Hardware Podcasts

How Geopolitics Is Reshaping Electronics Manufacturing: Zollner's Markus Aschenbrenner in Costa Rica

EMS@C-LEVEL · 15 Sept 2026 · 8m

What this episode covers

Markus Aschenbrenner, Member of the Executive Board at Zollner, explains how geopolitical pressures and IP protection are driving electronics manufacturing toward regionalization rather than just low-cost labor. He details Zollner's global expansion strategy, including acquisitions in the US, sites in Southeast Asia, and exploring India, while highlighting the long-term success of their early bet on Costa Rica over Mexico. Aschenbrenner emphasizes that reliability, supplier qualification, and a stable, educated workforce are now the primary competitive edges for high-tech EMS providers.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Zollner, EIT, Koh Young, Global Electronics Association
Also
Costa Rica, Mexico, India, Thailand, China

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