Medical Device Manufacturing: Start Manufacturing Medical Devices in Mexico’s Growing Industry
From close customer access to convenient logistics, the advantages of Mexico’s medical device industry have drawn the interest of global manufacturers for decades.
Top Medical Device Companies Use Manufacturers in Mexico for Their Equipment
Though life-saving medical devices and health care products are sometimes overlooked when thinking about Mexican exports, Mexico's medical and surgical device manufacturing market is home to some of the healthcare industry's most important players. Medical device companies that manufacture their products in Mexico include Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Welch Allyn, and GE Medical Systems. These companies are among the global life science powerhouses that choose Mexico's production machining, services, and technologies for their quick turnaround times and access to top talent. From pipettes and needles to pacemakers and respirators, medical device manufacturing in Mexico is vital to the country's manufacturing equipment sector. Mexico has historically exported more than USD $9 billion annually in medical equipment, products, and supplies and company revenues continue to grow every year. Projections from INEGI (the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía) place that amount at close to USD $15 billion by the end of 2020.
Location is one of the most significant factors in the success of producing medical device products in Mexico. Manufacturing companies in Mexico take great care to be located in close proximity to some of the largest medical device markets in the United States so that they can easily ship and exchange products. San Diego, California, which is the fourth-largest life sciences hub in the US, has a high concentration of medical device manufacturers located in nearby areas. Directly across the border lies the city of Tijuana, which is a short half-hour drive to the country's booming Baja California region. Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Jalisco, Sonora, and Tamaulipas are close behind, with many medical equipment manufacturers operating within their borders.
Key Mexico Medical Device Industry Statistics
$15 billion
value of devices produced by Mexico’s medical device manufacturing industry
Mexico is home to some of the top manufacturers of medical devices in Latin America and the eighth-largest manufacturer of medical devices in the world. Mexico is also the top exporter of medical devices to the United States, shipping everything from pacemakers and respirators to other surgical and clinical products.
140,000
jobs generated by Mexico’s medical device manufacturing industry
According to data from AMID (the Mexican Association of Innovative Industries of Medical Devices), surgical instruments and medical device manufacturing in Mexico is a leading generator of the country’s employment. Medical device companies offer over 71,000 jobs in the Baja California region alone.
75+
manufacturing companies located in Baja California alone
The densely concentrated Baja California region is key to Mexico’s success in the medical device manufacturing industry. The 75+ medical device manufacturing companies found in the region account for approximately 50 percent of the total medical device market in Mexico.
Medical Device Manufacturers Achieve Robust Growth with Tetakawi’s Medical and Surgical Device Advantage
Whether you’re thinking about manufacturing devices in Mexico or you’re already there, Tetakawi can help your business launch, operate, and thrive in the country’s robust medical device manufacturing industry. With over 34 years of experience in the Mexican manufacturing industry, we’re experienced in getting medical device manufacturers up and running smoothly. Our services are built on strategy, driven by experience, and tailored to meet the unique needs of your corporation. Though we’re the largest shelter services provider in Mexico, our hands-on approach means that you can rely on a trusted associate to guide you through every step of growing your medical device company and expanding your market segment. We can provide your business with the information you need for medical device development and help you:
- Select the right location for your medical device maquiladora in Mexico
- Configure legal, organizational, and support structures
- Recruit, train, and retain your employees
- Manage all admin functions from finance and accounting to labor and customs
- Keep your medical technology company running smoothly from initial launch through ongoing operation to continuously generate revenue
- and so much more – we do the heavy administrative lifting so that your team can focus on your field of expertise and competitive advantage: manufacturing excellence.
Start manufacturing medical devices with comprehensive support from Tetakawi.
Establish or expand your medical device manufacturing company in Mexico with our tailored services and medical industry expertise. From in-depth consultations to turnkey manufacturing facilities, we can help you at any stage of the start-up process.
Focus on what you do best, and we’ll do the rest – our shelter service offering is the easy, cost-effective, and low-risk way to establish a medical manufacturing presence in Mexico.
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Launch your company successfully with a streamlined team of experts dedicated to making sure that your market entry strategy is executed on-time and on-budget.
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Run your Medical Device factory seamlessly with turnkey manufacturing facilities that combine Class A industrial space, on-site support, and shelter services. Produce instruments for medical use with great care and efficiency.
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From site selection and customs analysis, to cost estimation and generating revenue, we’ll help your corporation make decisions that are informed, strategic, and actionable.
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FAQs About Becoming a Medical Device Manufacturer in Mexico
How does the medical device manufacturing employee and labor market work in Mexico?
The medical device manufacturing industry is one of the leading employers for the city of Tijuana and surrounding areas in the Baja California region. A strong education system, access to transferable skills from high-tech industries, established supplier relations, and cost-effective employee wages are advantages that make Mexico’s labor market for medical device manufacturing attractive.
Where should my company locate a facility for medical device manufacturing in Mexico?
A significant benefit of locating medical device manufacturing operations in Mexico is proximity to the United States. Though the Baja California region is well-known for its medical device manufacturing cluster, Sonora is a compelling and sometimes overlooked option that offers many advantages. Sonora stands out for its modern customs and border infrastructure, convenient transit networks by land and air, well-trained stable workforce, and easy start-up options. In particular, companies looking to establish operations often choose to use a manufacturing community. For example, Medtronic operates in multiple locations in Mexico, including a Sonoran facility in Empalme at Tetakawi's Bella Vista Manufacturing Community. A manufacturing community provides value through a turnkey start-up solution, combining the benefits of accessible operating space, on-site support, and a comprehensive legal framework. For more information or to get help choosing a location for manufacturing medical device components, you can contact us and explore our site selection services.
How is the Medical Device Manufacturing industry regulated in Mexico?
In Mexico, medical devices are regulated by the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risk, which has set import/export regulations since 2001. In the United States, which is Mexico's top export country for the industry, medical device manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and import is controlled by the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration). The FDA works to ensure medical device safety. Production is tightly controlled for medical devices, and given the rigorous compliance needs, many companies opt to work with a shelter services provider like Tetakawi that is well-versed in this arena. Shelter services can help manufacturers comply with manufacturing, safety, trade, and legal requirements.
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