Smiths Interconnect has announced an investment of over £2 million in its manufacturing facility in Costa Rica to support the country’s rapidly growing electronics sector and to meet rising global demand for high‑reliability components in aerospace, space and defence applications.
The investment will strengthen the plant’s role as a key hub for advanced electronic component manufacturing, testing and automation in the Americas region.
Strategic Expansion in Costa Rica
The Costa Rica facility plays a central role in Smiths Interconnect’s global manufacturing footprint, supporting the production and testing of high‑reliability electronic components for demanding environments. The new investment focuses on talent acquisition, advanced automation, business development, manufacturing and testing capabilities to increase output, efficiency and quality.
Located near San José, the plant benefits from access to a highly educated workforce, well‑developed infrastructure and excellent connectivity to North and South America, Europe and Asia via nearby ports and the international airport. This strategic location allows efficient sourcing of materials and global distribution of finished products across multiple high‑tech market segments.
Focus on High‑Reliability Markets
Smiths Interconnect’s Costa Rican operations support critical programmes in aerospace, space and defence that require robust performance in harsh operating environments. Components manufactured and tested at the facility are used in systems such as planetary exploration vehicles, space missions and advanced military aircraft, where reliability and precision are mission‑critical.
By expanding capacity and automation in Costa Rica, the company aims to better serve OEMs and system integrators that demand consistent quality, traceability and compliance with stringent international standards. The investment also positions the facility to adapt to emerging requirements in areas such as satellite communications, avionics and defence electronics.
Advanced Manufacturing and Automation
The Costa Rica plant offers a wide range of manufacturing services including high‑reliability testing, thin and thick film wafer processing, plating, tape and reel, J‑STD solder assembly and automation. Recent upgrades have shifted several operations from manual to semi‑automated processes using modern robotic technology for assembly, testing, soldering and inspection.
These automation initiatives are designed to increase productivity and throughput while improving quality, cost efficiency and worker safety. The facility operates under multiple international certifications, including AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 for quality, ISO 45001:2018 for safety and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management, underpinning its role as a trusted partner for high‑reliability applications.
Product and Technology Capabilities
The Costa Rica plant manufactures a broad portfolio of resistive components, including resistors, terminations and attenuators with high power‑to‑size ratios based on advanced substrate technologies. These products are widely used where RF power handling, stability and precise signal control are essential.
Among its key offerings are fixed and temperature‑variable attenuators such as the Thermopad, a fully passive solution for gain compensation designed for demanding, high‑reliability systems. The facility also supports coaxial attenuators from DC through Q‑band, with power ratings from 0.1 W up to 120 W and attenuation values up to 30 dB on selected devices, available in both low‑power chip and high‑power BeO packages.
In addition to resistive products, the plant produces signal distribution devices, including power dividers, samplers and crossovers for applications up to 50 GHz, with compact, surface‑mountable, RoHS‑compliant designs. Semi‑rigid and flexible cable assemblies, together with specialised test and manufacturing services, complement the portfolio to support complex RF and microwave architectures.
Supporting Costa Rica’s Electronics Ecosystem
Costa Rica has evolved into a regional hub for electronics, aerospace systems and medical device manufacturing, supported by a skilled workforce and favourable trade environment. The presence of major semiconductor operations and advanced electronics manufacturers has created a dynamic ecosystem that benefits from high‑level engineering talent and robust supply chains.
Smiths Interconnect’s continued investment in its Costa Rica facility reinforces this ecosystem by adding automation, high‑reliability manufacturing and specialised testing capabilities to the local industrial base. The plant also supports nearby electronics and medical device companies with components and services, contributing to broader economic development and technology leadership in the region.
Global Footprint and Long‑Term Commitment
Smiths Interconnect has maintained operations in Costa Rica for more than 25 years, making the facility one of its established centres of excellence within a global network that spans 12 countries. Across its worldwide locations, the company designs and manufactures differentiated electronic components, subsystems, microwave, optical and RF solutions that connect, protect and control critical applications in aerospace, defence, medical, semiconductor test and industrial markets.
The new investment underscores Smiths Interconnect’s long‑term commitment to Costa Rica as a strategic manufacturing base and to its customers who rely on robust, high‑performance connectivity solutions. By combining local talent with global engineering and application expertise, the company aims to accelerate innovation while maintaining the high quality standards required in mission‑critical sectors.
Source
This article is based on information provided by Smiths Interconnect in its official press communications about the Costa Rica facility investment and related corporate and product information.
