NEWS
Microtechnologies invests US$15 million for innovative manufacturing plant
• In time to celebrate 20 years of operations in the country, the company opted to build a new type of manufacturing plant that is both
forward thinking
and environmentally friendly.
• The company expects to add 250 new high tech jobs in the next five years.
San José, February 19, 2018. The American company Microtechnologies –specializing in innovating and delivering critical components for global industries– inaugurated today its new production plant in the Terra Industrial Park, in Coyol of Alajuela.
The new facility 15.000 square meters- marks the celebration of the company’s twentieth anniversary in the country and represents a milestone of innovation within the country’s manufacturing sector. Its construction and outfitting required an investment of US $ 15 million and will generate 250 new high tech jobs in the next five years.
In the presence of high-level corporate representatives, the President of the Republic, Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, was in charge of opening the building and verifying first hand the work carried out by the company in the country.
"It is an excellent opportunity for Costa Rica that a company like Microtechnologies celebrate 20 years of being in our country. The celebration includes an expansion of its operations and the announcement to continue creating more quality jobs, due to the specialization of this company. Our commitment has been and continues to strengthen the conditions of competitiveness to be an appropriate destination for high technology investments, which allows us to continue generating well-being in our population, "said President Solís Rivera.
“Twenty years ago we came to Costa Rica seeking the same cost advantage that many other US based companies were looking for at the time. We continued to grow our local operations time and again more because of the stability the country has provided for our long-term talent strategy, and now we have chosen to build our flagship operation here because of the return on human capital we have enjoyed all these years. In the end, our team made the decision an easy one for us and this new home will play an integral part of our future.”- highlighted Michael Tucci, President and CEO of Microtechnologies.
Microtechnologies is recognized as a trusted innovation engine for leading clients in the automotive, medical device, aerospace, and other demanding industries where failure is not an option. The company specializes in both the design and manufacture of game-changing miniature critical components used in platforms like engine management systems, invasive surgical devices, and occupant safety controls. The new facility will house most all of Micro’s vertically integrated capabilities from process design to tooling/ automation fabrication to scaled production utilizing a wide variety of specialty materials.
The new building will also have a local development space for its MicroLabs division, which will enable the local collaborators to push the latest trends in innovative manufacturing. The objective is also to create a space for learning and experimentation for students of elementary, universities, and technical schools whom with the company has developed alliances in its 20 years of operation in the country.
The Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Jhon Fonseca commented that: "specifically in the advanced manufacturing sector, Costa Rica has positioned itself as a leader in Latin America. As a result of a solid strategy for attracting investment, backed by our value offer, we have been able to double the number of companies in this sector since 2000. To date, we have become home to nearly 300 multinational companies that from our territory perform activities of high added value. As a result, now the country occupies more sophisticated links of the Global Value Chains. The benefits for our country of this type of investment are multiple, and transcend the merely economic. These companies have become strategic allies of our educational system, generating in our students skills and knowledge that can only be obtained outside the classroom, thus contributing to the competitiveness of the national productive ecosystem. With 20 years of operating in Costa Rica, Microtechnologies is a clear example of this. We congratulate the company on opening its new plant and we appreciate its commitment to Costa Rica. "
The new manufacturing plant is a state-of-the-art building that has virtually no walls, from its factory floor to office space, to support the company’s commitment to quality, speed, and transparency. The unique factory compensates for this open structure with state of the art passive design features such reflective roofing and living green walls combined with cutting edge HVAC and water systems to achieve its LEED Gold rating. The new space represents a 30% increase in its previous footprint with the ability to double its new size without relocating.
Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director of CINDE, commented "Microtechnologies belongs to a group of 50 companies in the advanced manufacturing sector that today generate quality and well-paid employment for more than 9,900 people. At the end of the nineties this company trusted the country to develop its operations and 20 years later it continues its growth, diversifying into new areas of manufacturing and trusting the Costa Rican human talent to consolidate its business ".
The company has grown from its original 20 local employees to its current workforce of 350, and is forecasting substantial growth with never before seen manufacturing jobs for Costa Rica. The company aims to evolve its operation in Costa Rica into the best workplace in the region.
“We are committed to helping Costa Rica become known as a premier location for product excellence and are passionate about forward thinking manufacturing. Our current focus is to help the local medical device OEMs achieve a global advantage by supporting their most challenging sourcing needs and combining them with practices like VMI and just in time that we have perfected over the last two decades- explained Carlos Mora, Director of Microtechnologies in Costa Rica.
In addition to the production plant and the Engineering and Development department, Microtechnologies has administrative, purchasing and logistics operations in the country that round out its standalone capability.
Those interested in being part of the company can send their CV to the email reclutamiento@mic-tec.com. Due to the diversity of operations of the company in the country, the company seeks for profiles in engineering, administration, finance, as well as graduates of technical careers related to the business.
About Microtechnologies
Microtechnologies delivers advanced engineering solutions in semiconductor, automotive, medical and industrial markets. From disruptive designs and materials to complex automated assemblies, our diverse teams and facilities focus integrated capabilities on component design, prototyping, tooling, fabrication, part validation and scaled production of precision metal components, precious metal wire assemblies, precision switches and sensors, micromachining and automation.
More press information
Ignacio Solís G., Ph.: 2291-0660 or 8837-1536, isolis@milenio.co.cr
Ana Gabriela Padilla, Ph.: 2291-0660 or 8729-8386, apadilla@milenio.co.cr
Carlos Morales, cmorales@cinde.org
