EMS@C-LEVEL
As Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company and SCOOP writer, Philip Stoten, continues to talk to EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) executives he learns more about their individual and collective experiences and their expectations for their own businesses and for the entire electronic manufacturing industry.
EMS@C-LEVEL
Defense Deals And Nordic Expansion from Kitron Group: EMS@C-Level with CEO Peter Nilsson
A Nordic acquisition with outsized impact: I sit down with Kitron Group President and CEO Peter Nilsson to unpack why bringing DeltaNordic into the Kitron family is more than a geographic play. It unlocks entrenched capability in electrical cabinets and control boards for combat vehicles and naval platforms, backed by fresh orders and the kind of incumbency that turns programs into multi-year revenue. We connect the dots between tier-one defense relationships, predictable volumes, and a growth path that targets 1.5 billion euros in top line by 2030. There's also an enthusiastic testimonial here for the great insight provided, and work done, by Shaan Tharani at MP Corporate Finance in supporting and advising Kitron in their M&A activity.
What makes this strategy work is the one-company operating model. Shared production platforms, common equipment, unified processes, and the same training and incentives across sites build speed that scales. That cohesion pays off when a site faces an end-of-product-life issue or a customer shift; the group can redeploy talent, rebalance load, and protect margins. Peter explains how this approach turns footprint into agility, and why integration discipline is the quiet engine behind reliable delivery in defense and beyond.
We also map the market terrain for 2026. Connectivity looks set for the fastest growth thanks to short product cycles and rapid innovation. Industrial shows a gentle rebound. Electrification holds steady after a surge, with data center-driven storage and grid upgrades still critical. Medical remains the smallest slice, but targeted moves into high-level assembly and carve-outs could unlock fresh value by letting OEMs focus on R&D and go-to-market while EMS partners scale manufacturing. Along the way, we discuss Europe’s M&A appetite, cash-rich balance sheets, and why selective acquisitions amplify organic growth rather than replace it.
If you’re tracking defense supply chains, EMS strategy, or how standardized operations beat complexity, this conversation offers a clear view of what’s next. Follow, share with a colleague who watches the Nordic EMS space, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so we can keep raising the bar.
EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org)
You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.