Waseca, Minnesota’s deep heritage in electronics and precision manufacturing is just one reason our community is an ideal location for medical device companies. Another is our proximity to Medical Alley — the world’s leading health technology innovation cluster that’s home to over 1,000 healthcare companies — and the Mayo Clinic with its reputation for research and development. Local businesses enjoy having the heart of the medical industry right on their doorstep but with a lower cost of doing business than if they were located in larger cities. That’s why companies like CNC machining Winegar, Inc. that makes stethoscope heads thrive here. Our regional workforce is accustomed to working with a wide range of manufacturing, from low-tech products like gurneys and parts or high-tech instrumentation like monitors, bed-side devices, or ER technology.
That workforce includes 290,680 workers within an hour’s drive, with the workforce pipeline kept strong through the area’s innovative K-12 and postsecondary education providers. They’re preparing workers for the industry with training and programs in highly desirable areas like precision machining, welding, industrial maintenance and controls, robotics and automation, diesel mechanics, mechatronics, certified manufacturing technician, supply chain automation, OSHA training, electrical, and others.
Waseca’s location on Interstate-quality Highway 14 puts us within minutes of north-south Interstate 35, which connects Duluth and the Twin Cities to Kansas City, Texas, and Mexico, as well as east-west I-90, which goes to Seattle in the west and through Chicago to Boston and the East Coast. High-speed State Route 13 offers additional flexibility, making sure your shipments reach highway speed faster and easier. And when you need to travel or ship by air, you’ll appreciate fast access to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Medical device makers also appreciate the area’s huge volumes of water, existing wastewater capacity, abundant natural gas, affordable and redundant electricity, and broadband with speeds of up to 10 gb/s.