# How Zollner Scaled From Startup To 400 Jobs In Cartago with General Manager Octavio Matus

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2026-09-22
- Length: 8m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-22-how-zollner-scaled-from-startup-to-400-jobs-in-cartago-with-general-manager-octa

## Summary

Octavio Matus, General Manager of Zollner Costa Rica, explains how the site scaled from a single SMT line to a 400-employee hub with double capacity, driven by local supplier development and a stable, loyal engineering team. He details the transition to becoming the Americas engineering hub, leveraging DFX (Design for Manufacturing/Test), automation, and Lean Six Sigma to serve high-reliability sectors like aerospace and medical. Matus highlights the critical role of government and academic partnerships in Costa Rica, which enabled the company to become the number one EMS provider in the region by aligning local education with industry needs.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-22-how-zollner-scaled-from-startup-to-400-jobs-in-cartago-with-general-manager-octa#t=0) Introduction: Octavio Matus and Zollner Costa Rica's 12-year journey
- [1:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-22-how-zollner-scaled-from-startup-to-400-jobs-in-cartago-with-general-manager-octa#t=84) Building a stable, loyal team and engineering culture
- [2:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-22-how-zollner-scaled-from-startup-to-400-jobs-in-cartago-with-general-manager-octa#t=160) Becoming the Americas engineering hub with DFX and automation
- [4:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-22-how-zollner-scaled-from-startup-to-400-jobs-in-cartago-with-general-manager-octa#t=251) Government, academia, and supplier development partnerships
- [6:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-22-how-zollner-scaled-from-startup-to-400-jobs-in-cartago-with-general-manager-octa#t=368) Customer impressions and high-reliability industry focus

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Zollner (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (company)

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- [How to Accelerate and Mature Manufacturing with Barry Hulce of VTMC](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2024-02-06-how-to-accelerate-and-mature-manufacturing-with-barry-hulce-of-vtmc) (Additive Snack)
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- [Scaling Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-19-scaling-manufacturing) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Scaling a High Growth Company with Plethora CEO Jim Quinn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-07-28-scaling-a-high-growth-company-with-plethora-ceo-jim-quinn) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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