COSTA RICA PRODUCED MORE THAN JUST BANANAS...

... since 1985 it has also been producing Sachtler products! What started off with a staff of fifteen and a small assembly plant on an industrial estate in Cartago, a suburb of San José, has today grown into a factory employing some 100 people.

The fertility of Costa Rica’s soil is reflected in the growth of the production facilities.  Since expansion in February 2007, a total of four machining centres with double spindles, various tool magazines, as well as horizontal and vertical machining centres are in use on the 3,000 square metre site, handling the total production of this and two other brands in the Vitec Group.

GERMAN / COSTA-RICAN FERTILITY

Thanks to Costa Rica’s investment program, Sachtler was able to get established quickly in Central America. The location in a tax-free zone allows Sachtler to produce high quality at competitive prices, then and now. “To ensure that our customers enjoy their accustomed Sachtler quality, we now produce at the most modern level in Costa Rica” says CEO Heinz Kossler. “Our development engineers in Munich and production engineers in Costa Rica are constantly in contact. The latest requirements are discussed and implemented at regular know-how exchange sessions. Naturally, there are also reciprocal visits and comprehensive documentation.” There is a strong awareness of the necessary high standards on both sides, letting customers rely on the well-trained staff in the Vitec Group worldwide.

NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS

Not just the business and Sachtler benefit from having production in Costa Rica. In the past eight years, production there also boosted growth in the supply industry: “The systems used in industrial production, such as machining, rubber processing and plastic injection moulding, have been constantly developed and were based on our strict quality requirements right from the start,” says on-the-spot CEO Julio Lizano with satisfaction. “Local suppliers product to Sachtler’s standard, letting us supply top quality at all times.”

SEEDS FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Now that the new machines have been installed and full production is expected by 2008, Heinz Kossler and Julio Lizano are looking expectantly to the future. The combination of German ingenuity and Costa Rican productive efficiency has paid off in full measure, giving ample scope for more products featuring Sachtler’s traditional standards: security, reliability and robustness.