Discover how Norautron’s electronic manufacturing services drive innovation and growth across diverse sectors
Specializing in electronic manufacturing services (EMS), Norautron was founded in 1989, and has established its reputation ever since. As a service provider with a long-standing track record, the company possesses specialized employee skills, close ties with distribution channels, and unparalleled manufacturing expertise. All these elements are crucial for understanding and meeting customer needs effectively. Norautron offers flexible and cost-effective solutions that help improve its customers’ competitive edge. These services include industrialization, manufacturing, new product introduction (NPI), prototyping, product lifecycle management, and after-sales support. Thanks to its commitment to quality, Norautron has achieved consistent and profitable growth over the years. Bjørn Einar Brath, Chief Executive Officer, tells us more about the company’s journey from its inception to the present day.
“Since our early days in 1989, in the town of Horten, Norway, we’ve always prioritized a policy of organic growth. Today, we serve nearly 150 customers and are approaching revenue of three billion Norwegian kroner. Over the last eight-to-ten years, we have experienced significant expansion, marking fantastic milestones in our history as we expanded geographically. In 2000, we established our presence in Sweden, followed by our entry into China in 2005. In fact, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our operation in China last year. We then expanded to Poland in 2014 and 2015, launching both our electronics and mechanics businesses. In 2024, we proudly opened a facility in Malaysia as part of our expansion in the Asian market. At present, we have a presence in China, Malaysia, Poland, Sweden, and our headquarters in Norway,” he begins.
In fact, just two weeks prior to our conversation, Norautron signed a contract for a brand-new facility in Norway. “We’re starting that now, and we have a plan to move in mid-2027,” Bjørn reveals. “This significant new headquarters will increase capacity, consolidate production, warehousing, and logistics under one roof, and will incorporate solar panels for energy efficiency.”
All these facilities create and deliver Norautron’s product and service portfolio, which is diversified across multiple segments. With a strong legacy and competence in the maritime and ocean industries, where it first established itself, the company has built a particularly solid reputation in this market. Additionally, Norautron is active in the industrial sector, for which it manufactures printed circuit boards (PCBs), control boards and more. The company has experienced significant growth in the electricity and energy sector over the last six years, particularly through its collaboration with a key client, Easee, which specializes in electric vehicle chargers. Recently, Norautron has made a strategic shift towards the defense and aerospace markets, highlighted by a major contract with Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (Kongsberg). The company enjoys a positive partnership with Kongsberg in this field and is actively exploring further growth opportunities there. It has also dedicated a special area of its facility to deliver the Kongsberg contract.
While Norautron also engages in the connectivity, computing and healthcare markets, most of its revenue continues to be generated from its activities in the maritime and ocean sectors in addition to electricity and energy and strong growth in the defense and aerospace sector.
The defense sector
Expanding further on the recent Kongsberg contract, Bjørn explains how this opportunity will empower Norautron to strengthen its presence in the defense sector. “As we enter the defense and aerospace areas, we have a forecast for approximately 500 million Norwegian kroner for defense systems within Kongsberg. A contract of this size in the defense sector marks a massive breakthrough for us. While we are also exploring broader opportunities in this market, this contract is a very good start to fostering a long-term relationship with Kongsberg, and we are beginning to see an increase in volume. Additionally, we are competing in the EMS market in an organic way for further expansion. This experience has proved to us that customers trust us for our quality, commitment and the close collaboration we have with the Kongsberg group.” Norautron will also investigate strategic in-organic growth, where applicable, to become an even stronger player in the future.
“We focus on automation, embracing smart production techniques such as robotics and lean manufacturing methods. All our facilities around the world are equipped with similar SMT lines, which makes us very flexible in moving jobs from one site to another. We adopt a unified group approach, recognizing the strategic importance of operating as a cohesive unit rather than as individual companies around the world doing whatever they want. This collective mindset benefits us in planning jobs, switching products, and standardizing processes across our sites. Our planning teams operate in a consistent manner, and we implement our HSSE quality systems uniformly across each Norautron location. Furthermore, this approach is particularly beneficial as we start our operations in Malaysia. As we begin to ramp up volume production there, it is crucial for us to ensure that we establish the same procedures and standards as we do in every other country,” he enlightens.
Going forward, the new operation in Malaysia is expected to facilitate further growth across Asia for the company. It is crucial for Norautron to maintain the flexibility to adapt to geopolitical factors, including those occurring in Asia. This flexibility allows clients to shift operations easily between China and Malaysia, which is particularly significant given the extensive shipyards and shipbuilding activities occurring throughout Asia. Indeed, this strategic positioning is one of the main reasons why Norautron has established a presence in the region. Moreover, the company sees a highly dynamic market in Asia when it comes to innovation, making its presence on the continent more essential. With two established sites in Asia, Norautron also benefits from competitive production costs, which promise even greater expansion potential in the future.
Norautron’s journey since 1989 exemplifies the power of strategic organic growth and adaptation. Recognizing the evolution of the company and its strong legacy in the maritime industry, in October 2025 it was acquired by Norvestor Advisory, a leading private equity company focusing on mid-market buyouts in the Nordic region. “We have some of the world’s most admired and demanding companies as our customers, and with Norvestor onboard as a partner we plan to grow our footprint and further strengthen our capacity and capabilities, continuing to deliver to the high expectations of our customers,” notes Bjørn.
Norvestor’s support will be pivotal to deliver the next phase of Norautron’s development. As it continues to embrace organic growth while partnering with industry leaders like Kongsberg, Norautron not only solidifies its reputation for quality but also paves the way for sustainable expansion in an increasingly interconnected global landscape.
