Top 15 Largest European Electronics Companies

The largest European electronics companies are some of the world's most successful and influential businesses. Consumer electronics is a highly competitive market in Europe, with a variety of both locally and globally known companies competing for strong revenue and visibility. However, these companies have continued and revolutionized how we interact with our environment with their cutting-edge technology.

But what exactly is an electronics company? Investopedia defines an electronics company as "a business that manufactures or sells electronic components, products, and systems used in communications, computing, entertainment, security, and other industries".

In this article, we will look at the Top 15 largest European electronics companies and further explore their impact on the global market. Certainly, these companies have been around for over a century and have dominated the global market. Let us explore each company in more detail, further, gain insight into their operations and success stories.

In this article,

• 1. ASML Holding
• 2. Medtronic
• 3. ABB
• 4. Infineon Technologies AG
• 5. NXP Semiconductors
• 6. STMicroelectronics
• 7. TE Connectivity
• 8. Nokia
• 9. PHILIPS
• 10. Logitech International
• 11. RS Group PLC (ELECTROCOMPONENTS)
• 12. Belimo Holding AG
• 13. BE Semiconductor Industries
• 14. AB Electrolux (PUBL)
• 15. Nordic Semiconductor ASA

Top 15 Major Players in Electronics Industry

These are the top 15 European companies in the electronics industry based on market capitalization as of February 2023.

Market capitalization or market cap measures a company's size and value, calculated by multiplying the current share price by the total number of outstanding shares. To sum up, it provides an idea of the company's size and can be used to compare companies across different industries. It is also used to measure the relative value of a company compared to its peers or competitors.

Generally, larger companies have higher market capitalizations and are considered safer investments than small-cap companies. Market capitalization also determines whether a takeover candidate represents a good value to the acquirer.

List of Top 15 largest European Electronics Companies

Products and Services Offered by the largest European Electronics Companies:

These leading companies' major products range from consumer electronics to industrial components and more. In the same vein, they're constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of technology, making them leaders in their respective fields. Certainly, from smartphones to smart home devices, these companies have something for everyone.

1. ASML Holding

ASML Holding N.V. tops the largest European electronics companies list and is the sole supplier of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) photolithography machines used to manufacture the most advanced chips. It is a Dutch multinational corporation founded in 1984 that specializes in developing and manufacturing photolithography machines for the semiconductor industry.

Certainly, they are the most highly valued European tech company by market capitalization. ASML is committed to producing the most advanced semiconductors at below 5 nm towards 2 nm and has subsequently acquired the German optical glassmaker Berliner Glas Group to meet the increasing need for components for its EUV systems.

Their high-end TWINSCAN NXT:1950i system is used for producing features down to 32 nanometres at up to 200 wafers per hour, utilizing a water immersion lens and an argon fluoride laser. The company also offers extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines that produce light in the 13.3–13.7 nm wavelength range and nanoimprint lithography.

Moreover, the photolithography machines they produce are used in the production of computer chips and have a worldwide customer base and over 60 service points in 16 countries. The company is listed on the AEX and NASDAQ Stock Exchanges and is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 and NASDAQ-100. ASML employs more than 31,000 people from 120 nationalities and relies on a network of more than 4,600 tier-1 suppliers.

Customers of ASML Holding include all of the world's largest chipmakers, such as Intel, Samsung, TSMC, and GlobalFoundries, which employ its product portfolio to create a wide range of semiconductor chips. The company has won several awards, such as The IEEE Spectrum Emerging Technology 2018 Award for its Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography system.

2. Medtronic

Medtronic develops and manufactures medical healthcare technologies and therapies with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and operational headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded by Earl Bakken and Palmer Hermundslie in 1949, the company has grown to become one of the largest European electronics companies, moreover, a global leader in medical device innovation and therapy.

The company develops and manufactures healthcare technologies and therapies for more than 30 chronic diseases, such as heart failure, Parkinson's disease, urinary incontinence, Down syndrome, obesity, chronic pain, spinal disorders, and diabetes. In addition, its product portfolio includes pacemakers, brain pacemakers, implantable pacemakers, manual ENT and laparoscopic surgical instruments, a smart insulin pen system, titanium spine implants, differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation, coronary artery disease technology, and laparoscopic and robotic scopes.

Medtronic operates in more than 150 countries and employs over 90,000 people. Furthermore, they have made numerous acquisitions over the years, including Covidien in 2015, Bellco in 2016, HeartWare International in 2016, and Mazor Robotics in 2018. Medtronic was ranked as the world's largest medical device company by 2017 revenues; consequently, it has been listed as the largest corporate tax inversion in history. Above all, the company continues to be a leader in the European medical device industry and works to improve the quality of life of patients worldwide.

