CHICAGO—Surface Solutions Group, LLC (SSG), a global company specializing in functional coating technologies for medical devices, has established a new operation in Costa Rica that is dedicated to advanced and high‑precision manufacturing processes for the international medical industry, the company stated in a January release.
The company develops low-friction, high‑performance coating processes that are applied to critical components such as guidewires, needles, electrosurgical blades, hypotubes, and cannulas. These processes will be supported by automated equipment, strict quality controls, and regulatory standards aligned with major global markets, the release stated.
The project is reported to entail a long‑term investment exceeding US$10 million, including land acquisition and the construction of a new facility. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with a gradual start‑up of operations expected in 2027, once equipment installation, validation, and qualification processes are completed, the company said.
Coating team members at work on the main production floor of Surface Solutions Group’s Chicago-area facility. (Image courtesy SSG)
“Costa Rica represents a strategic decision for SSG. It allows us to be closer to key customers, collaborate early on in new developments, and scale coating technologies with greater agility and precision,” said Kevin Hess, president of SSG, in a statement. “The country offers a solid production environment and a talent base that understands the standards of the medical device industry.”
The company expects to begin operations with a team of 15 to 20 people. Surface Solutions Group will be recruiting for technical and specialized roles, such as automated equipment operators, coating personnel (“sprayers” and “rackers”), engineers, maintenance technicians, and quality professionals, as well as administrative and executive positions aligned with the sophistication of the production process.
For CINDE, a private organization specialized in attracting foreign direct investment, SSG’s arrival strengthens the evolution of the life sciences sector, Costa Rica’s leading export industry, toward higher value‑added processes.
“SSG joins an ecosystem that has evolved toward more complex and specialized operations,” said Ana María Romero, investment advisory manager at CINDE, in the release. “Its arrival strengthens the sector’s value chain by incorporating critical functional coating processes for high‑precision medical devices. One of the company’s differentiators is its ability to develop and adapt coating technologies from its own laboratory—expertise that SSG expects to gradually transfer to its operation in Costa Rica.
“At CINDE, we have supported the company by understanding its trajectory, the type of processes it will develop in the country, and its growth potential. Our role will be to continue supporting its integration and expansion within the Costa Rican ecosystem,” she noted.
Surface Solutions Group’s investment adds to a growing life sciences cluster that continues to attract projects with high technical content, further positioning Costa Rica as a reliable platform for companies seeking to go beyond traditional manufacturing and compete in segments driven by innovation, precision, and regulatory compliance, the release stated.
Surface Solutions Group is dedicated to providing “proven coating technologies and solutions for the global medical device industry,” and offers 13 categories of functional coatings. The company serves large medical device OEMs and their contract manufacturers, component suppliers, and R&D startups, primarily in the cardiovascular, neurovascular, peripheral vascular, orthopedic, surgical, spine, and dental segments.
Surface Solutions Group is part of the Elektrisola Group, a global provider of wire products and specialized coatings.