Alajuela, Costa Rica, November 8, 2022. Medtronic, the global leader in the MedTech industry, opened its third manufacturing module close to 5,000 m2 in Costa Rica, located in the
Coyol Free Zone. This announcement reinforces the conviction of the company to consolidate its operations in the country with an estimated investment of $ 65 million dollars. The expansion process of the manufacturing site started in 2020 and will continue until 2024.
With this opening, Medtronic reaches 10,000 m2 of total capacity – a ninefold growth over 2015, when it began
manufacturing operations in Costa Rica. In 2021, production diversified and grew by 5,000%, to manufacture a total 7.1 million units, which correspond to 923 different part numbers. With this expansion, it is estimated that the plant will be capable of increasing 9% the unit production by 2025.
Medtronic is committed to bring
innovation to patients all over the world. Its technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical
robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools and more. Specifically, in the Coyol Manufacturing site, Medtronic manufactures devices for spinal surgeries deployed in all the regions of the world.
As the leading global healthcare technology company, Medtronic boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Its Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries.
Today, Medtronic strengthens its position as the largest employer of precision mechanics in Costa Rica, through high-quality employment opportunities, with gender equality and specialized work options for new generations. Currently, the company provides employment to almost 600 people in the country. The initial phase of the expansion will require 60 new collaborators.
The new building will also focus on the production of surgical components for spinal surgery, including screws, washers and connectors. In 2022, Medtronic's Costa Rica plant begun manufacturing final products. As of today, 24 of these are completely made at the site, representing 5% of the operation's total export volume. The other 95% of production is metal parts that go into spinal cord medical devices, which are exported to Puerto Rico and Ohio for their respective final assembly processes and global distribution.
Costa Rica’s Vice President, Stephan Brunner Neibig attended the opening ceremony, as well as other government officials and representatives from the company's board.
"'Our priority is people.' I borrow these words, which today are Medtronic's motto, because they contain a deep and frank truth, which, in the light of great projects, should not be overshadowed. Because the reality is that everything we do, both in the public and private spheres, must have the well-being of people as its primary objective. It is the people who, with their initiatives, undertake the businesses that move the economy," said Brunner.
Paula Bogantes, a.i. Minister of Foreign Trade, added that:
“As a pioneer in the field of health, Medtronic opened its doors in 2015, and its history has been marked by constant transformation that, today, translates into a diversity of processes that position it competitively in global markets. This new module, of 5,000 m2, will allow the company to reach a total of 10,000 m2 and will employ collaborators in engineering, operational and technical areas. In addition, it confirms that the company continues to be the largest employer of precision mechanics in Costa Rica. We appreciate this new sign of confidence in our ability and talent”. “We are proud to be part of the growth announcement for Medtronic, the world's leading Med-Tech company. This news represents new employment opportunities that are available thanks to the capacity of the Costa Rican talent, in combination with socio-political stability and, above all, with the proven experience that we have as a country in the Life Sciences industry. Costa Rica ranks fifth in attracting projects in the medical device sector globally, and it is these products that lead the country's exports. This can be seen in the most recent data from Procomer, which reports figures of over $322 million so far this year,” said Eric Scharf, President of the Board of Directors for
CINDE, the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency.
“This opening is the perfect prelude to our 50th anniversary in Costa Rica, which we'll celebrate in 2023. The new facility responds to our strategy to reinforce Medtronic’s specialization in manufacturing medical devices for spinal surgeries and, on a broader level, contributes to the future of the Life Sciences industry in Costa Rica, while projecting the role that Central America can play in developing medical technologies over the long term. The country meets all the characteristics that align with our company's global goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030,” explained Paolo Tolari, Medtronic's Vice President of Manufacturing.
Medtronic's operations expansion was possible thanks to the large quantity and quality of existing talent in Costa Rica, as well as the stability of the country's electrical network via a renewable matrix, and the country's projection at a general level.
“We are very satisfied with our results and with the exceptional growth our Costa Rican team has achieved; they have exceeded our objectives for manufacturing, efficiency, and productivity. These individuals demonstrate that they have the necessary skills, creativity, adaptability, and performance to fulfill our mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life,” Tolari added.
First-line human resources. The work that Medtronic performs requires precision mechanics and the highest standards in metal handling, as they manufacture medical device parts that remain inside a person's body forever.
“We are the largest employer of precision mechanics, and we are not only interested in recruiting the best talent, but also in training and retaining it. We currently employ 40% women and 60% men – mostly precision technicians who graduated from vocational schools and the National Training Institute (INA),” explained Alberto Meseguer, Director at the Coyol de Alajuela manufacturing site.
Medtronic Costa Rica has active educational alliances of various types, including internships, with the INA, the Costa Rican Technological Institute (ITCR), ULACIT, Fidelitas University, and several technical high schools; these are aimed at professional development for young Costa Ricans who hope to enter the medical technology sector. For example, so far, 27 INA students participated as interns under the alliance with Medtronic, and 23 of them were hired as employees.
Those interested in applying for the open positions may access
https://medtronic.eightfold.ai/careers. The available jobs include: Precision Mechanics Technicians, Quality Inspectors, Packaging and Assembly Operators, Materials, Industrial, Electronic, Mechanical, Chemical Engineers, and Quality Engineers. All profiles with knowledge in the medical and metals industry, from Junior to Senior Engineering, are welcome to apply to help Medtronic transfer and stabilize new processes and products.
A New Certification: LEED Platinum. Medtronic's facility meets strict requirements for sustainability, energy efficiency, and innovation adaptability. That is why it became the only Medtronic plant worldwide and the first medical device plant in Costa Rica and Latin America to become LEED Platinum Certified – the highest sustainability certification for facilities.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a standard developed by the United States Green Building Council. LEED is a global certification and represents a candidate's leadership in sustainability.
About MedtronicBold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for all. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit
www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn.
