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Zollner, one of the world’s leading electronics manufacturing services companies, today officially opened the expansion of its Cartago facility in the La Lima Free Trade Zone, adding approximately 10,000 square metres of operational space and laying the foundation for the creation of around 500 additional jobs by 2030.
The grand opening, attended by the President of Costa Rica, senior representatives of government and industry, customers, suppliers, business partners, and employees marks a significant milestone in Zollner’s Americas 2030 strategy and underlines the company’s long-term confidence in Costa Rica as a strategically important location.
A Decade of Growth and Commitment
Zollner established its Cartago facility in 2014, at a time when the prevailing logic for Americas manufacturing pointed elsewhere. Over the past twelve years, the site has evolved from a new manufacturing location into a key component of Zollner’s interna-tional network, contributing expertise, technology, and best practices to the broader Zollner Group while benefiting from the knowledge and standards shared across its global operations.
Today’s expansion reflects the confidence Zollner has built in Costa Rica over that decade, in the location, in the partnerships established there, and in the people who have built the operation from the ground up.
Strategic Importance for the Americas and Beyond
The Cartago site plays a distinctive role within Zollner’s global footprint. Its proximity to North and South American markets enables short supply chains, high flexibility, and rapid response times, making it an important bridge within Zollner’s Americas strategy and a compelling location for customers serving the US market in particular.
The expanded facility will strengthen Zollner’s capabilities across its key industries, including Healthcare and Life Sciences, Aerospace and Defense, Industrial Electron-ics, and Automotive Technology, while supporting the long-term development of Car-tago as a technology, engineering, and service hub within the Zollner Group.
Compatibility across Zollner’s global network of facilities means that knowledge, pro-cesses, and manufacturing capabilities are shared seamlessly between locations, giving customers the agility to scale, adapt, and respond to changing market condi-tions with confidence.
A Family-Owned Perspective on Long-Term Investment
As a family-owned company, Zollner takes a long-term view of its investments. The Cartago expansion is driven not by short-term opportunity but by trust, conviction, and a belief in the sustainable potential of Costa Rica as a manufacturing geography.
Markus Aschenbrenner, Member of the Zollner Managing Board, said: “When we es-tablished our first facility in Cartago more than twelve years ago, we made a long-term commitment to Costa Rica, to this region, and to the partnerships we were build-ing here. Today’s expansion is the expression of that commitment. As a family-owned company, we invest where we have conviction, and everything we have seen from this team, this location, and this country over the past decade has strengthened ours. Cartago is not just part of our global network. It is one of its most important founda-tions.”
Octavio Matus, General Manager of Zollner Electronics Costa Rica, said: “This team has built something extraordinary here, not just a manufacturing facility, but a com-munity of people who are deeply committed to doing exceptional work. When I think about where we started in 2014 and what we are opening today, I am enormously proud of what we have achieved together. This expansion is recognition of that effort, and it is the platform from which we will achieve even more. For our people, for our customers, and for Costa Rica.”
Stephan Weiß, Chief Executive Officer of Zollner Electronics Inc, said: “The Americas represent one of the most significant opportunities in our industry right now, and Car-tago is at the heart of how we serve that market. Customers across the United States and throughout the Americas are looking for a manufacturing partner that combines global capability with proximity, flexibility, and reliability. That is exactly what this facil-ity delivers. With this expansion, we are ready for the next stage of growth, and we are committed to being the partner of choice for the most demanding customers in the region.”
Significance for Costa Rica and the Cartago Region
Beyond its strategic importance to Zollner, the expnsion represents a meaningful contribution to the industrial development of the Cartago region. The creation of addi-tional skilled jobs, deeper collaboration with local partners, suppliers, and educational institutions, and Zollner’s continued investment in the Costa Rican workforce all con-tribute to the country’s development as a high-tech and innovation hub in the Ameri-cas.
A second day of celebration on August 21st will be dedicated exclusively to Zollner’s employees in Costa Rica.
