Note 1 - Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Company Conditions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Notes to Financial Statements

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

1.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

CUI Global Inc. (CUI Global) is a platform company composed of

two

segments, the Power and Electromechanical segment and the Energy segment.

The Power and Electromechanical segment is made up of the wholly owned subsidiaries: CUI Inc. (CUI), based in Tualatin, Oregon; CUI Japan, based in Tokyo, Japan; and CUI-Canada, based in Toronto, Canada. All

three

subsidiaries are providers of power and electromechanical components including power supplies, transformers, converters, connectors and industrial controls for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

The Power and Electromechanical segment defines its product offerings into

two

categories: 

power supply solutions

, which consists of external and embedded ac-dc power supplies, dc-dc converters, and advanced power supply solutions including the ICE products, and

components 

including connectors, speakers, buzzers, and control solutions including encoders and sensors. These offerings provide a technology architecture that addresses power and related accessories to industries as broadly ranging as consumer electronics, medical and defense, among others.

The Company’s Energy segment is made up of Orbital Gas Systems Ltd. (Orbital-UK) and Orbital Gas Systems, North America, Inc. (Orbital North America), collectively referred to as Orbital Gas Systems (Orbital). This business segment was formed when in

April 2013,

CUI Global acquired 

100%

of the capital stock of Orbital-UK, a United Kingdom-based provider of natural gas infrastructure and advanced technology, including metering, odorization, remote telemetry units (‘‘RTU’’) and a diverse range of personalized gas engineering solutions to the gas utilities, power generation, emissions, manufacturing and automotive industries. In

January 2015,

CUI Global formed and opened Orbital Gas Systems, North America, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary, to represent the Energy segment in the North American market. GasPT® and VE®

Technology

products are sold through Orbital.

During the year ended

December 

31,

2018,

total revenues at CUI Global consisted of 

79%

from the Power and Electromechanical segment and

21%

 from the Energy segment.