Essential News

Alajuela. Costa Rica. August 12, 2022. Confluent Medical Technologies inaugurated the latest addition to its large-scale manufacturing center in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The expansion is expected to create an additional 500 jobs over the next 5 years.

This new facility adds an additional 6,100 m2 (65,700 ft2) to Confluent Costa Rica’s existing building at Coyol Free Zone. The property will increase the company's capacity to process Nitinol (high-density tissue) components, as well as to produce complex catheters, using a combination of clean room and white-space manufacturing.

During the opening ceremony, the company reinforced its long-term commitment to Costa Rica. In attendance were company executives, including Dean Schauer, the President & CEO of Confluent; Doug Hutchison, the Commercial Director of Confluent; and David Johnston, the Vice President of Operations for the United States and Costa Rica. They welcomed representatives of the Costa Rican government, led by Stephan Brunner Neibig, Vice President of the Republic.

Brunner stated, "Confluent is an ally in the noble purpose that we have set for ourselves to build a better Costa Rica, with people prepared to take on the challenges of an increasingly demanding market, with entrepreneurs who take advantage of the productive linkages that initiatives like this produce, and with children who can inherit a country better than our current one."

In 2010, Confluent Medical Technologies opened its first manufacturing facility in Costa Rica; this has since grown to become Confluent's largest and fastest growing operation, with more than 1,000 employees and projected sales of more than $100 million in 2022.

“Costa Rica has been an integral part of Confluent Medical's strong growth and is a very important focus of our future manufacturing strategy,” stated Confluent President and CEO, Dean Schauer. "With access to a reliable, values-based, and well-educated workforce, coupled with a favorable investment climate, we anticipate continued growth in Costa Rica." 

Confluent supports some of the fastest growing medical device markets, including the interventional neurovascular, electrophysiology, structural heart, and peripheral vascular markets. 

Manuel Tovar, the Minister of Foreign Trade, commented, “According to the latest PROCOMER report, there was a 16% growth in product exports, where precision and medical equipment continue to comprise our country's main export sector. Confluent Medical Technologies contributes to these important figures and allows Costa Rica to have linkages to much more sophisticated and robust global value chains. We recognize that alliances with prestigious companies, including Confluent Medical Technologies, allow us to continue positioning ourselves as regional leaders in quality, efficiency, and productive innovation.”

“We congratulate Confluent on their growth of operations, which further strengthens an industry that distinguishes Costa Rica on the world stage and places us fifth globally in attracting medical device sector projects, according to Investment Monitor. In the last year, our country exported $5.231 billion in medical and precision equipment – that is, 33% more than in 2020. Confluent’s growth expands the robust ecosystem that allows Costa Ricans to benefit from new job opportunities and knowledge transfer,” concluded Diana Salazar, CINDE's Deputy Managing Director. 

As a result of double-digit growth in these currently served markets, a substantial number of new products are coming into production and will immediately use this new facility space. Also, Confluent is considering additional expansion options beyond this new facility.

Parties interested in applying for new positions that the company opens, may send their resume directly to the email crjobs@confluentmedical.com.

Confluent Applies Materials Science to MedTech Innovation. Confluent’s engineered solutions to the most challenging design problems enable our OEM medical device customers to offer life-saving implantable products. Our customers rely on Confluent for materials science and associated manufacturing expertise which is critical to the function and value of their most demanding, high growth products – proprietary expertise which spans processing of high purity Nitinol, ultra-high density knitting of biomedical textiles, and precision laser treatment of specialty polymers. Confluent partners with leading OEMs to create a selective product portfolio that includes such complex applications as transcatheter heart valves, neurovascular implants, endovascular stent grafts and advanced smart catheters. With facilities in Fremont and Laguna Niguel, California; Warwick, Rhode Island; Windham, Maine; Austin, Texas; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and San Jose, Cost Rica, Confluent has earned the confidence of medical device community leaders through a proven track record of innovative materials science, engineering, and manufacturing.