# Molex

**Molex** is an American manufacturer of electronic connectors, cable assemblies, and interconnect solutions, headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, and owned by Koch Inc. (formerly [Koch Industries](https://www.edgepedia.org/koch-industries)). Founded in 1938 as a maker of moldable thermoplastic products, the company pivoted into electronics and became one of the world's largest connector manufacturers, ranked third in total world connector sales in 2024.<sup>[1](https://www.molex.com/en-us/blog/think-like-a-practical-innovator)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1938 by Frederick Krehbiel in Brookfield, Illinois; the name originated from "molded plastic"<sup>[3](https://www.bccresearch.com/company-index/profile/molex/history)</sup> |
| Headquarters | 2222 Wellington Court, Lisle, Illinois<sup>[4](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-incorporated-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-koch-industries-inc)</sup> |
| Owner | Koch Industries, acquired for $38.50 per share in cash, approximately $7.2 billion equity value; completed December 9, 2013<sup>[4](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-incorporated-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-koch-industries-inc)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://discovery.kochinc.com/media-resources/press-releases/2013/koch-industries-completes-purchase-of-molex-inc)</sup> |
| Scale at acquisition | Fiscal 2013 sales of $3.6 billion; more than 70% of revenues from products sold outside the United States<sup>[4](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-incorporated-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-koch-industries-inc)</sup> |
| Scale after the Smiths Interconnect acquisition | over 55,000 employees and over 90 plants in 22 countries<sup>[2](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)</sup> |
| Industry rank | Number three in total world connector sales in 2024; number two in the computer and peripheral, business and retail equipment, medical electronics, and consumer electronics connector market sectors<sup>[2](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)</sup> |
| R&D commitment | 5% of annual sales invested in innovation<sup>[6](https://www.molex.com/en-us/about)</sup> |

## Origins and early products

Molex was founded in 1938 by [Frederick Krehbiel](https://www.edgepedia.org/frederick-krehbiel), who developed an industrial plastic byproduct used for making flowerpots and children's toys.<sup>[1](https://www.molex.com/en-us/blog/think-like-a-practical-innovator)</sup> A company history compiled by BCC Research states the firm was founded in Brookfield, Illinois and initially focused on coal-based plastic products, from which the name Molex derives.<sup>[3](https://www.bccresearch.com/company-index/profile/molex/history)</sup> From these early days as a maker of moldable thermoplastic, the company describes a series of pivots toward its current position as a provider of connectivity solutions.<sup>[1](https://www.molex.com/en-us/blog/think-like-a-practical-innovator)</sup>

By the time of its sale, Molex described itself as a 75-year-old global manufacturer of electronic, electrical, and fiber optic interconnection systems, serving markets including mobile devices, infotech, consumer electronics, automotive, telecommunications, industrial, medical, military, and aerospace.<sup>[4](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-incorporated-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-koch-industries-inc)</sup>

## The Koch acquisition

On September 9, 2013, Molex Incorporated (NASDAQ: MOLX, MOLXA) announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by Koch Industries, Inc., one of the largest private companies in the United States, for $38.50 per share in cash across all three share classes, for a total equity value of approximately $7.2 billion.<sup>[4](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-incorporated-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-koch-industries-inc)</sup> Based on closing prices on September 6, 2013, the price represented a 42% premium to the equity value of Molex's publicly traded stock: a 31% premium to the Common Stock and a 56% premium to the Class A Common Stock.<sup>[4](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-incorporated-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-koch-industries-inc)</sup> Certain members of the Krehbiel family and certain executive officers, holding approximately 32% of the Common Stock and 94% of the Class B Common Stock, entered voting agreements in support of the transaction.<sup>[7](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/67472/000119312513360606/d595454d8k.htm)</sup>

The merger was completed on December 9, 2013 through the merger of Koch's wholly owned subsidiary Koch Connectors, Inc. with and into Molex. Molex became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, retaining its name, its Lisle headquarters, and its management team.<sup>[5](https://discovery.kochinc.com/media-resources/press-releases/2013/koch-industries-completes-purchase-of-molex-inc)</sup> Shareholders received $38.50 per share plus a $0.18 adjustment representing a pro rata portion of the regular quarterly dividend; the SEC filing records the total per-share consideration as $38.68.<sup>[5](https://discovery.kochinc.com/media-resources/press-releases/2013/koch-industries-completes-purchase-of-molex-inc)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/67472/000110465913088986/a13-25556_28k.htm)</sup> Molex shares ceased trading on NASDAQ and the [London Stock Exchange](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-stock-exchange), and the company filed to deregister its stock.<sup>[8](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/67472/000110465913088986/a13-25556_28k.htm)</sup> Industry analyst Bishop & Associates valued the deal at 11.2x trailing EBITDA and 1.9x revenue, both premium multiples relative to historical norms.<sup>[9](https://bishopinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bnb_42_13.pdf)</sup>

