# SMITHS GROUP PLC

Summary updated: 2026-10-02T10:05:02.612002Z
Canonical: https://finbar.com/research/companies/smiths-group

## Overview

Smiths Group plc is a UK-headquartered engineering company whose stated purpose is “engineering a better future.” Following the FY2026 sales of Smiths Interconnect and Smiths Detection, its continuing businesses are John Crane, which supplies mechanical seals, seal-support systems, couplings and filtration solutions, and Flex-Tek, which makes engineered components and thermal solutions for managing liquids and gases. Their customers span energy and process industries, construction and aerospace. [1](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/our-purpose-and-culture) [2](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-detection-sale) [3](https://www.smiths.com/our-businesses/john-crane) [4](https://www-live.smiths.com/our-businesses/flex-tek)

For FY2026, continuing-operations revenue was £1,937 million. Smiths says it operates in about 50 countries; its company history page reports more than 16,000 employees. The company traces its origins to Samuel Smith’s London watchmaking shop, opened in 1851. [5](https://forge.smiths.com/media/lf1dpygf/smiths-group-plc-annual-results-2026-slides.pdf) [6](https://www.smiths.com/) [7](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/pioneers-of-progress-the-smiths-story)
[1](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/our-purpose-and-culture)[2](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-detection-sale)[3](https://www.smiths.com/our-businesses/john-crane)[4](https://www-live.smiths.com/our-businesses/flex-tek)[5](https://forge.smiths.com/media/lf1dpygf/smiths-group-plc-annual-results-2026-slides.pdf)[6](https://www.smiths.com/)[7](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/pioneers-of-progress-the-smiths-story)

## Products & services

Smiths Group’s continuing portfolio includes John Crane mechanical seals and related rotating-equipment services. Its Type 8628VL is a non-contacting pipeline seal designed for multiphase ethane and ethylene service, with a stated mean time between repair of up to 48 months or longer. The Type 93AX coaxial compressor separation seal is designed to remain non-contacting for limited periods if separation gas is lost; launch testing reported up to 80% lower nitrogen consumption. [8](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471373)[9](https://www.johncrane.com/en/products/mechanical-seals/pump-seals/non-contacting/multiphase-lubricating-pipeline-seal/type-8628vl)[10](https://www.johncrane.com/en/products/mechanical-seals/compressor-seals/separation-seals/coaxial-seal/type-93ax) John Crane also offers Performance Plus, a modular service framework that includes seal reliability management, proactive support and condition monitoring through Sense Monitor and Sense Turbo. [11](https://www.johncrane.com/en/performance-plus)[12](https://www.johncrane.com/en/performance-plus/seal-reliability-management)

Flex-Tek makes the Blue Series sealed metal duct system, which the company describes as designed for faster installation and improved energy efficiency; its associated foam joint fitting and patented ribbed collar are designed to help prevent leakage and simplify installation. [13](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471247)[14](https://www.smiths.com/media/114denw0/smiths-sustainability-report-2025.pdf) Smiths Interconnect’s DaVinci Gen V semiconductor test socket supports signaling up to 224 Gbps PAM4 and frequencies above 100 GHz. [15](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471457)[16](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-interconnect-launches-davinci-gen-v-next-generation-test-socket)

For FY2025, products launched during the prior five years generated 30.8% of Group revenue. [17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122472649) Smiths Detection products, including the HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX cabin-baggage scanner and iLane A20 automated tray-return system, formed part of the portfolio during FY2025; Detection was sold in June 2026 and is therefore not part of the current continuing portfolio. [18](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-detection-expands-partnership-with-fukuoka-international-airport)[2](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-detection-sale)
[8](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471373)[13](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471247)[15](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471457)[17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122472649)[9](https://www.johncrane.com/en/products/mechanical-seals/pump-seals/non-contacting/multiphase-lubricating-pipeline-seal/type-8628vl)[10](https://www.johncrane.com/en/products/mechanical-seals/compressor-seals/separation-seals/coaxial-seal/type-93ax)[11](https://www.johncrane.com/en/performance-plus)[12](https://www.johncrane.com/en/performance-plus/seal-reliability-management)[14](https://www.smiths.com/media/114denw0/smiths-sustainability-report-2025.pdf)[16](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-interconnect-launches-davinci-gen-v-next-generation-test-socket)[18](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-detection-expands-partnership-with-fukuoka-international-airport)[2](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-detection-sale)