3. ABB

ABB is a Swiss engineering and technology firm that manufactures Power Grids, Electrification Products, Industrial Automation, Robotics and Motion, and Cyber Security with a presence in more than 100 countries worldwide. Founded in 1988 when Sweden's Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA) and Switzerland's Brown, Boveri & Cie merged to create ASEA Brown Boveri. The multinational corporation is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland and further traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zürich, Nasdaq Stockholm in Sweden, and the New York Stock Exchange in the United States.

In 2018 it became the title partner of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, the world's first fully electric international FIA motorsport series. They have consistently been ranked in the Fortune Global 500 list for 24 years and, until 2020, was Switzerland's biggest industrial employer. In 2020, ABB sold its Power Grids division to Hitachi Energy, and the subsequently continues to focus on renewable energy and transmission and distribution.

As one of the largest European electronics companies, moreover, the company has a long history of acquisitions, including Westinghouse Electric's transmission and distribution assets, Cincinnati Milacron's robotics business, Alfa Laval's automation unit, Elsag Bailey Process Automation, and ABB Alstom Power, and Ber-Mac Electrical and Instrumentation.

4.  Infineon Technologies AG

Infineon Technologies AG is one of the top electronics companies in Europe. The German semiconductor manufacturer was founded in 1999. It has about 50,000 employees, consequently making it one of the ten largest semiconductor manufacturing company worldwide.

Infineon markets semiconductors and systems for automotive, industrial, and multimarket sectors, as well as chip card and security products, with subsidiaries in the US, Asia-Pacific region, and Europe.

The company is listed in the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and operates across four business areas: Automotive (ATV), Industrial Power Control (IPC), Power & Sensor Systems (PSS), and Connected Secure Systems (CSS).

Over the years, Infineon has also made many acquisitions and divestitures, notably buying ADMtek in 2004, International Rectifier Corporation in 2015, and Cypress Semiconductor in 2020, as well as selling its RF Power Business Unit to Cree Inc. in 2018.

5. NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors N.V. is a Dutch semiconductor designer and manufacturer headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Founded as a spin-off from Philips in 2006, NXP further completed its initial public offering in 2010 with shares trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

In 2015, NXP merged with Freescale Semiconductor, and after that, it acquired Jennic, a provider of ZigBee and JenNet-IP technology. Other notable acquisitions subsequently include Code Red Technologies, a provider of embedded software development, and OmniPHY, an automotive Ethernet subsystem technology provider.

NXP has since become one of the largest European electronics companies, employing over 31,000 people with operations and joint ventures in various countries worldwide, such as the US, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, and China.

The company is a volume supplier of discrete and standard logic devices and provides technology solutions targeting the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets and owns over 9,500 patent families, making it on 5th rank on the list of largest European electronics companies.

They are a co-inventor of near field communication (NFC) technology and supply NFC chip sets that enable mobile phones to be used to pay for goods, and store and exchange data securely. NXP also manufactures chips for eGovernment applications such as electronic passports, RFID tags, and labels; and transport and access management.

6. STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a Dutch multinational corporation and technology company of French-Italian origin headquartered in Plan-les-Ouates near Geneva, Switzerland, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris, and Borsa Italiana Milano.

The company resulted from the merger of two government-owned semiconductor companies in 1987: Thomson Semiconducteurs of France and SGS Microelettronica of Italy. As one of the leading players in the semiconductor industry, the company has a presence in more than 55 countries worldwide and manufacturing facilities in five continents, with manufacturing facilities in France, Italy, and other location across Europe.

They have participated in the consolidation of the semiconductor industry since its formation, with acquisitions including Inmos, Nortel's semiconductor activities, VLSI-Vision CMOS Image Sensor research & development company, WaferScale Integration Inc., Alcatel's Microelectronics division, and Genesis Microchip.

STMicroelectronics has subsequently grown over the years and has become a leader in the smartcard industry with its innovative products, acquiring various companies and forming joint ventures with other tech giants like Intel, NXP Semiconductors, Ericsson, and Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies. Their joint venture with Intel called Numonyx focuses on memory application, research, and development.

Its products range from microcontrollers, and automotive integrated circuits, to sensors and power management integrated circuits used in various applications such as consumer electronics, automobiles, and industrial equipment.

7. TE Connectivity

TE Connectivity is an American Swiss-domiciled technology company specializing in designing and manufacturing connectors and sensors for various industries.

It has a global workforce of 89,000 employees, serving customers in approximately 140 countries. Founded in 1941 as Aircraft and Marine Products, the company has had a long history of innovation, adapting to the changing post-war economy and later changing its name to AMP Incorporated in 1956. In 1999, Tyco International acquired the company, and in 2007 it split into three publicly independent companies. Subsequently, Tyco Electronics Ltd changed its name in 2011 to TE Connectivity Ltd.

