The best of each model. Connected.
With Micromex Bridge Manufacturing, you get a production team in Imuris, Sonora without building, staffing or running your own facility. We own the factory, employ the people and handle the permits, and we manage production from planning to delivery. You stay as involved as you want to be.
- Quality Standard
- ISO9001:2015
- Trade compliance
- IMMEX services
Nearshore production made simple, predictable and with one price.
The problems that bring most partners to Micromex.
Labor costs at home keep climbing?
ASkilled labor in Sonora at a rate that competes with Asia, with every cost in one rate. Estimate your savings.
Worried about hiring and labor law in another country?
AMicromex employs the whole team. The employment liability stays with us and never passes to you.
Tired of a contract manufacturer you can’t see inside?
AWith Bridge, nothing is sealed. Your engineers are welcome on our floor or on a call.
Worried about seasonal production and laying people off?
AWe manage the people, we flex up and down, and make sure we don’t pass on that liability to you.
The speed of outsourcing. The control of owning the plant.
Bridge gives you what a contract manufacturer gives — speed, no capital, no headcount — plus the control and visibility of running your own plant. And Micromex carries the employment liability.
| What you get | Our modelMicromex BridgeWe run the plant. You stay as involved as you want. | Contract manufacturingA sealed box you rarely see insideYou give up control and visibility | ShelterYou set up and run the operationYou give up speed, capital, headcount and the employment liability | CampusYou run production in their buildingYou give up speed, capital, most headcount and the employment liability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Like contract manufacturing | ||||
| Speed to launch | Weeks | Weeks | 12–18 months | 6–12 months |
| Capital you put in | None | None | HighYou pay for the building and buy the equipment | Medium |
| Headcount you carry | NoneMicromex employs your whole line | None | AllThe shelter employs them on paper; every cost is yours | Most |
| Equipment | Your choiceUse ours, or own yours: we bond it and handle the temporary import | Theirs | Yours to buy | Yours to buy |
| Like running your own plant | ||||
| Your control | As much as you wantYour engineers on our floor or on a call | LowChanges mean renegotiating | Full | High |
| Your visibility | FullWatch your line any time | LowProblems show up when the truck arrives | Full | High |
| Who carries the risk | ||||
| Employment liability | Stays with MicromexZero employees on your books in Mexico | With the manufacturer | Passed to youLayoff and severance costs are billed to you | Yours |
Based on how each model usually works. Details vary by provider.
We employ the team. The liability stays with us.
Hiring, payroll, benefits and Mexican labor law are hard to get right from another country. With Bridge Manufacturing, Micromex is the employer of every person on your line. When volumes change, staffing is our job, and the employment obligations never pass to you.
Micromex carries
- Recruiting, hiring and training
- Payroll, benefits and IMSS social security
- Mexican labor-law compliance
- Certified quality standards
- Turnover and retention
- Severance and staffing changes when volumes shift
You keep
- Your product, specs and IP
- As much involvement as you want
- Zero employees on your books in Mexico
One partner from first build to final return.
We build your product in Sonora, and turn the units that come back into sellable inventory again.
Your production line in Sonora, run by our people under ISO 9001:2015. Consigned or turnkey material, and your engineers are always welcome on the floor.
- Wire harnesses & cable assemblies
- Electrical & electromechanical assemblies
- Transformers & magnetics
- Sub-assemblies, kitting & specialty packaging
Receiving, grading, repair, remanufacturing and resale — turning write-offs back into revenue, with data on why products come back.
- 1M+ returns a year for Conair
- 86% recovery rate
- Resale to US and Latin American consumers
- Root-cause return data
Programs built around your product: kitting and specialty packaging, IMMEX cross-border programs, engineering and sourcing.
- Kitting & specialty packaging
- Cross-border programs under IMMEX
- Engineering & sourcing
- Manufacturing consulting
Bridge ManufacturingStart in weeks
The plant, IMMEX certification and trained workforce are already in place. Proposal in about two weeks.
Stay in control
Your engineers on our floor or on a call, weekly reporting from Tucson, ISO 9001 for 20+ years.
Carry no headcount
Micromex employs the team and carries the employment obligations, so you don’t.
Since 1988, built one partnership at a time.
From a 1,000 sq ft hand-assembly shop to a cross-border operation trusted by global consumer and industrial brands.
Ask anything about manufacturing in Mexico.
Bridge Manufacturing, employment, costs, IMMEX, USMCA, quality and returns — 40 straight answers, written and reviewed by our team.
What is Micromex Bridge Manufacturing?
A way to produce in Mexico where Micromex owns the plant, the people, the permits, quality and management — while you stay as involved as you want to be.
Read answer Bridge ManufacturingHow is Bridge Manufacturing different from contract manufacturing?
Nothing is sealed. You get the speed and zero headcount of contract manufacturing, plus full visibility and as much control as you want.
Read answer Bridge ManufacturingHow is Bridge Manufacturing different from a shelter?
With a shelter you still run the plant and pay for the headcount, including layoff costs. With Bridge, Micromex carries both.
