Our Story
Learn our story, leadership, and mission shaping manufacturing in Mexico.
Predictable Manufacturing in Saltillo, Coahuila Starts Here
More than an industrial park or a shelter company in Saltillo, Tetakawi’s Zapa Manufacturing Campus brings together the infrastructure and support you need to launch, operate and grow your own factory in Mexico.
Overview
You Run Your Factory. We Run the Campus.
You run your factory and control production, quality and intellectual property. Tetakawi manages the environment around it, with its own teams working on Campus every day.
More Than an Industrial Park in Saltillo
Space & Land
Total Land: 112 acres
Industrial Space: ~2.1M sq ft of Class A space under management
Availability: Standard Class A buildings of about 35,000 sq ft; contact us for current options that fit your operation
Utilities & Infrastructure
Electrical Power: 15 MVA (15,000 kVA) serving the Campus
Natural Gas: 4-inch line at 300 PSI
Water: Contracted Campus supply with an on-site treatment plant
Security: Controlled vehicle access, perimeter surveillance and on-site security personnel
Location & Logistics
U.S. Border Access: Tetakawi’s McAllen, TX, cross-dock, approximately four hours from the Campus by road
Airport Access: Saltillo airport (~17 mi) and Monterrey International Airport (~78 mi)
Regional Access: Monterrey’s OEM and tier-one supplier base, about 70 minutes away
Workforce & Amenities
Employee Transportation: Bus routes across Saltillo, used by close to 1,500 employees
On-Site Amenities: Medical center and open recreation space for employee sports and family events
Credentials
IMMEX shelter program; OEA (Authorized Economic Operator); ISO 9001 quality management systems; Great Place to Work
Why Zapa
Why Manufacturers Choose Saltillo
Build on Saltillo’s skilled trades, technical schools and regional suppliers, with Monterrey about 70 minutes away.
An Established Workforce
Recruit operators, welders and machinists from Saltillo’s technical schools and manufacturing workforce for the roles your operation needs.
A Regional Supplier Base Within Reach
Connect with automotive and metalworking suppliers in the region, with Monterrey’s OEM and tier-one supplier base about 70 minutes from Zapa.
Controlled Access, Around the Clock
Your factory sits within a Campus with controlled access, one entrance, surveillance cameras and a control room staffed around the clock.
Statistics
Zapa, by the Numbers
25+
Years helping manufacturers in Saltillo.
20+
International manufacturers on Campus.
~4,500
Employees supported on the Campus.
On Campus
Around Your Factory, Already Running
Focus on production within an operating environment already running at Zapa, with Tetakawi’s HR team inside your building:
- Recruiting, payroll and HR, with Tetakawi as employer of record
- Import and export under Tetakawi’s programs, with a cross-dock in McAllen
- Environmental, health, safety and fiscal support on Campus
- Bus routes across Saltillo, a medical center and controlled access
- Build-out and equipment yours to specify; utilities at cost
Case Studies
Manufacturers Growing at Zapa
Hear from manufacturers at Zapa and a longtime Tetakawi client about the support behind their operations.
“Why Mexico first? Saltillo is in the north of the country, the border is close and we are part of North America, so import and export is easier. Saltillo has very good knowledge of industries and manufacturing processes, and we receive products from our sister plants in the US, consolidate here and ship them across Mexico.”
Mauricio García, Plant Manager, Gemini Group
“Saltillo is well located for the United States and Monterrey, and the workforce here is skilled, stable and motivated. Aside from the physical space where we operate, Tetakawi provides the manpower we need, supports us in getting things in and out of the country, and helps make sure we comply with all regulations.”
Agustín Mendoza, Plant Manager, Commercial Sewing
“From an overhead perspective, I found things were between 15 and 20 percent, and on top of that my plant could be more focused on feeding the customer versus dealing with labor and environmental laws. In many cases Tetakawi was more cost effective than the plants where we were doing it on our own.”
Jon Jensen, Manufacturing CEO, repeat Tetakawi client since 2001
Campus Pillars
Four Pillars Supporting Your Factory in Saltillo
At Zapa, one partner manages space, workforce, logistics and compliance. Shelter services in Saltillo are part of that complete environment.
