A Premier Hub for Medical Device Companies
Following decades of growth, medical devices rose to the top of Costa Rican exports in 2025, accounting for half of all exports. With more than 70 medical device companies choosing to call the country home, free trade zones have granted attractive tax incentives that have spurred investment. For these reasons, Medical Component Specialists is joining the vibrant ecosystems with a new, state-of-the-art facility.
Why Costa Rica?
So why has Costa Rica become an international destination for medical device manufacturers? According to Laura López, CEO of the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), “Operating top-tier manufacturing facilities in Costa Rica delivers concrete benefits in terms of stability, talent, market access, and sustainability.” Here’s what’s driving innovation in Costa Rica:
- World-Class MedTech Cluster: Costa Rica has become a global medical device hub with over 70 (and growing) major manufacturers, robust suppliers, and proven FDA-compliant operations.
- Highly Skilled Workforce: The country is home to strong STEM education and experienced cleanroom talent at significantly lower labor costs than in the U.S. or EU.
- Trade Incentives: Companies operating within the free trade incentive zones enjoy 0% tax for up to 12 years, plus exemptions on equipment, raw materials, and exports.
- Strategic Location: Costa Rica is close to the U.S., within stable time zones, and offers a mature logistics infrastructure optimized for medical devices.
MCS’s New Costa Rican Facility
Located just five miles from the main port, in the free trade zone outside Orotina, is Medical Component Specialists’ state-of-the-art 16,000 sq ft manufacturing site, with plans to open this summer. The facility, operating with MCS’s proprietary, fully automated grinding process, combines custom engineering and process IP that’s been in development for the past three years.
During the first phase, five custom grinding centers will offer manufacturers in Costa Rica an immediate cost savings of 30%, with plans to add forty-five more. The technology features a fully automated cleaning system for both metals and plastics. At its current capacity, it will support Lubrizol with up to 20,000 units/month, with room to grow as demand increases, facilitating long-term volume growth and redundancy.
By the end of Q2 2026, the Costa Rica site will be ISO 13485 validated. MCS is already an FDA-registered organization, following a successful FDA audit in 2018.
To learn more about Medical Component Specialists’ new Costa Rica facility, get in contact with us today.