## Geographic presence

Smiths Group operates in more than 50 countries. Its reported regional revenue mix is Americas 62%, Europe 16%, Asia-Pacific 13% and rest of world 9%; the figures are presented as a regional mix, without a clearly stated measurement period. [19](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122472134) FY2025 country-by-country reporting lists Ireland revenue of £43,963,349 and 102 employees. [20](https://cro.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Smiths-Group-Plc-26-01-2026.pdf)

The company identifies UK manufacturing and R&D sites in Slough, Merthyr Tydfil, Hemel Hempstead, Dundee and Manchester. [21](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-expands-uk-presence-with-new-birmingham-office) FY2025 year-end headcount was 16,103: John Crane 6,395; Smiths Detection 3,430; Flex-Tek 3,721; Smiths Interconnect 2,045; and Group functions 512. These figures are by business, not geography. [22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122477765)
[19](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122472134)[22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122477765)[20](https://cro.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Smiths-Group-Plc-26-01-2026.pdf)[21](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-expands-uk-presence-with-new-birmingham-office)

## Business segments

Smiths Group reported four businesses in FY2025. John Crane provides sealing systems and related technologies for rotating equipment, serving energy and process industries; revenue was £1,115m, approximately 33% of the £3,336m total including discontinued operations (38% of continuing-operations revenue). Flex-Tek supplies engineered components that heat and move liquids and gases, principally for construction, industrial and aerospace applications; revenue was £837m, approximately 25% of the total (29% of continuing operations). Smiths Detection develops threat-detection and screening technologies for aviation, ports and borders, urban security and defence; revenue was £963m, approximately 29% of the total (33% of continuing operations). [23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14133972)[24](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480449)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480485)[26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480513)

Smiths Interconnect, a provider of electronic components and subsystems, was reported as a discontinued operation and held for sale at FY2025 year-end; discontinued-operations revenue was £421m, approximately 13% of the FY2025 total. [27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14134062)[28](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122481614) The segmentation changed after FY2025: the FY2026 results describe continuing operations as John Crane and Flex-Tek, with combined revenue of £1,937m. The FY2025 percentages above therefore represent the latest cited full four-business revenue breakdown, rather than FY2026 segment shares. [29](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/annual-results-for-the-year-ended-31-july-2026)[5](https://forge.smiths.com/media/lf1dpygf/smiths-group-plc-annual-results-2026-slides.pdf)
[23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14133972)[24](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480449)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480485)[26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480513)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14134062)[28](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122481614)[29](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/annual-results-for-the-year-ended-31-july-2026)[5](https://forge.smiths.com/media/lf1dpygf/smiths-group-plc-annual-results-2026-slides.pdf)

## Company history

Smiths Group traces its origins to 1851, when Samuel Smith opened a jeweller’s and watchmaker’s shop in London. The business expanded into motoring, selling its first speedometer in 1904, and was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1914. Its precision-instrument work later extended into aviation, including instruments associated with the first nonstop Atlantic crossing in 1919. [30](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175)[31](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/the-dawn-of-motoring)[32](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/smiths-on-the-london-stock-exchange)[33](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/flying-into-the-history-books)