Industrial Space
Choose a Class A building at Zapa, adapted to your process. Tetakawi maintains the base building and surrounding Campus, so your team can focus on production.
Workforce
You set the roles, choose your people and direct production. Tetakawi recruits in Saltillo, runs HR and payroll administration, and holds the union agreement.
Logistics
Choose your carriers or consolidate freight at our McAllen cross-dock. Tetakawi manages Mexican import and export under its programs, supporting your shipments.
Compliance
Operate under Tetakawi’s IMMEX shelter program without forming your own Mexican company. We manage the registrations and administration while you direct production.
Featured Resources
Make Confident Decisions About
Manufacturing in Saltillo
FAQs
What Manufacturers Ask Us About Zapa
Explore setting up a factory in Saltillo: space, staffing, costs, logistics and the steps to get started.
Do we need a Mexican company to manufacture at Zapa?
No.
You can operate under Tetakawi’s Mexican entity and IMMEX shelter program without forming your own company in Mexico.
That entity employs your workforce and holds the Mexican import and export registrations. You control your factory’s production, processes, quality and intellectual property.
Tetakawi’s teams on Campus manage the property, recruiting, payroll, customs administration and environmental, health and safety support around your factory.
How do you help us recruit and retain a team in Saltillo?
We build recruitment around your job descriptions, skills requirements and hiring plan.
Saltillo’s technical schools and established manufacturing workforce provide a regional candidate base.
Tetakawi recruits and screens candidates; you select your team. We make offers on your instruction, employ the workforce and manage payroll. Pay recommendations reflect comparable roles around the Campus.
Campus buses serve Saltillo, Ramos Arizpe and Arteaga, carrying close to 1,500 employees. Transportation, on-site HR and medical services support your workforce, while your managers direct production and develop the team’s skills.
What industrial space is available at Zapa, and when could we start?
We confirm current availability against your requirements.
Standard buildings are about 35,000 square feet, including approximately 30,000 square feet of production floor, and can be adapted to your process.
Share your footprint, utility requirements and target production date. We will identify available options and assess the build-out and equipment lead times that shape your launch schedule.
If Zapa cannot accommodate your requirements, we can also evaluate Tetakawi shelter services in a vetted third-party industrial park in Saltillo. We will compare that option with the Campus model.
How do labor costs in Saltillo compare with the U.S.?
Lower than the U.S. on direct labor, and Saltillo is in Mexico’s general minimum wage zone, outside the border premium.
As of October 2026, fully fringed direct labor at Zapa starts at about $5.98 per hour for unskilled roles, $8.33 for welders and $9.54 for CNC machinists. That assumes MXN 18.5 per US dollar and a 46-hour work week. Fully fringed means the wage plus benefits and contributions.
The same roles in U.S. manufacturing cost about $32, $39 and $42 an hour, wages plus benefits (our calculation from BLS 2025 wage and 2026 benefit data).
Rates depend on the role, and your full cost for manufacturing in Saltillo, Coahuila also depends on your space, process and logistics, among other factors. Tell us what you are planning, and we will run the numbers with you.
How will our shipments reach the U.S., and who handles customs?
Tetakawi’s McAllen cross-dock is about four hours from Zapa by road.
Freight is received, staged and consolidated there for handoff between Mexican and U.S. carriers. Your carrier may also route through Laredo, about three and a half hours away.
Tetakawi acts as importer and exporter of record in Mexico; your company acts as importer of record in the United States. A licensed Mexican broker files entries under Tetakawi’s programs, and your U.S. broker uses the documentation and part-level data our team helps prepare.
What does it take to find out whether Zapa is right for us?
Four steps, starting with your goals.
1. Discuss your operation. Share your processes, volumes, headcount and target production date.
2. Build the business case. Compare the full operating cost, risks and trade-offs at Zapa. If another Campus fits better, we evaluate it with you.
3. Visit Zapa. Walk the Campus, meet your support team and speak with manufacturers already operating here.
4. Launch and grow. Once you decide to proceed, we coordinate the launch with your team and continue supporting your operation as it grows.
Plan Your Manufacturing Operation in Saltillo
Start with a conversation. Tell us your goals for Saltillo, and we’ll help you decide whether Zapa fits.
