KEMET Corporation
A manufacturer of capacitors and other passive electronic components for industrial, automotive, communications, computing, medical, aerospace, and defense applications.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
KEMET Corporation is a United States-origin electronic-components manufacturer whose principal business is the design and production of capacitors and related passive components. Its portfolio spans tantalum, aluminum, multilayer ceramic, film, paper, polymer electrolytic, and supercapacitor technologies, supplemented by products such as electromagnetic-interference filters, AC-line filters, ferrite components, inductors, sensors, transformers and magnetics, relays, and other electromechanical devices. The company’s products are generally sold as engineered components to original-equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers, distributors, and industrial customers rather than directly to household consumers. The business began in 1919 as KEMET Laboratories, established by Union Carbide Corporation after Union Carbide acquired Cooper Research Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Cooper Research had developed an alloy for vacuum-tube components. The KEMET name is derived from “chemical” and “metallurgy,” reflecting the company’s early materials-science orientation. In the middle of the twentieth century, KEMET shifted its commercial emphasis toward tantalum capacitors, a technology that became central to its identity and helped establish the company in the electronic-components industry. It entered ceramic capacitors in 1969, broadening its position beyond tantalum technology. KEMET’s corporate ownership changed substantially in the late twentieth century. KEMET Electronics Corporation was acquired from Union Carbide in 1990 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 1992 under the historical symbol KEM. The transaction ended the company’s corporate ties to Union Carbide. During the 2000s and 2010s, KEMET pursued an acquisition-led expansion strategy intended to increase its technology range, geographic reach, and manufacturing capabilities. Acquisitions and investments included the tantalum business of EPCOS, Evox Rifa Group, Arcotronics Italia, Cornell Dubilier Foil, Niotan, and a controlling interest in NEC Tokin, which was renamed TOKIN Corporation after the transaction. The company has also emphasized materials research, high-temperature and high-voltage performance, vibration resistance, low-inductance designs, and application-specific engineering. Its product catalog has been described as containing nearly five million distinct part configurations, differentiated by dielectric material, construction, encapsulation, capacitance, tolerance, voltage rating, performance characteristics, and packaging. This breadth allows KEMET components to be specified across computing, telecommunications, medical equipment, automotive systems, aerospace, defense, energy, and other demanding applications. In November 2019, Yageo Corporation announced an agreement to acquire KEMET. The transaction was completed in June 2020, when KEMET became a wholly owned subsidiary of Yageo. KEMET therefore remains an active component brand and operating business, but it is no longer an independently listed public company. Within Yageo’s broader component portfolio, KEMET represents a broad range of capacitor and passive-component technologies, with particular historical strength in tantalum and other specialized capacitor products.
History
KEMET Laboratories was founded in 1919 by Union Carbide Corporation following Union Carbide’s acquisition of Cooper Research Company in Cleveland, Ohio. Cooper Research had developed an alloy intended for vacuum-tube components. The KEMET name combines references to chemistry and metallurgy, indicating the importance of materials engineering to the company’s original business. KEMET later developed a strong position in tantalum capacitors. In 1958, it changed its market focus toward tantalum capacitor production, a move that established a long-term technological foundation for the brand. In 1969, the company entered the ceramic-capacitor market, creating a broader portfolio of passive electronic components. In 1990, KEMET Electronics Corporation was acquired from Union Carbide. Two years later, it completed an initial public offering and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KEM. This transition ended KEMET’s ownership relationship with Union Carbide and established it as an independent public company. During the 2000s and 2010s, KEMET expanded through acquisitions and strategic investments. In 2007, it acquired the tantalum business unit of EPCOS AG. In 2008, it acquired Evox Rifa Group Oyj and Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. In 2012, it completed acquisitions involving Cornell Dubilier Foil, LLC and Niotan Incorporated. These transactions expanded KEMET’s capabilities in film, tantalum, specialty materials, and related capacitor technologies. KEMET also invested in research and product development. Its work included high-temperature and high-voltage ceramic capacitors, aluminum electrolytic products designed for vibration-intensive environments, and low-inductance film and electrolytic components. The company reported a substantial engineering and scientific workforce in fiscal 2015 and received a record number of U.S. patents for that year. Its broad technology base supported applications in computing, telecommunications, medical equipment, automotive systems, aerospace, defense, and other industrial markets. In 2017, KEMET completed a transaction giving it a controlling share of NEC Tokin. The acquired business was subsequently renamed TOKIN Corporation, strengthening KEMET’s position in specialized electronic components and related technologies. On November 11, 2019, Yageo Corporation announced plans to acquire KEMET. The transaction was completed on June 15, 2020, when KEMET became a wholly owned subsidiary of Yageo. KEMET continues to operate as an electronic-components business and brand within the Yageo group. Its portfolio includes nearly five million possible part configurations, reflecting variations in dielectric material, capacitance, voltage, packaging, construction, tolerance, and performance characteristics.
- 2020
KEMET becomes wholly owned by Yageo
[1]The Yageo acquisition closes and KEMET becomes a fully owned subsidiary.
- 2019
Yageo acquisition announced
[1]Yageo announces an agreement to acquire KEMET.
- 2017
NEC Tokin becomes part of KEMET
[1]KEMET closes a transaction for a controlling share of NEC Tokin, which is subsequently renamed TOKIN Corporation.
- 2012
Cornell Dubilier Foil and Niotan acquisitions
[1]KEMET completes acquisitions involving Cornell Dubilier Foil and Niotan.
- 2008
Evox Rifa and Arcotronics acquisitions
[1]KEMET acquires Evox Rifa Group Oyj and Arcotronics Italia S.p.A., expanding its capacitor and passive-component activities.
- 2007
EPCOS tantalum business acquisition
[1]KEMET acquires the tantalum business unit of EPCOS AG.
