How Geopolitics Is Reshaping Electronics Manufacturing: Zollner's Markus Aschenbrenner in Costa Rica

The map for global manufacturing is changing fast, and it’s not just about who can build it cheapest anymore. From Costa Rica, I’m joined by Markus Aschenbrenner, Member of the Managing Board of Zollner, to unpack what’s actually driving electronics manufacturing strategy right now: the voice of the customer, the squeeze of geopolitics, and the practical impact of tariffs and IP protection that don’t look like they’re going away.

We talk about why regionalization is accelerating and what customers are asking for as they try to protect supply, shorten lead times, and keep access to key markets. Markus shares how a high-tech EMS partner has to think differently, because qualifying a new supplier can take years and reliability becomes the real competitive edge. We also get specific about how a global footprint comes together, from added sites in the US to expanded capability across Southeast Asia, the evolving role of China for local demand, and why India keeps coming up as the next market to watch.

Then we rewind to a decision that raised eyebrows: choosing Costa Rica early, when many expected Mexico. We dig into what made the bet work, including stability, an educated workforce, close ties with universities, and the way an industrial park and supplier ecosystem grew up around the site over the last decade. We close with what expansion looks like now, why adding space and SMT matters to customers, and how the team built the confidence to run demanding work like medical and aviation products. If you care about supply chain strategy, nearshoring, and high-reliability manufacturing, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org)

You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.