## Growth under Koch ownership

Under Koch ownership, Molex has grown through acquisition and organic investment. When Koch purchased the company in 2013, Molex had $3.6 billion in annual sales; since then it has doubled in size and made over a dozen acquisitions, reaching 42,000 employees and 74 plants in 19 countries.<sup>[2](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)</sup> Significant acquisitions include Oplink Communications, a provider of optical communication solutions, in 2014; BittWare, developers of FPGA accelerators, in 2018; and Fiberguide, a manufacturer of customized optical fiber solutions, in 2020.<sup>[2](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)</sup> The 2016 acquisition of Phillips-Medisize, a design and manufacturing company serving healthcare and life-science customers, added contract manufacturing of drug-delivery devices such as insulin pens and auto injectors.<sup>[2](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)</sup>

**Aerospace and defense expansion.** In November 2024 Molex signed an agreement to purchase AirBorn, Inc., an employee-owned Texas company specializing in rugged connectors and electronic components for aerospace and defense, commercial air, space exploration, medical, and industrial markets; the deal closed in December 2024.<sup>[10](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-announces-agreement-to-aquire-airborn-expanding-position-in-aerospace-and-defense)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[11](https://www.molex.com/en-us/blog/molex-and-airborn-a-strategic-merger-poised-to-transform-aerospace-and-defense-connectivity-solutions)</sup> In October 2025 Molex announced an agreement to acquire Smiths Interconnect, a subsidiary of the United Kingdom's Smiths Group plc serving the aerospace and defense, medical, semiconductor test, and industrial markets.<sup>[12](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-announces-agreement-to-acquire-smiths-interconnect-enhancing-its-position-in-aerospace-and-defense)</sup> The sale completed on April 1, 2026, with Smiths Group receiving cash proceeds of approximately £1.3 billion.<sup>[13](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-completes-acquisition-of-smiths-interconnect)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[14](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-interconnect-sale)</sup> Molex called it the largest acquisition in its history, expanding the company to over 90 plants across 22 countries and a global headcount of over 55,000 employees.<sup>[13](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-completes-acquisition-of-smiths-interconnect)</sup>

## Products and markets

Molex's core products are connectors and cable assemblies: board-to-board, wire-to-wire, backplane, automotive, card edge, circular, D-sub, and FFC/FPC connectors, among others, supported by what the company describes as 80+ years of connector manufacturing and testing expertise.<sup>[15](https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/connectors)</sup> The company serves markets including automotive and transportation, data centers, telecommunications, industrial automation, healthcare, aerospace and defense, and consumer devices.<sup>[16](https://www.molex.com/en-us/industries-applications)</sup>

**Data center and optical interconnect.** Molex supplies high-speed copper and optical interconnects for data centers, including a family of 100G and 400G optical transceivers (100G-DR, 100G-FR, 100G-LR, 400G-DR4, 400G-FR4, 400G-LR4, 400G-ZR, and 400G-ZR+) with an 800G roadmap, plus Active Electrical Cables and OSFP connector systems.<sup>[17](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-scales-deployments-of-high-speed-interconnect-solutions)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[18](https://www.molex.com/en-us/industries-applications/data-center-connectivity)</sup> The company unveiled a chip-to-chip 224G lineup in 2023—cables, backplanes, board-to-board connectors, and connector-to-cable products designed for use near ASICs—all capable of running at 224 Gb/s-PAM4 and targeting generative AI, machine learning, and 1.6T networking uses.<sup>[3](https://www.bccresearch.com/company-index/profile/molex/history)</sup> Its optical portfolio also includes a High-Radix Optical Circuit Switch platform supporting up to 544x544 ports, with a roadmap toward 1,000+ ports for AI training and inferencing at scale.<sup>[19](https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/optical-solutions)</sup>

**Automotive.** Molex has been a major automotive connector supplier for nearly 30 years, with products spanning high-speed vehicle networking, antenna systems, electrification, ADAS, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications; in 2022 it opened a second automotive connector plant in [Guadalajara](https://www.edgepedia.org/guadalajara), Mexico.<sup>[2](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)</sup>