They offer products for communications, transportation, industrial and medical applications. Its products are used in home appliances, automotive industry, factory automation, intelligent building products, high-speed trains, metros, medical industry, commercial aerospace industry, military aviation, marine, ground vehicles, oil and gas industry, civil marine industry, and shipboard applications. It also provides components for the solar and lighting industry. 

8. Nokia

Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational telecommunications, technology, and electronics corporation, established in 1865. Throughout its 150-year history, Nokia has operated in various industries, ranging from pulp milling to telecommunications infrastructure, technology development, and licensing.

The company has made significant contributions to the mobile telephony industry, assisting in developing the GSM, 3G, and LTE standards. It has also experimented with virtual reality and digital health technologies.

It also had a strong presence in the mobile phone market from 1998 to 2014, during which time it became the largest worldwide vendor of mobile phones and smartphones. However, after subsequent market struggles and its partnership with Microsoft, Microsoft bought Nokia's mobile phone business in 2014.

Since then, Nokia has focused more on its telecommunications infrastructure business and Internet of Things technologies, marked by the divestiture of its Here mapping division and the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent. The Nokia brand returned to the mobile and smartphone market in 2016 through a licensing arrangement with HMD Global.

With over 92,000 employees across over 100 countries, it is one of the largest European companies, moreover, it is currently the world's third-largest network equipment manufacturer. It is a public limited company listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchange and is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index.

9. PHILIPS

Koninklijke Philips N.V., commonly known as Philips, is one of the largest electronics companies in Europe. Founded in 1891 by Dutch-Jewish entrepreneur Gerard Philips and his father Frederik, the company initially produced light bulbs and other electro-technical products from its factory in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Over the years, it has become a multinational conglomerate with operations in 100 countries and 80,000 employees.

The company specializes in health technology, lighting, and consumer electronics. Philips has a primary listing on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange and is a Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index component.

Philips has a long history of producing innovative products, from light bulbs to electric shavers to portable audio devices. They have a strong lighting division, which produces products ranging from residential lighting to professional fixtures for the entertainment industry. The company has recently focused on health technology, such as medical imaging systems, patient monitoring systems, and healthcare informatics.

10. Logitech International

Logitech International S.A. is a Swiss multinational manufacturer of computer peripherals and software, with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Newark, California, with offices throughout Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.

Founded in 1981 by Stanford alumni Daniel Borel and Pierluigi Zappacosta, and former Olivetti engineer Giacomo Marini, Logitech has subsequently become one of the world's leading manufacturers of input and interface devices for personal computers (PCs) and other digital products. It is a component of the flagship Swiss Market Index and is traded as Logicool (ロジクール) in Japan.

Logitech's product lines range from computer peripherals, remote controls, security cameras, mice, and keyboards to webcams, computer speakers, and accessories for smartphones and tablet keyboards and covers. They have also developed video collaboration products, flagship computer accessories (mice and keyboards) under the Logitech MX label, gamepads under the Logitech F label, and wired and wireless audio wearables for sports and active lifestyles under the Jaybird and Ultimate Ears brands, respectively.

The company has acquired several other companies, including Labtec in 2001, Lifesize Communications in 2009, Mirial in 2011, Saitek from Mad Catz in 2016, Astro Gaming in 2017, and Blue Microphones in 2018.

11. RS Group PLC (ELECTROCOMPONENTS)

RS Group plc is one of the largest electronics companies in Europe. It is a British industrial and electronics distributor based in London, England, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The company was founded by J.H. Waring and P.M. Sebestyen as Radiospares in 1937 and was first listed on the London Stock Exchange as Electrocomponents in 1967.

The company initially supplied radio repair shops with spare parts and components but evolved into a large national distributor by the end of the Second World War. In 1954, the founders of Radiospares expanded the company's focus to the industrial sector and began selling electronic components to manufacturers. It also trades under the brands RS, Allied Electronics, and OKdo and has operations in more than 80 countries, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa.

RS Group plc distributes over 600,000 products globally, including electronic components, electrical, automation and control, test and measurement equipment, and engineering tools and consumables.

They have won multiple awards, such as the Turnaround of the Year Award at the PLC Awards 2016, UKTI Digital Business of the Year at the 2014 National Business Awards, and Queen's Award for Enterprise for continuous achievement in international trade. RS Group plc has made several investments in companies such as ACR Capital Reinsurance, Action, Audley Travel, ESP Utilities Group, Formel D, and VNU Business Media.

