Smiths Interconnect, a leading provider of technically advanced electronic components, subsystems, microwave, optical and radio frequency products, and a business of Smiths Group plc, will invest over £2 million into talent acquisition, automation, business development, manufacturing and testing at its Costa Rica facility to support the country’s growing electronics manufacturing sector and anticipate the growing needs of the aerospace, space and defence markets.
The company’s Costa Rica plant supports the production and testing of high-reliability electronic components used in demanding environments, including space, aviation and advanced communications systems. The facility operates as part of Smiths Interconnect’s international manufacturing network, supplying customers across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Costa Rica’s role in advanced manufacturing
Costa Rica has transitioned over the past three decades from a largely agricultural export economy to a regional manufacturing hub for electronics, aerospace systems and medical devices. This shift has been supported by sustained investment in education, a comparatively stable political environment and a trade framework that favors export-oriented manufacturing.
The country is also positioned to benefit from near-shoring trends in the electronics sector, particularly as manufacturers seek to shorten supply chains and reduce exposure to geopolitical risk. Costa Rica hosts the region’s only Intel semiconductor assembly and test operation, strengthening its role in the wider semiconductor and electronics ecosystem.
Geographically, Costa Rica sits between North and South America with access to both Atlantic and Pacific ports, enabling efficient logistics by air, sea and land to major global markets.
The Costa Rica facility
Smiths Interconnect’s Costa Rica manufacturing site is located near San José, close to major population centers, universities and transport infrastructure. The location allows the company to draw from a local workforce of engineers, technicians and operators trained through public and private education institutions.
The plant comprises approximately 33,700 square feet of manufacturing space and employs more than 150 full-time staff. In recent years, operations have shifted from largely manual processes to semi-automated production using robotic systems for assembly, soldering, testing and inspection. According to the company, the transition has improved throughput, consistency and workplace safety.
The facility is certified to AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 for quality management, ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health and safety, and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management.
A high-reliability burn area where parts are subject to simulated life conditions under power.
Products and technical capabilities
The Costa Rica plant manufactures a range of electronic and RF components, with an emphasis on high-reliability applications. These include resistors, terminations and attenuators designed for high power-to-size performance, as well as fixed, temperature-variable and coaxial attenuators operating from DC through Q-band.
Signal distribution products such as power dividers, samplers and crossovers are produced for frequencies up to 50 GHz. The site also assembles semi-rigid and flexible RF cable assemblies, including space-qualified variants for satellite payloads, deep-space missions and ground-based antenna systems. Space-grade cable assemblies are manufactured to meet NASA and ESA outgassing and radiation-resistance requirements.
Smiths Interconnect operator verifying the results of a screen print.
Smiths Interconnect reports that components produced at the Costa Rica facility are used in a range of international aerospace and defense programs, reflecting the plant’s focus on reliability, testing and process control rather than high-volume consumer electronics.
Looking ahead
The company is evaluating further expansion of capabilities at the Costa Rica site, including the potential introduction of additional semiconductor manufacturing and assembly processes. As global electronics supply chains continue to diversify, Smiths Interconnect positions the Costa Rica facility as a stable, export-focused manufacturing base within its broader international footprint.
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