#HeraeusPeople Story
There’s much more room in Cartago!
Luis Gerardo Guido Rodríguez, Maintenance Technician, Heraeus Medevio
"When I walk through the plant in Cartago today, I often think back to how it all started. In 2014, I was working for a small medical technology company in San Rafael de Alajuela. We had around 50 employees and operated a single production line. My job was to help build a second one. Then, in 2016, the news arrived: Heraeus was going to acquire the company.
How do we get from A to B?
It quickly became clear that the existing facilities had become too small and that we needed a new location. During one of the meetings, I gathered all my courage and said: “There’s much more room in Cartago. We can grow there.” What was the reaction? At first, people laughed. Cartago was 30 to 40 kilometers away, and many thought the idea was unrealistic. Today, I smile when I think about it – because that is exactly where our facilities are located now.
In 2017, we moved to Cartago. By then, the company had already grown to around 100 employees. Many of them still lived close to the old site. Heraeus came up with a solution that impressed me: the company organized free transportation between the old and the new location. The message was clear: “Stay where you live. We’ll take care of getting you to work.” To me, that showed how much management cared about people. After all, jobs and livelihoods were at stake. In August 2014, my son Steven was given the opportunity to join the company. He started as a machine operator. Today, he works as a Process Engineer. Shortly afterward, my brother Juan Carlos joined as well, and he is still working here today. Later, my daughter completed an internship in Quality Management at Heraeus Medevio. Although the pandemic ended her internship earlier than expected, the experience opened the door to the medical technology industry. Today, she has a successful career with another manufacturer. And my youngest son also found his way to Heraeus Medevio. Through a company scholarship, he was able to begin his studies and now works here as well.
For me. For my family.
When I talk about Heraeus, I do so with deep gratitude. The company did not just create opportunities for me – it created opportunities for my family and for many others as well. After more than twelve years, I still feel that I belong here. Heraeus supports us in many ways – from healthcare services and profit-sharing programs to training and development opportunities. Most importantly, I have always felt that I could rely on the company. Salaries and bonuses have always been paid on time. Promises have been kept. That is why I still recommend Heraeus today. If I had to summarize my story in a single sentence, I would say this: I have seen a small operation grow into a major manufacturing site. But more importantly, I have seen Heraeus open new opportunities for an entire family."