12. Belimo Holding AG

The company is a Swiss-based company founded in 1975 and headquartered in Hinwil, Switzerland. BELIMO develops, manufactures, and markets actuators and control valves for controlling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Meanwhile, the new product offering includes integrated sensors and control electronics using ASICs.

BELIMO Holding AG has been listed on the Swiss stock exchange since 1995. It has expanded over the years with subsidiaries in many countries, such as Spain, Austria, Great Britain, France, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Poland, Sweden, Australia, India, and China.

In 2020, they acquired Montreal-based Opera Electronics Inc., a specialist for gas detectors and sensors to monitor air quality. As a result of its innovation and growth, BELIMO has won multiple awards in recent years, such as the ControlTends (US) Best Technical Support Company for Large Manufacturer Award in 2020 and the German trade magazine CCI (HVAC industry) Confidence Award in 2020.

13. BE Semiconductor Industries

BE Semiconductor Industries N.V., also known as Besi, is a worldwide corporation based in the Netherlands that develops and manufactures semiconductor equipment. Richard Blickman started the firm in May of 1995 and continues to serve as its CEO. They employ 2,040 people, 200 of whom work at its headquarters in Duiven, a small Dutch town in the east.

The company outsources manufacturing to its Chinese and Malaysian companies. In addition, it runs seven sites in Asia and Europe for manufacturing and research, as well as eight sales and support offices in Europe, Asia, and North America.

They create cutting-edge assembly processes and equipment for leadframe, substrate, and wafer-level packaging applications in various end-user areas, such as electronics, mobile internet, cloud server, computing, automotive, industrial, LED, and solar energy. Moreover, their customers are largely multinational chip manufacturers, assembly subcontractors, and electronic and industrial corporations.

Besi is a publicly traded corporation. Its shares are listed under the BESI ticker symbol on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange.

14. AB Electrolux (PUBL)

Electrolux is a Swedish multinational home appliance manufacturer headquartered in Stockholm. Founded in 1919, it originated from a merger of two companies - Lux AB and Svenska Elektron AB. Since then, it has continually expanded through mergers and acquisitions. They have a primary listing on the Stockholm Stock Exchange and are a constituent of the OMX Stockholm 30 index.

The company produces a wide range of products, including refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, food service equipment, and more. Their products are sold in the Americas, Europe, Oceania, and the Middle East under various brand names, such as Electrolux ICON, Eureka, Chef, Molteni, and Tornado, which are primarily intended for home consumer use. Their slogan is "Shape living for the better".

Electrolux has subsequently acquired numerous companies, including ElektroHelios, AEG, Faure, Frigidaire, and Zanussi. Moreover, it is consistently ranked as the second largest appliance manufacturer in the world by units sold, after Whirlpool, and taking the 14th spot in the list of the largest European electronics companies.

15. Nordic Semiconductor ASA

Completing the list of the largest European electronics companies—Nordic Semiconductor. Nordic Semiconductor is a Norwegian fabless technology company specializing in designing ultra-low-power wireless communication semiconductors and supporting software for engineers developing and manufacturing IoT (Internet of Things) products.

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Trondheim, Norway. Nordic Semiconductor has been ISO 9001 certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) since 1996. It is a member of various industry associations, including ANT Alliance, Bluetooth Special Interest Group, Thread Group, Connectivity Standards Alliance, Wi-Fi Alliance, GSMA, and the Zephyr Project.

The company's primary SoC and SiP hardware products support wireless technologies, protocols, and standards, such as Bluetooth LE and BLE mesh, Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, Matter, LTE-M, and NB-IoT, as well as proprietary 5G DECT NR and 2.4 GHz ISM band communication.

End-user applications and products developed by Nordic Semiconductor include consumer electronics; wireless headphones and LE audio gear; wireless mobile phone accessories; wireless gamepad, mouse, and keyboard; intelligent sports equipment; wireless medical; remote control; wireless voice-audio applications; security; wireless navigation hardware; and toys. In addition, their industrial and commercial IoT applications include health, asset tracking, metering (gas/water/electricity), smart homes, and building automation.

Conclusion

The top 15 largest European electronics companies have been identified as some of the most successful and innovative in the world. That is to say, these companies are responsible for producing a wide range of products, from consumer electronics to industrial equipment. Moreover, they have achieved success through their commitment to innovation and quality and their ability to stay ahead of the competition. Their success evidently has enabled them to become significant players in the global electronics market, providing customers with reliable and cutting-edge products, such as pcb and pcb assembly service. As technology continues to evolve, these companies, with their long history and impressive market cap, certainly will remain at the forefront of innovation and continue to provide customers with the best possible products for many years to come. These are just a few examples of the many large electronics companies significantly contributing to modern society.