|
| 
Published Wednesday, April 7, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Wisconsin-based company SMC, a global contract manufacturer for the medical, diagnostics and pharmaceutical markets, announced on Tuesday the expansion of its facility in Costa Rica.
The firm has also branched in California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Ohio of the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom and India.
“SMC has seen tremendous growth in Costa Rica, both in technological capabilities and our people development,” Bob Stoesser, SMC Vice President said. “This is our third expansion in 10 years and shows our commitment to Costa Rica, its people, and community."
According to SMC Costa Rica, the expansion allows for additional cleanroom molding and contract manufacturing capacity. The development will double its current facility bringing it to 120,000 square feet in the Coyol Free Zone Park in Alajuela Province.
With the additional space, the firm will provide increased contract manufacturing solutions including assembly, injection molding and secondary operations, giving their global customers more options.
By the end of 2020, the more than 300 multinational firms with operations in Costa Rica country had created approximately 134,026 jobs, of these 38,248 jobs were created in life-sciences companies, according to the Foreign Trade Ministry.
However, despite the high numbers announced by the ministry, the Employment Survey, from November 2020 to January 2021, shows an unemployment rate of 19.1%, meaning there are 468,000 people without registered jobs in the country.
In 2010, SMC was one of the first suppliers to set up operations in the Coyol Free Zone Park at a multi-tenant building. Four years later, in 2014, the company relocated to a larger facility doubling its square footage.
This year, the firm is announcing doubling its manufacturing area to 120,000 square feet to support the significant growth they are undergoing.
SMC currently employs over 200 people in Costa Rica and will be hiring additional workers. The company is a manufacturer offering complete design, molding services, and finished devices for the medical, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical industries. People interested in their job openings should visit the company Career site.
In 2020 exports of medical devices totaled $3,941 million, accounting for 8% of growth compared to 2019, according to the statistics of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency, CINDE.
--------------------------------------
What should Costa Ricans do to get a job in a multinational company? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
|
