This article is part of our Testimonial Video Series, highlighting firsthand insights from executives who chose Puerto Rico to build and scale their operations.
Why Copan Chose Puerto Rico as Its Americas Hub
Copan is a global medtech innovator best known for its specimen collection and transport systems (like its pioneering FLOQSwabs®) and lab automation platforms that streamline microbiology with robotics, digital imaging, and AI. These technologies help labs worldwide reduce errors, accelerate workflows, and improve patient outcomes.
The company established operations in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, in 2018 as part of its expansion into the Americas, later investing more than $78 million to scale manufacturing and distribution capacity. In 2021, government-backed funding enabled a major expansion, increasing local employment and reinforcing Puerto Rico as a cornerstone of Copan's growth strategy. According to Efraín Rodríguez, Chief Operating Officer at Copan, Puerto Rico now "plays a central role in ensuring Copan products reach global markets with unmatched quality and efficiency."
Why Puerto Rico Works for Medical Devices
For Rodríguez, Puerto Rico combines the regulatory rigor of the U.S. with the flexibility and cost advantages of an international setting. "Being part of the U.S. provides FDA oversight, strong IP protection, and access to American markets," he explains, "and at the same time, Puerto Rico offers the cost advantages of an international setting. Honestly, if there's a better place to do business, I don't know it."
Copan's Aguadilla site is a state-of-the-art, FDA-registered facility that manufactures a wide range of products, from single-use sample collection devices to complex workflow automation systems. The company has invested more than $100 million on the island, which Rodríguez sees as both a practical and symbolic move: "That investment shows confidence in Puerto Rico's talent and ensures we scale today while building a long-term hub for the future of innovation."
Talent as the Core Advantage
What truly differentiates Puerto Rico, Rodríguez emphasizes, is its people. He describes Puerto Rico's workforce as "highly skilled, disciplined, and motivated," noting that when combined with Copan's culture of innovation and collaboration, "this creates an operation that consistently exceeds expectations."
For him, exceeding expectations is not only about performance metrics but also profitability. "Puerto Rico has become the most profitable site in our group," he says. "That's not only because of incentives, but because of the skill, discipline, and work ethic of the people here."
Where Work Meets Quality of Life
For Rodríguez, Puerto Rico offers more than a business advantage; it provides a way of life that keeps teams motivated and rooted. He describes the island as "a place where you can build a world-class career in medical device manufacturing while raising a family in a vibrant, supportive community."
The lifestyle is a daily reminder of that balance. "Driving to work, you see palm trees and blue skies, it's inspiring," he says. "In Puerto Rico, you can hike in the mountains in the morning, relax on the beach in the afternoon, and share dinner in the city by sunset. Few places in the world let you enjoy all of that in one day."
This mix of professional opportunity, natural beauty, and cultural richness, Rodríguez notes, “creates an environment where people want to stay, grow, and give their best.”
From Strategy to Success in Puerto Rico
With its best-cost environment, U.S. jurisdictional advantages, specialized workforce, and enviable lifestyle, Puerto Rico has become central to Copan's long-term strategy in the Americas. As Rodríguez puts it, "Doing business in Puerto Rico is just great. We get to build the most profitable operations in our group-while working where people come for holidays."
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