Needle & Cannula Contract Manufacturing
Precision manufacturing of medical needles, cannulas, stylets, and related components for OEMs at commercial scale, under ISO 13485, from a nearshore facility built for the Americas.
Arrotek has over 40 years of experience in precision medical needle manufacturing. Our customers rely on us for consistent quality, supply chain reliability, and the engineering expertise needed to solve complex manufacturing challenges.
Years in precision needle manufacturing
Dedicated facility, Costa Rica
ISO Class 8 cleanroom
Certified quality system
What We Manufacture
Arrotek specializes in the precision manufacturing of needles, cannulas, and related minimally invasive components. Our manufacturing capability covers a wide range of product types, materials, and dimensional specifications. Examples include:
- Hypodermic needles – standard and custom gauges, single and multi-bevel tip grinds.
- Specialty medical needles – biopsy, aspiration, injection, and access needles.
- Micro needles – for drug delivery, sampling, and minimally invasive diagnostic applications.
- Cannulas – thin-wall, standard-wall, and heavy-wall across a range of ID/OD specifications.
- Stylets – for use with introducer needles, catheters, and access systems.
- Custom needle assemblies – multi-component construction with hubs, fittings, and coatings.
We manufacture in stainless steel, nitinol, and other medical-grade alloys, with a range of surface treatments and coatings including PTFE, silicone, and hydrophilic options.
Needle and Cannula Manufacturing Capabilities
| Specification | Arrotek Capability |
|---|---|
|
Materials |
Stainless steel (304, 316L), nitinol, medical-grade alloys |
|
Gauge range |
Custom — from standard hypodermic gauges to fine micro needle dimensions down to 32G |
|
Wall configurations |
Thin-wall (TW), regular-wall (RW), heavy-wall (HW) |
|
Tip geometries & cannula bevels |
Tuohy, Franseen, Trocar, Quincke, Pencil Point, Primary, Menghini, Madayag, Lancet, Chiba, Spade |
|
Surface treatments |
PTFE coating, silicone coating, hydrophilic coating, electropolishing |
|
Production volumes |
Pilot production through to high-volume commercial manufacturing |
|
Cleanroom standard |
ISO Class 8 (1,000m²) GMP-controlled production environment |
|
Quality system |
ISO 13485:2016 certified, FDA-registered facility |
Full Range of Needle Sizes Down to 32 Gauge
| Needle Gauge | Nominal Outer Diameter (mm) | Nominal Outer Diameter (inch) | ISO 6009 Color |
|---|---|---|---|
|
32g |
0.2350 |
0.00925 |
Deep green |
|
31g |
0.2604 |
0.01025 |
White |
|
30g |
0.3112 |
0.01225 |
Yellow |
|
29g |
0.3366 |
0.01325 |
Red |
|
28g |
0.3620 |
0.01425 |
Blue-green |
NeedleTech/Arrotek is always willing to support us in meeting our constantly changing demand, responding with flexibility and professionalism every time. We truly appreciate the partnership and the excellent service they’ve provided us over all these years.
During a critical period of supply disruption, Arrotek’s support was exceptional. Their swift action and dedication helped us avoid severe manufacturing interruptions and ensured we could continue supplying life-saving devices to the patients who depend on them. We deeply value their partnership and look forward to building on this strong collaboration.
Nearshore Manufacturing Built for the Americas
Quality
Low Cost
Capacity
Delivery
Our primary manufacturing facility for high-volume needle and cannula production is located in the Coyol Free Trade Zone in Costa Rica. This is one of the most established MedTech manufacturing hubs in the world and is home to major global device companies.
For US-based OEMs, this model offers a practical alternative to offshore manufacturing: competitive production economics, geographic proximity to key markets, scalable capacity, and operational visibility that long-haul supply chains cannot match.
Cost
Costa Rica offers competitive and stable labor costs, lower logistics and freight expenses versus Asia-based manufacturing, and reduced inventory carrying requirements. Our DFM-led approach eliminates unnecessary complexity and material waste, giving you a more predictable total cost of ownership across the product lifecycle.