## Position in the connector industry

Bishop & Associates, a connector-industry research firm led by analyst Ronald Bishop, ranks Molex third in world connector sales behind [TE Connectivity](https://www.edgepedia.org/te-connectivity) and Amphenol in its 2025 Top 100 Connector Manufacturers report covering 2024 sales; Molex achieved Top 10 status in all geographic regions except the rest of world.<sup>[20](https://bishopinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IU-9-2025.pdf)</sup> The world's top 100 connector manufacturers recorded shipments of $70.060 billion in 2024, representing 81.0% of the worldwide connector market.<sup>[21](https://bishopinc.com/new-report-published-top-100-connector-manufacturers/)</sup> Molex holds leadership positions in printed circuit boards, telecom, and rectangular connectors.<sup>[2](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)</sup>

## The unrelated Molex Group

A separate, unrelated company, Molex Group of Hankamer, Texas, is a specialty-chemicals business founded in 1985 by chemical engineer Rodger Bennett. The name there is short for "molecular exchange," and the company formulates products from by-product chemicals such as amines, glycols, glycol ethers, surfactants, alcohols, and oleo chemicals for oilfield, concrete, agricultural, and asphalt industries.<sup>[22](https://www.molexcompany.com/about-us)</sup> It has no connection to the electronics company described above.

## References

1. [How to Think Like a Practical Innovator, Molex blog](https://www.molex.com/en-us/blog/think-like-a-practical-innovator)
2. [The Bishop Report Industry Update Features Molex: A Leader and Innovator in Electronics, Molex](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/bishop-report-profiles-molex-innovator-in-electronics)
3. [MOLEX History - Founding, Milestones & Growth Journey, BCC Research company profile](https://www.bccresearch.com/company-index/profile/molex/history)
4. [Molex Incorporated Agrees to be Acquired by Koch Industries, Inc. for $38.50 per Share in Cash, Molex press release, September 9, 2013](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-incorporated-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-koch-industries-inc)
5. [Koch Industries Completes Purchase of Molex Inc., Koch Newsroom, December 9, 2013](https://discovery.kochinc.com/media-resources/press-releases/2013/koch-industries-completes-purchase-of-molex-inc)
6. [Learn More About Molex, Molex](https://www.molex.com/en-us/about)
7. [Form 8-K, Molex Incorporated, September 9, 2013, SEC EDGAR](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/67472/000119312513360606/d595454d8k.htm)
8. [Form 8-K, Molex Incorporated, December 9, 2013, SEC EDGAR](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/67472/000110465913088986/a13-25556_28k.htm)
9. [The Bishop Report News Brief No. 42: Molex & Koch, Bishop & Associates](https://bishopinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bnb_42_13.pdf)
10. [Molex Announces Agreement to Acquire AirBorn, Expanding its Position in the Aerospace and Defense Market, Molex, November 14, 2024](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-announces-agreement-to-aquire-airborn-expanding-position-in-aerospace-and-defense)
11. [Molex and AirBorn: A Strategic Acquisition Poised to Transform Aerospace and Defense Connectivity Solutions, Molex blog](https://www.molex.com/en-us/blog/molex-and-airborn-a-strategic-merger-poised-to-transform-aerospace-and-defense-connectivity-solutions)
12. [Molex Announces Agreement to Acquire Smiths Interconnect, Molex, October 16, 2025](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-announces-agreement-to-acquire-smiths-interconnect-enhancing-its-position-in-aerospace-and-defense)
13. [Molex Completes Acquisition of Smiths Interconnect, Molex, April 1, 2026](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-completes-acquisition-of-smiths-interconnect)
14. [Completion of Smiths Interconnect sale, Smiths Group plc, April 1, 2026](https://www.smiths.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/completion-of-smiths-interconnect-sale)
15. [Connectors, Molex](https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/connectors)
16. [Industries, Molex](https://www.molex.com/en-us/industries-applications)
17. [Molex Scales Deployments of High-Speed Interconnect Solutions, Molex](https://www.molex.com/en-us/news/molex-scales-deployments-of-high-speed-interconnect-solutions)
18. [Data Center Connectivity Solutions, Molex](https://www.molex.com/en-us/industries-applications/data-center-connectivity)
19. [Optical Solutions, Molex](https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/optical-solutions)
20. [The Bishop Report Industry Update, Part 2: Top 10 by Geographic Region, Bishop & Associates, 2025](https://bishopinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IU-9-2025.pdf)
21. [New Report Published: Top 100 Connector Manufacturers, Bishop & Associates, August 1, 2025](https://bishopinc.com/new-report-published-top-100-connector-manufacturers/)
22. [About Us, Molex Group (Molex Company), Hankamer, Texas](https://www.molexcompany.com/about-us)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Engineering and manufacturing › Manufacturing industries and companies › Electronics and technology manufacturers*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*

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