Costa Rica Manufacturing Momentum: with Stephan Weiss, CEO at Zollner Electronics Inc.

EMS@C-LEVEL · 5 Oct 2026 · 6m

What this episode covers

Stephan Weiss, CEO for the Americas at Zollner Electronics, discusses the company's expansion in Costa Rica, highlighting the transition from early builds to high-volume contract manufacturing. He explains how overcoming initial customer skepticism about nearshoring relies on demonstrating 5S discipline, lean manufacturing, and a critical mass of engineering talent capable of complex mechatronics assemblies. The Costa Rica facility is positioned as the engineering center of excellence for the Americas, driving automation, robotics, and AI initiatives while maintaining a unique 'family culture' that ensures long-term employee retention.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies: Zollner Electronics, Koh Young, Global Electronics Association
Also: Milpitas, Fremont

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Costa Rica Manufacturing Momentum: with Stephan Weiss, CEO at Zollner Electronics Inc.

What this episode covers

Most relevant to

Topics

Mentioned

Related episodes from other shows

Nearshoring Manufacturing from Asia to Mexico: Risks, Rewards, and Realities w/ Matt Hannula

299: Inside Connecticut's Manufacturing Ecosystem: Innovation, Workforce Development, and Industrial Leadership, Live from Hartford, CT

Six Facilities, Three Countries, One Culture w/ Darragh de Stonndún

286: Why Local Execution Drives Regional Manufacturing Success: Live from Cleveland, OH

What the U.S. Can Learn From the German Manufacturing Model w/ Jon DeSouza