Invest with Purpose

Essential News

Edwards Lifesciences, leading heart valves manufacturer chooses Costa Rica to expand its global production network.
NEWS

Edwards Lifesciences, leading heart valves manufacturer chooses Costa Rica to expand its global production network.

The company Edwards
Lifesciences, headquartered in the US, looks to hire 150 people for its facilities.

San José, Costa
Rica, June 29, 2016 — Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in innovations for structural heart diseases and critical care monitoring aimed to patients, announced today that the company, with headquarters in Irvine, California, United States, chose Costa Rica to expand its heart valve production network. This is because its innovative technologies are increasingly used by people around the world.

The company is planning to hire at least 150 people for different functions, such as Production, Engineering and Administration for its facilities in La Lima Free Zone in Cartago. By the end of 2017, Edwards plans to double the number of people working for them in Costa Rica.

“Edwards chose Costa Rica as an additional production facility for our technology in heart valves that save lives, because the country has qualified workforce and wide experience in the production of medical devices,” said Josué Campos, general manager for Edwards’ facility in Costa Rica. “We want to be an integral part of Cartago’s community when providing professional opportunities and education for our employees with the joint target of helping more patients around the world who need advanced cardiac therapies.”

The company formed an alliance with the Universidad Americana (UAM) in Cartago in order to temporary establish training facilities where they will start training their employees on September. Furthermore, it is expected that the 4,500m2 production plant starts operating at the beginning of 2017. Those interested in applying for a position can write to sucarrera@edwardscartago.com or call 4035-3939. Applications can also be picked and delivered to the Cartago’s Municipality and the “Casa de la Convivencia.” To learn more about Edwards, you can visit: www.edwards.com/CR

“Edwards Lifesciences comes to strengthen even more the positioning of Costa Rica as a competitive site for leading companies of devices for cardiovascular health, joining the robust growth that has taken the medical device industry in the country, "said CINDE’S General Director, Jorge Sequeira. "We will continue to support Edwards to impact the health of more patients around the world from its operation in Costa Rica and its presence in the Cartago’s community.”

Costa Rica is the second largest exporter of medical devices in Latin America, according CINDE. Also, medical technology exports increased a 25% from 2014 to 2015, according to PROCOMER. Last year, the segment represented a 23% of the country’s total exports, and the market value of medical devices increased a 9.5% from 2014 to 2015.

Besides Costa Rica, the other production facilities of Edwards’s valves are located in the United States, Singapore and Switzerland.

About Edwards Lifesciences

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Edwards Lifesciences is the world leader in global leader in innovations for structural heart diseases and critical care monitoring aimed at patients. Inspired by passion to help patients, the company collaborates with leading worldwide clinicians and researchers in order to solve pending needs in the field of health, working to increase the quality of life of patients.
For more information, visit www.edwards.com and follow us on Twitter as @EdwardsLifesci.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, and with the logo with the letter E are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.

About the Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (CINDE)

CINDE is a private, nonprofit organization, responsible for more than 30 years attracting to Costa Rica companies from mid and high technology in sectors such as services, life sciences, advanced and light manufacturing and food industry.

CINDE, es una organización privada, sin fines de lucro, responsable por más de 30 años de atraer a Costa Rica compañías de media y alta tecnología en sectores como servicios, ciencias de la vida, manufactura avanzada y liviana e industria alimentaria.