U.S. Firm Puts $15 Million Into a Costa Rica Free Zone

FTZ News: Forj Medical opened its new plant Thursday at the Evolution free zone in Alajuela.

El Observador reported the opening the same day. The U.S. company invested $15 million in a building of almost 5,000 square meters, with ISO Class 8 clean rooms, offices, and automated and manual production lines. It said the plant will make finished medical devices and subassemblies, including products related to surgical navigation, electrophysiology, diabetes care, drug delivery, and cardiovascular therapy.

The company named North America as the market the plant is intended to serve. It had more than 50 employees at the opening and said it would continue hiring in engineering, finance, production, and logistics through late 2026. Further hiring is planned for 2027. El Observador links Forj to Intricon and Minnetronix Medical.

Analysis

The plant sits in Costa Rica’s free-zone system, which applies duty and tax treatment under the country’s free-zone rules. The $15 million investment and the starting payroll of more than 50 people are the main scale figures in the report.

El Observador does not give an export-value target, a share of Forj’s overall production, or a comparison with other medical-device plants in the Central Valley. How large a part Alajuela plays in Forj’s North American supply will depend on orders and on the extra hiring planned for 2027./.