US$10 Million Investment: Medical Tech Giant SSG Chooses Costa Rica for New Advanced Coatings Hub
The Central American nation of Costa Rica is once again cementing its status as a global powerhouse for high-tech manufacturing. Surface Solutions Group, LLC, or SSG, a US-based leader in functional coating technologies for medical devices, has announced a major new investment exceeding US$10 million to establish a state-of-the-art facility in the country. The move is a significant win for Costa Rica’s burgeoning life sciences sector, highlighting its transition toward sophisticated, high value-added production.
SSG, a company with over 60 years of experience in coating technologies and a two-decade focus on medical applications, specializes in creating low-friction, high-performance coatings for critical components. These advanced processes are vital for medical instruments such as guidewires, needles, hypotubes, and cannulas, which are used in complex procedures across the cardiovascular, neurovascular, orthopedic, and surgical segments.
A Strategic Move to an Established Hub
The decision to expand into Costa Rica was a strategic one, according to SSG President Kevin Hess, who noted that the location allows the company to be closer to key customers and collaborate earlier on new developments. The facility will utilize extensive automation and strict quality controls, processes necessary to meet the demanding performance and regulatory standards of the global medical industry. Construction for the project is slated to begin in early 2026, with a gradual start-up of operations expected in 2027.
Upon launch, the facility plans to start with an initial team of 15 to 20 people, recruiting for specialized technical roles like automated equipment operators. This small but highly specialized workforce will integrate into a country that has become world-renowned for its skilled labor pool in this precise sector.
Costa Rica’s Golden Age of MedTech
This new investment is not happening in a vacuum; it’s the latest chapter in a remarkable economic success story. The medical device industry has become a structural pillar of the Costa Rican economy, with exports growing at an impressive average annual rate of 18% since 2017. The country’s strong performance has propelled it to the position of the second-largest exporter of medical devices in Latin America and the fifth-largest supplier to the United States.
In fact, the export of medical devices and precision equipment is now the biggest driver of the country’s foreign trade. The sector reached over US$7.5 billion in exports in 2023, representing a significant portion of all goods shipped abroad. Forecasts suggest this number is only rising, with exports reaching US$8.675 billion in 2024 and continuing to climb. The country’s reliability, political stability, and high-quality talent base have attracted an entire ecosystem of over 100 medical technology companies, including 14 of the world’s top 30 MedTech multinationals.
By bringing advanced manufacturing processes like SSG’s functional coatings to the region, Costa Rica is solidifying its shift from traditional assembly work to an economy centered on innovation and technologically sophisticated products. The arrival of SSG is further proof that for companies looking to lead the next generation of medical technology, Pura Vida is also proving to be great business.
