U.S.-based Kimberly Clark and DDS Labs inaugurated new operational facilities, signaling robust confidence in the region’s business environment. These launches not only promise to enhance logistical efficiencies and manufacturing capabilities but also forecast a bright future for job creation in the area.
Kimberly Clark’s Strategic Logistics Expansion
On Tuesday, Kimberly Clark unveiled its new $5 million Regional Logistics Hub located in the LatAM Logistic Park, La Verbena, Alajuelita. This facility is designed to streamline the distribution of products manufactured in Costa Rica to markets in Central America, Panama, Latin America, and beyond.
The 8,600 square meter building is equipped with over 11,000 pallet positions to store a variety of personal care items such as toilet paper, wet wipes, feminine hygiene towels, paper towels, and napkins. From this logistical nexus, Kimberly Clark plans to dispatch 2.5 million boxes of products annually.
Roberto Chaves, Logistics Manager for Kimberly-Clark Latin America North, highlighted the strategic advantages of the new hub. “With the launch of this operation in Alajuelita, the company will save up to 50% of the time it takes to transport products by land from and to the country’s main ports, thanks to its geographical location,” he explained.
The new facility will handle and transport products from Kimberly-Clark and its various brands, imported from diverse international locations including Colombia, China, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, the United States, Brazil, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Singapore, to be subsequently sold in Central American and Caribbean markets.
Juan Felipe Isaza, Vice President of Kimberly-Clark for Latin America North, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Costa Rica, where it employs directly 1,300 workers across its administrative offices, a shared services center, a production plant, and two distribution centers.
DDS Labs Breaks Ground with its First Latin American Facility
Simultaneously, DDS Labs marked the opening of its first Latin American manufacturing plant in the Green Valley Free Zone in Grecia. This facility will focus on producing dental products, including crowns, bridges, dentures, dental implants, night guards, and orthodontic devices.
The 10,000 square meter facility aims to double its production capacity. “The opening of our new lab is a significant milestone in DDS Lab’s history. With this launch, we not only celebrate the expansion of our manufacturing capabilities and the associated benefits but also access to the country’s technologically advanced life sciences hub and its highly skilled workforce,” stated Chuck DiNardo, CEO of DDS Lab.
The lab will create skilled employment opportunities, with an existing workforce of about 80 employees, 61% of whom are women. Ninety percent of these employees hail from the local areas of Grecia, San Ramón, Naranjo, Palmares, Sarchí, and Atenas. DDS Lab anticipates ending 2024 with 100 new hires, aiming to expand to 1,000 jobs over the next five years.
Laura López, General Manager of the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer), noted that DDS Lab’s new facility sets a precedent, positioning the country as an ideal destination for attracting new investors and high-tech companies.
For 2024, DDS Lab has announced 30 additional openings in areas such as accounting, occupational safety and environment, administrative management, maintenance, design, production operators, engineers, and quality technical positions. Interested candidates can apply through the platform at talento.portafoliodetalento.com/registro.
A Testament to Costa Rica’s Growing Industrial and Technological Clout
These significant investments by Kimberly Clark and DDS Labs are testament to Costa Rica’s growing appeal as a regional hub for manufacturing and logistics. This development not only enhances the nation’s industrial landscape but also offers promising prospects for its workforce, setting a benchmark for future foreign investments in high-tech industries.
