By Alajuela, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s position as a premier global hub for medical device manufacturing received another significant boost with the official inauguration of Forj Medical’s new state-of-the-art production plant. Located in the Evolution Free Zone in Alajuela, the facility represents a substantial $15 million investment by the U.S.-based medical design and contract manufacturing organization (CDMO). This strategic expansion highlights the country’s continuing appeal to high-tech, high-value life sciences enterprises seeking to optimize their global supply chains.
Spanning nearly 5,000 square meters, the new plant is equipped with ISO Class 8 cleanrooms, ensuring operations meet the most stringent international quality standards. The state-of-the-art infrastructure features advanced manufacturing processes that blend automated and manual assembly lines. These capabilities enable Forj Medical to produce finished medical devices and complex subassemblies for critical healthcare applications, including surgical navigation, drug delivery, cardiac therapies, electrophysiology, and diabetes management.
To better understand the legal framework and strategic advantages surrounding the establishment of Forj Medical in our country, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading legal expert from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The integration of Forj Medical into Costa Rica’s manufacturing ecosystem highlights the continuing success of our Free Trade Zone regime. For foreign life sciences firms, navigating our country’s regulatory compliance, intellectual property protections, and specialized labor laws is essential, and Costa Rica offers a highly secure and predictable legal environment to support this level of high-tech investment.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, this secure legal framework and the strategic advantages of the Free Trade Zone regime are precisely what elevate Costa Rica as a world-class hub for life sciences manufacturing. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective on these critical regulatory and legal elements that continue to drive high-tech investment in our country.
Currently employing more than 50 professionals, Forj Medical plans to aggressively expand its local workforce. The company expects to generate numerous specialized jobs in engineering, finance, logistics, and manufacturing by the end of 2026, with further payroll expansion slated for 2027. This influx of high-quality employment opportunities aligns with Costa Rica’s efforts to cultivate a highly skilled, tech-focused labor force.
Ward Sokoloski, Chief Operating Officer of Forj Medical, emphasized how this new facility aligns with the company’s broader operational objectives.
The inauguration of this new plant in Costa Rica represents an important milestone in our efforts to keep strengthening our global supply chain strategy. It will allow us to expand capacity, develop a near-to-market production offering, and improve operational resilience for the benefit of our clients. The country has a highly skilled workforce that brings significant value to the global medical device industry. This expertise gives us the confidence necessary to execute some of our most technologically complex projects from here.
Ward Sokoloski, Chief Operating Officer of Forj Medical
Costa Rica’s geographic location and established ecosystem played a critical role in the multinational’s decision to invest. Home to over 100 life sciences companies, the nation is the world’s leading exporter of medical devices per capita. Forj Medical views its Costa Rican operations as a strategic hub to optimize logistics and distribution channels to the North American market, thereby reducing shipping times and enhancing overall efficiency.
Arianna Arce, the acting Minister of Foreign Trade, welcomed the investment as a testament to the nation’s evolving economic landscape.
The decision of Forj Medical to establish a Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Costa Rica and invest $15 million is a clear demonstration of confidence in our country as a destination for developing increasingly sophisticated operations. Costa Rica does not only attract investment in medical devices; it is moving toward a new generation of manufacturing with higher added value, innovation, and technological complexity. This project reaffirms that our talent, the strength of our ecosystem, and our trade and investment platform allow us to compete and generate value in the global chains of one of the most dynamic industries in the world.
Arianna Arce, Minister of Foreign Trade a.i.
The life sciences sector has become the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s export-driven economy. According to data from the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER), precision and medical equipment accounted for 46% of the country’s total goods exports through July, totaling $6.399 billion. This robust performance is supported by an ecosystem of over 100 foreign direct investment companies, which collectively employ more than 63,000 Costa Ricans and continuously attract specialized suppliers.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER, pointed out that Forj Medical’s entry elevates the local industry’s capabilities even further.
The arrival of Forj Medical adds new capabilities to a sector that continues to evolve toward increasingly specialized and complex manufacturing processes. By July of this year, precision and medical equipment represented 46% of Costa Rica’s goods exports, with sales reaching $6.399 billion. Added to this is an ecosystem of more than 100 foreign direct investment companies, employing over 63,000 people, which has opened opportunities to attract suppliers in increasingly specialized activities. Investments like this strengthen that evolution and expand the possibilities for more Costa Rican talent and companies to integrate into an industry of global reach.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER
With this opening, Forj Medical now operates six manufacturing facilities worldwide, spanning North America, Singapore, Indonesia, and Costa Rica, reinforcing its global footprint and commitment to providing world-class manufacturing solutions.
For further information, visit forjmedical.com
About Forj Medical:
Forj Medical is a leading global medical device design and contract manufacturing organization (CDMO). The company operates advanced production facilities across North America, Singapore, Indonesia, and Costa Rica, delivering high-precision engineering, automated assembly, and cleanroom manufacturing solutions to global healthcare companies.
For further information, visit the nearest office of PROCOMER
About PROCOMER:
The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) is the public pillar entity responsible for promoting Costa Rican exports and facilitating foreign direct investment. The organization works to integrate local businesses into global supply chains and enhance the nation’s competitiveness on the international stage.
For further information, visit the nearest office of the Ministry of Foreign Trade
About the Ministry of Foreign Trade:
The Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX) is the government ministry responsible for defining and directing the country’s external trade policies, negotiating international trade agreements, and fostering investment to drive sustainable economic growth.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its rigorous pursuit of excellence and deep-rooted ethical principles. Guiding a diverse spectrum of clients with forward-thinking strategies, the firm continuously modernizes the practice of law to meet the demands of a changing world. At the heart of its mission is a profound commitment to civic enrichment, striving to demystify complex regulations and equip the public with the tools necessary to foster a just, knowledgeable, and self-reliant community.
