control Systems Advanced control systems and smart technologies for automation, monitoring and optimisation of industrial processes.
• Process Automation Solutions Advanced automation solutions for severe service applications including gas, power and nuclear, featuring smart technologies and full lifecycle support to protect people and assets from pressure surges, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maximise reliability.
• Industrial Automation Solutions (Norgren) Pneumatic and electric motion systems for machine builders and end users to automate and optimise manufacturing and warehousing processes.
• Climate Control Solutions Innovative heating and cooling solutions with valves, actuators and digitally connected products for commercial and residential buildings, including data centre cooling.
• Life Science and Fluid Control Solutions Precision flow technologies for diagnostic instruments, life-saving therapies and medical devices including ventilators and anaesthesia machines.
• Transport Solutions Flow control technologies for commercial vehicles covering engine, transmission, chassis, cab controls and thermal management systems, with focus on zero emissions vehicles including battery-electric and fuel cell platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue of £2,304m in 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TWTGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Acquisition in 2024 that accelerates Process Automation with IoT-enabled asset monitoring solutions, expanding IMI's digital capabilities in the sector.
• HeatmisercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Acquisition in 2022 that expanded IMI into smart building solutions with connected thermostatic controls, strengthening the Climate Control sector.
• AdaptascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Acquisition in 2021 that strengthened Life Sciences offering with advanced analytical instrument components, enhancing diagnostic capabilities.
• Growth Hub EcosystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Global innovation engine driving agility, customer-centric solutions, and cultural transformation. Brings together engineering, commercial, operations and data expertise across IMI.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pentair plc: Pentair is a global water solutions company offering flow, filtration, and pump products for pools, residential, and industrial applications. Its flow technologies and water treatment offerings are directly comparable to parts of IMI's flow control portfolio.
• Flowserve Corporation: Flowserve is a leading manufacturer of pumps, valves, seals, and related flow control services for power, oil & gas, and chemical markets. It competes directly with IMI's Process Automation sector in severe-service valves and shares the same installed-base aftermarket economics.
• Watts Water Technologies: Watts Water is a global manufacturer of valves, flow control, and water treatment products serving plumbing, HVAC, and industrial markets. It directly mirrors IMI's Climate Control and flow control offerings, with comparable B2B distribution and an aftermarket component.
• Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin is a global leader in motion and control technologies including pneumatic, hydraulic, and electromechanical systems. Its Industrial segment mirrors IMI's Industrial Automation (Norgren) operations, and its aerospace and climate businesses overlap with IMI's Transport and Climate Control sectors.
• Crane Co. Crane Co. is a diversified industrial manufacturer with significant operations in process flow control, engineered materials, and aerospace. Its process flow technologies overlap directly with IMI's Process Automation valves and actuators portfolio.
• Atlas Copco AB: Atlas Copco is a Swedish industrial group specializing in compressors, vacuum solutions, and industrial tools. Its power and fluid handling businesses overlap with IMI's Industrial Automation and offer a comparable model of high-margin aftermarket service and engineered equipment.
• Spirax Group plc: Spirax Group is a UK-listed thermal energy and fluid control specialist with very similar engineered solutions, severe-service applications, and aftermarket business model. It is the closest publicly-traded comparable to IMI in terms of product portfolio, customer base, and end-market exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Emerson Electric: Emerson Electric is a major industrial automation conglomerate with extensive process automation, valve, and instrumentation offerings. Through its Aspen Technology and NI acquisitions, it is also expanding into software-defined automation that could overlap with IMI's IoT initiatives.
• Honeywell International: Honeywell is a diversified industrial conglomerate with strong process automation, building technologies, and performance materials businesses. Stefano D'Agostino (IMI's Climate Control President) was previously at Honeywell, reflecting the talent overlap and competitive proximity in building automation and HVAC.
• Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management and automation with strong HVAC, building automation, and data center solutions. It overlaps with IMI's Climate Control business and is a major acquirer of industrial automation software and hardware.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imi-plc

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Imi Flow Design