Medical Device Manufacturing in Mexico is Growing
October 10, 2012
The medical device industry in Mexico, specifically in Tijuana, currently has over 28,000 employees. It has the largest concentration of medical device employees in North America with skill levels ranging from manual labor to personnel who conduct research and development. Mexico has many excellent educational institutions that help ensure a steady supply of employees who are qualified in handling medical device manufacturing in Mexico jobs.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was formed in 1994. Due to that agreement and the devaluation of the Peso, medical device manufacturing in Mexico began to grow and expand. Importation of medical equipment and components to Mexico from the United States and Canada became duty-free. The parts could be imported into Mexico, processed, assembled and then re-exported at a much lower cost.
Because of the lower costs and the fact that the medical device industry in Mexico has a skilled workforce, many United States medical device manufacturers have moved their operations and began manufacturing medical devices in Mexico. Some of those include Tyco Healthcare, ICU Medical, Lancer Orthodontics, Sunrise Medical and Medtronic.
Over 90 percent of Mexico’s medical devices are currently exported to the United States. Imports of medical device components for processing and assembly from other countries include Germany, China, Japan and Italy.
The medical device industry in Mexico has become a very attractive option for investors because of its proximity to the United States and Canada and their skill in the development and manufacturing of medical devices. A high percentage of their investors are from the United States.
As of 2008, Mexico has the largest Latin American medical device market. They have become a leader in product development to improve products and services in the healthcare industry. As a result, healthcare professionals now have better products to use in the treatment of their patients.