- 1992
Public listing
[1]KEMET becomes publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the historical symbol KEM.
- 1990
Separation from Union Carbide
[1]KEMET Electronics Corporation is acquired from Union Carbide, beginning its transition to independent ownership.
- 1969
Entry into ceramic capacitors
[1]The company enters the ceramic-capacitor market and broadens its passive-component portfolio.
- 1958
Shift toward tantalum capacitors
[1]KEMET changes its market focus toward tantalum capacitor technology.
Products and positioning
A broad-line, engineering-focused passive electronic-components manufacturer with historical strength in tantalum capacitors and an extensive portfolio serving demanding industrial and technology applications.
Capacitors · 1958
Tantalum capacitors
Tantalum capacitors are a historically central KEMET product family. The company shifted its market focus toward tantalum technology in 1958 and later expanded this capability through the acquisition of the tantalum business unit of EPCOS AG. These components are used where compact size, stable electrical characteristics, and application-specific reliability are important, including industrial, communications, computing, automotive, and other electronic systems.
Capacitors · 1969
Multilayer ceramic capacitors
KEMET’s ceramic portfolio includes multilayer ceramic capacitors and specialized dielectric technologies. The company entered ceramic capacitors in 1969 and later developed high-voltage, high-temperature C0G products. Ceramic components support filtering, decoupling, energy storage, and signal-conditioning functions in electronic equipment across industrial and technology markets.
Capacitors
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors
The aluminum electrolytic range includes products developed for demanding operating environments. KEMET’s work in this area included high-vibration screw-terminal capacitors and development activity at its Weymouth, United Kingdom, Electrolytic Innovation Center. These products are used in power conversion, industrial equipment, automotive systems, and other applications requiring substantial capacitance.
Capacitors
Film capacitors
KEMET manufactures film capacitor technologies for filtering, power, suppression, and other circuit functions. The company’s film activities were broadened through acquisitions including Arcotronics and Cornell Dubilier Foil-related operations. Product configurations vary by dielectric, construction, voltage, capacitance, packaging, and application requirements.
Energy-storage components
Polymer electrolytic capacitors and supercapacitors
KEMET’s broader capacitor portfolio includes polymer electrolytic capacitors and supercapacitors. These technologies address applications requiring particular combinations of capacitance, equivalent series resistance, energy storage, size, and operating performance. The products form part of the company’s wider strategy of offering multiple capacitor technologies rather than relying on a single dielectric family.
Passive and electromechanical components
Filters, inductors, ferrites, sensors, and magnetics
In addition to capacitors, KEMET produces AC-line filters, EMI cores and filters, flex suppressors, metal-composite inductors, ferrite products, sensors, transformers, and other magnetic components. These products extend the brand into electromagnetic compatibility, power-management, signal conditioning, sensing, and related circuit functions.
Brand decisions
2019
Agree to acquisition by YageoM&ABackground
KEMET was an established publicly traded passive-components manufacturer with a broad product and geographic portfolio.
Action taken
KEMET agreed to be acquired by Taiwan-based Yageo Corporation.
Aftermath
The acquisition closed in 2020, ending KEMET’s status as an independently listed company and placing it within the Yageo group.
2017
Acquire a controlling share of NEC TokinM&ABackground
KEMET pursued broader access to passive and specialized electronic-component technologies.
Action taken
KEMET completed a transaction to purchase a controlling share of NEC Tokin, later renamed TOKIN Corporation.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded KEMET’s operating platform and technology portfolio in specialized electronic components.
2014
Launch of HV-HT C0G ceramic capacitor seriesProduct launchBackground
Electronic-system designers required ceramic capacitors capable of operating at elevated voltage and temperature conditions.
Action taken
KEMET introduced a high-voltage, high-temperature series using C0G dielectric technology.
Aftermath
The series strengthened KEMET’s offering for demanding high-temperature and high-voltage applications.
1969
Expand into ceramic capacitorsStrategyBackground
KEMET sought to broaden its technology base beyond tantalum products.
Action taken
The company entered the ceramic-capacitor market.
Aftermath
Ceramic capacitors became part of KEMET’s multi-technology passive-component portfolio.
1958
Focus on tantalum capacitor technologyStrategyBackground
KEMET was operating in an electronic-components market in which materials technology and capacitor specialization were important competitive factors.
Action taken
The company redirected its market focus toward tantalum capacitors, creating a long-term core technology position.
Aftermath
Tantalum became one of KEMET’s defining product areas and remained central to later acquisitions and product development.
Recent events
- 2020
KEMET becomes a wholly owned Yageo subsidiary[1]
M&A
The acquisition by Yageo was completed, and KEMET became a fully owned subsidiary on June 15, 2020.
- 2019
KEMET announces agreement to be acquired by Yageo[1]
M&A
Yageo announced that it had agreed to acquire KEMET, beginning the process that would move KEMET from independent public-company ownership into Yageo’s corporate group.
- 2017
KEMET completes controlling investment in NEC Tokin[1]
M&A
KEMET announced the closing of a transaction to purchase a controlling share of NEC Tokin. Following completion, NEC Tokin was renamed TOKIN Corporation.
- 2014
KEMET introduces high-voltage, high-temperature C0G ceramic series[1]
Product launch · Product generation
KEMET introduced an HV-HT series using C0G dielectric technology, targeting higher-voltage and higher-temperature performance in ceramic capacitor applications.
- 2013
KEMET opens aluminum electrolytic innovation center in the United Kingdom[1]
Product launch
KEMET announced a new aluminum Electrolytic Innovation Center in Weymouth, United Kingdom, supporting development of products including high-vibration screw-terminal capacitors and low-inductance film and electrolytic lines.
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