Delivery
Manufacturing in Costa Rica puts Arrotek within short transit distance of US, Canadian, and Latin American customers, reducing shipping complexity and lead times. Integrated design, manufacturing, and supply chain coordination under one roof means fewer handoffs and more reliable execution.
Quality
All manufacturing is delivered under our ISO 13485-certified Quality Management System, with full process validation (IQ, OQ, PQ), GMP-controlled cleanroom environments, and complete traceability. Nearshore production also means greater day-to-day visibility and easier quality oversight compared to remote offshore models.
Capacity
Our 4,000m² facility (including 1,000m² of ISO Class 8 cleanroom space) is designed for scalable, high-volume production. We support pilot builds through to full commercial volumes, with the flexibility to respond to demand shifts, product launches, and market expansion.
Learn more about our Costa Rica medical needle manufacturing facility
Why OEMs Choose Arrotek
Engineering Expertise
Many contract manufacturers can run a production line. Fewer have the engineering depth to solve problems at the process level. For example, tip geometry optimisation, thin-wall tube handling, coating adhesion, tolerance capability at high volume, etc. Our team brings that capability to every program. This is why customers like Hologic and Terumo have sustained long-term partnerships with us.
Integrated DFM Capability
For OEMs transitioning a product from development to production, or considering a transfer from an existing manufacturer, Arrotek offers a genuine design-to-manufacturing capability. Our engineers can review and optimize a design for manufacturability before production begins, reducing the risk of yield problems and cost overruns at scale.
Regulatory Alignment with FDA Requirements
Our quality system is built for the US market. We are FDA-registered and ISO 13485 certified. We also have experience supporting the documentation and traceability requirements that FDA-regulated products demand. OEMs do not need to manage a compliance gap between their QMS and ours.
A Stable, Reliable, Long-Term Manufacturing Partner
Supply chain disruption is a real operational risk. Arrotek's established position in Costa Rica, combined with our long track record, provides a level of stability that newer or less specialised contract manufacturers cannot offer. We are a partner built for the long term, not a transactional supplier.
Request a Manufacturing Quote
If you are evaluating needle or cannula contract manufacturing options, whether for a new program, a production transfer, or a capacity expansion, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss your requirements.
Complete the form below or contact us directly at [email protected]. All enquiries are treated in strict confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of needles and cannulas does Arrotek manufacture?
We manufacture hypodermic needles, specialty medical needles, micro needles, thin-wall cannulas, stylets, and custom needle assemblies. We work in stainless steel, nitinol, and other medical-grade alloys, across a wide range of gauges, wall configurations, and tip geometries.
Where is Arrotek's manufacturing facility?
Our primary high-volume manufacturing facility for needles and cannulas is in the Coyol Free Trade Zone, Costa Rica. This location offers significant benefits for medical device OEMs in the Americas, including cost, expertise, and nearshore production benefits.
Is Arrotek FDA-registered and ISO 13485 certified?
Yes. Our facility operates under an ISO 13485:2016-certified Quality Management System and is FDA-registered. We apply full process validation (IQ, OQ, PQ), GMP-controlled cleanroom production, and complete batch traceability.
Can Arrotek handle the transfer of an existing needle program from another manufacturer?
Yes. We have experience managing production transfers and can support the technical review, process validation, and regulatory documentation required to qualify Arrotek as your manufacturing site. We’ll work closely with your quality and regulatory teams throughout the transfer process.
What production volumes does Arrotek support?
We support programs from pilot production through to high-volume commercial manufacturing. Our Costa Rica facility is specifically designed for scalable, high-volume output within a cleanroom and GMP-controlled environment.
What are the cost advantages of nearshore manufacturing in Costa Rica versus offshore?
Costa Rica offers competitive labor costs, significantly shorter transit times and freight costs to US markets, lower inventory carrying requirements, and reduced supply chain risk compared to Asia-based offshore models. Combined with our DFM approach, this typically results in a materially lower total cost of ownership.
Does Arrotek offer design and development services as well as manufacturing?
Yes. For OEMs at an earlier stage of product development, Arrotek offers full medical device design and development services, including concept development, prototyping, and design for manufacture. This allows programs to transition seamlessly from development into production without a change of partner.
