There is huge growth potential for the Komax Group in the markets for automated wire processing. The long-term megatrends of automation, electrification, and mobility offer numerous opportunities. With further automation of processes along the value chain and expanded digital services, the efficiency of the existing machinery base already installed in customers’ factories can be significantly increased. To exploit these opportunities for additional unique selling propositions and offer customers innovative solutions, the Komax Group has for many years been investing above-average sums in new developments, the optimization of its existing product portfolio, and the expansion of its service offering.

Even in challenging years – such as 2025 – this has remained a firm focus of the company. In 2025, the Komax Group invested a total of CHF 70.9 million or 12.2% (2024: CHF 74.3 million or 11.8%) of revenues in research and development. This figure comprises expenditure on internal development services (CHF 63.2 million) and development services of third parties (CHF 7.7 million). In the 2025 reporting year, the lower revenue level led to a higher R&D ratio.

Unparalleled innovative strength

As at 31 December 2025, the Komax Group had a workforce of 633 employees (2024: 724 employees) working in research and development, as well as in engineering. The employees in engineering make an important contribution through the development of customer-specific applications. Despite increasing relocation to China, a large part of R&D and engineering employees (248 employees) is still based in Switzerland. The lion’s share of R&D expenditure is therefore incurred in this country. In addition, the Komax Group has development units in China, Germany, France, Japan, Singapore, Hungary, and the USA. The Komax Group continues to seek to invest 8–9% of its revenues in research and development.

The bundling of expertise and the optimization of the product portfolio were significantly advanced in the reporting year. This led to improved efficiency and lower costs at the same time. Numerous innovations were implemented in 2025 with concentrated innovative strength. This included the successful localization of a fully automatic twisting machine for the Chinese market, the introduction of a wireless inline testing system, and the expansion of the Schleuniger Coaxcenter 6000 to become the world’s most flexible crimping machine. Hosver also launched a new machine produced in China for processing data wires.

WIRE Mind – wiring control cabinets up to 80% faster

With its WIRE Mind software, the Komax Group offers a “virtual machine” for automated wire prefabrication for control cabinet construction under its WUSTEC brand. This allows for wire sets to be ordered online in any quantity and then manufactured and delivered within the shortest timeframes. This is particularly attractive to customers who don’t want to set up their own production process for certain projects. With the prefabricated and printed sequence and round bundles, they can wire their control cabinets up to 80% faster, without errors and without wire strand waste.

To date, the offering has mainly been available in Germany and will be expanded to the US market in the first half of 2026. Since 2025, the WIRE Mind software can also be used without the WUSTEC service. This means that customers with their own production facilities can use WIRE Mind to optimize their production planning. More than a dozen are already doing so. The production data is loaded from any ECAD system into the WIRE Mind platform, optimized with just a few clicks, and transferred to their own machine. The Komax Group is thereby offering its customers maximum flexibility and a rapid and efficient service, enabling them to accelerate production. Either they use the “virtual machine” and thus order prefabricated wire sets from WUSTEC online, and/or they work with their own machines in their factory and use WIRE Mind for production optimization.

SMART FACTORY by KOMAX

The trend toward digitalization is in full swing, particularly in the automotive industry. More digitalization also means more data, more electrification, and more wiring. This is good for the business of the Komax Group, but presents its customers with growing challenges. A wide range of components and products are becoming increasingly intelligent and, at the same time, more complex on the electronic side. The complexity of wire processing applications in the various market segments is constantly increasing. Customers of the Komax Group must deliver consistently high quality and keep costs as low as possible, while facing increasing personnel expenses. The Komax Group is helping them meet these growing challenges. A key factor here is the SMART FACTORY by KOMAX – a comprehensive package of digital and physical solutions with which wire assembly can be significantly optimized.

Examples of current innovations

Thanks to its targeted investment in research & development, the Komax Group succeeds in bringing a variety of new products, product enhancements, and services to market every year. It demonstrated its technological leadership to impressive effect in the 2025 reporting year, with several significant product innovations.⁠

• Adaptive Incision Control (AIC) – Optimum stripping quality and efficiency
• Lambda 3 – flexible entry-level solution for semi-automatic wire processing
• Girar 300 series – automated spot taping for improved efficiency
• Wireless Test Adapter – inline testing and wireless error detection in real time