A major modern turning point came in 2000, when Smiths Industries merged with TI Group; the following year, Smiths demerged its Automotive Systems Division. The company subsequently sold Smiths Aerospace to GE in 2007, acquired Morpho Detection in 2017 to expand its security-detection activities, and completed the sale of Smiths Medical to ICU Medical in 2022. [34](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2001/smiths-completes-demerger-of-automotive-systems-division)[35](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2007/smiths-group-completes-sale-of-aerospace-businesses)[36](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2017/smiths-group-announces-completion-of-acquisition-of-morpho-detection)[37](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2022/completion-of-smiths-medical-sale) In 2025, Smiths announced a portfolio refocus that included selling Interconnect and separating Detection; the Interconnect and Detection sales were completed in 2026. [38](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/strategic-actions-to-unlock-significant-value-and-enhance-returns-to-shareholders)[39](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-interconnect-sale)[2](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-detection-sale)
[30](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175)[31](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/the-dawn-of-motoring)[32](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/smiths-on-the-london-stock-exchange)[33](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/flying-into-the-history-books)[34](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2001/smiths-completes-demerger-of-automotive-systems-division)[35](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2007/smiths-group-completes-sale-of-aerospace-businesses)[36](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2017/smiths-group-announces-completion-of-acquisition-of-morpho-detection)[37](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2022/completion-of-smiths-medical-sale)[38](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/strategic-actions-to-unlock-significant-value-and-enhance-returns-to-shareholders)[39](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-interconnect-sale)[2](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-detection-sale)

## Sources

1. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/our-purpose-and-culture)
2. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-detection-sale)
3. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/our-businesses/john-crane)
4. [www-live.smiths.com](https://www-live.smiths.com/our-businesses/flex-tek)
5. [forge.smiths.com](https://forge.smiths.com/media/lf1dpygf/smiths-group-plc-annual-results-2026-slides.pdf)
6. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/)
7. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/pioneers-of-progress-the-smiths-story)
8. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2026 H 1), p12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471373)
9. [www.johncrane.com](https://www.johncrane.com/en/products/mechanical-seals/pump-seals/non-contacting/multiphase-lubricating-pipeline-seal/type-8628vl)
10. [www.johncrane.com](https://www.johncrane.com/en/products/mechanical-seals/compressor-seals/separation-seals/coaxial-seal/type-93ax)
11. [www.johncrane.com](https://www.johncrane.com/en/performance-plus)
12. [www.johncrane.com](https://www.johncrane.com/en/performance-plus/seal-reliability-management)
13. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2026 H 1), p5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471247)
14. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/media/114denw0/smiths-sustainability-report-2025.pdf)
15. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2026 H 1), p16](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122471457)
16. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-interconnect-launches-davinci-gen-v-next-generation-test-socket)
17. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Full financial report (2025 Y), p10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122472649)
18. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-detection-expands-partnership-with-fukuoka-international-airport)
19. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Presentation (2026 H 1), p21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122472134)
20. [cro.ie](https://cro.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Smiths-Group-Plc-26-01-2026.pdf)
21. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/smiths-expands-uk-presence-with-new-birmingham-office)
22. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Full financial report (2025 Y), p209](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122477765)
23. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2025 Y), p40](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14133972)
24. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2025 Y), p12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480449)
25. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2025 Y), p14](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480485)
26. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2025 Y), p16](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122480513)
27. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2025 Y), p84](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14134062)
28. [SMITHS GROUP PLC — Press release (2025 Y), p83](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P122481614)
29. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/annual-results-for-the-year-ended-31-july-2026)
30. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175)
31. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/the-dawn-of-motoring)
32. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/smiths-on-the-london-stock-exchange)
33. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/about-us/175/flying-into-the-history-books)
34. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2001/smiths-completes-demerger-of-automotive-systems-division)
35. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2007/smiths-group-completes-sale-of-aerospace-businesses)
36. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2017/smiths-group-announces-completion-of-acquisition-of-morpho-detection)
37. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2022/completion-of-smiths-medical-sale)
38. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2025/strategic-actions-to-unlock-significant-value-and-enhance-returns-to-shareholders)
39. [www.smiths.com](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-interconnect-sale)

AI-generated summary; may contain errors. Not investment advice. Sign up to Finbar to view original document sources and access worldwide fundamental financial data and intelligence.