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

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2026-10-05
- Length: 6m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-10-05-costa-rica-manufacturing-momentum-with-stephan-weiss-ceo-at-zollner-electronics

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-10-05-costa-rica-manufacturing-momentum-with-stephan-weiss-ceo-at-zollner-electronics#t=0) Introduction: Stephan Weiss and Zollner's Costa Rica Expansion
- [1:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-10-05-costa-rica-manufacturing-momentum-with-stephan-weiss-ceo-at-zollner-electronics#t=71) Overcoming Customer Skepticism About Nearshoring
- [2:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-10-05-costa-rica-manufacturing-momentum-with-stephan-weiss-ceo-at-zollner-electronics#t=136) Engineering Talent and University Partnerships
- [3:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-10-05-costa-rica-manufacturing-momentum-with-stephan-weiss-ceo-at-zollner-electronics#t=219) Costa Rica as the Engineering Center of Excellence
- [4:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-10-05-costa-rica-manufacturing-momentum-with-stephan-weiss-ceo-at-zollner-electronics#t=290) Global Network and Family Culture

## 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 Electronics (company)
- Milpitas (other)
- Fremont (other)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (company)

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- [299: Inside Connecticut's Manufacturing Ecosystem: Innovation, Workforce Development, and Industrial Leadership, Live from Hartford, CT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-18-299-inside-connecticuts-manufacturing-ecosystem-innovation-workforce-development) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Six Facilities, Three Countries, One Culture w/ Darragh de Stonndún](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-11-six-facilities-three-countries-one-culture-w-darragh-de-stonndun) (The Manufacturing Executive)
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- [What the U.S. Can Learn From the German Manufacturing Model w/ Jon DeSouza](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-11-what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-the-german-manufacturing-model-w-jon-desouza) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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