Read answer Bridge ManufacturingCan our engineers work on the Micromex floor?
Yes. Your engineers can be on our floor or on a call — as involved as you want.
Read answer Bridge ManufacturingWhat’s the difference between consigned and turnkey material?
Consigned means you own and supply the material. Turnkey means Micromex sources and manages it.
Read answer People & employmentWho employs the workers?
Micromex does. Every person on your line is a Micromex employee.
Read answer People & employmentWho carries the employment liability?
Micromex. Employment obligations under Mexican labor law stay with us and are never passed on to you.
Read answer People & employmentWhat happens if our volumes change?
We plan staffing changes with you, and the hiring, retraining and severance that come with them stay on our side.
Read answer Why MexicoWhy manufacture in Mexico?
Lower labor costs than the US, far shorter lead times than Asia, and trade terms under USMCA that favor products made in North America.
Read answer Why MexicoWhat is nearshore manufacturing?
Making your product close to where you sell it. For US and Canadian brands, that usually means Mexico instead of Asia.
Read answer Why MexicoWhy build in Sonora?
Sonora borders Arizona, so production in Imuris is about 40 miles from the Nogales port of entry and a short drive from US management in Tucson.
Read answer Why MexicoIs manufacturing in Mexico cheaper than in China?
On total landed cost, it often is for products sold in North America.
Read answer Why MexicoWhat industries does Micromex serve?
Consumer and industrial brands — from beauty and kitchen appliances to electrical assemblies, transformers and electronics.
Read answer Getting startedHow do I start manufacturing in Mexico?
The fastest way is to partner with an established manufacturer that already has the plant, certifications and workforce in place.
Read answer Getting startedDo I need a Mexican company to manufacture with Micromex?
No. You work with Micromex, a US company headquartered in Tucson, and we handle production in Mexico.
Read answer Getting startedWhat does Micromex build?
Wire harnesses and cable assemblies, electrical and electromechanical assemblies, transformers, specialty packaging and kitting, plus remanufacturing.
Read answer Getting startedWhat do you need from us for a quote?
Your SKUs or prints and bill of materials, expected volumes, where you build today, and what you want to improve.
Read answer Getting startedHow fast can we get started?
Most Bridge programs are up and running in weeks, not quarters. Expect a proposal in about two weeks and a plant tour within a day.
Read answer Getting startedIs there a minimum order or company size?
No. We work with businesses of every size, from small local companies to global brands.
Read answer Getting startedDo you work with companies from outside the US and Canada?
Yes. We partner with manufacturers from any country that want to produce near the North American market.
Read answer Cost & savingsWhat does it cost to manufacture in Mexico?
It depends on your product, labor content and volumes — but skilled labor in Sonora costs far less than in the US.
Read answer Cost & savingsWhat’s included in a Micromex rate?
Wages and Mexican benefits, supervisors and quality inspectors, engineering, floor space and electricity, management and admin, and IMMEX administration.
Read answer Cost & savingsIs manufacturing in Mexico cheaper than in the US?
Usually, yes — especially for labor-intensive products like harnesses, assemblies and packaging.
Read answer Cost & savingsHow can I estimate my savings?
Use the Micromex savings calculator. It takes under a minute.
Read answer Trade & complianceWhat is IMMEX?
Mexico’s export-manufacturing program. It defers import duties on materials and components that are built into goods for export.
Read answer Trade & complianceWhat is a maquiladora?
A manufacturing operation in Mexico that imports materials, builds products and exports them — today usually run under the IMMEX program.
Read answer Trade & complianceHow does USMCA affect manufacturing in Mexico?
Products that meet USMCA rules of origin can cross into the US on preferential, often duty-free, terms.
Read answer Trade & complianceWho handles customs and border paperwork?
We do. Cross-border logistics are coordinated from our Tucson headquarters.
Read answer QualityWhat certifications does Micromex hold?
ISO 9001:2015, UL and ETL where required, SMETA 4-Pillar and WCA compliance, and IMMEX certification since 2006.
Read answer QualityHow does Micromex protect quality?
Every program runs under ISO 9001:2015 quality systems and is backed by a 100% Quality Assurance Program.
Read answer QualityWho owns the tooling and designs?
You do. Your designs, tooling and process documents stay yours.
Read answer Returns & remanufacturingDoes Micromex handle retail returns?
Yes. For Conair, we receive more than 1 million returned items a year and remanufacture about 600,000.
Read answer Returns & remanufacturingWhat products can you remanufacture?
Personal care and beauty appliances, kitchen and home appliances, consumer electronics and e-mobility products like scooters.
Read answer Returns & remanufacturingCan Micromex buy and resell our returned products?
Yes. We can return refurbished goods to you to sell, or buy them outright and sell them to US or Latin American consumers.
Read answer Returns & remanufacturingHow does remanufacturing help sustainability?
It keeps returned products out of landfills by giving them a second life.
Read answer Location & logisticsWhere is Micromex located?
Production is in Imuris, Sonora, Mexico. Headquarters is in Tucson, Arizona.
Read answer Location & logisticsHow long does it take to get product to US customers?
Imuris is about 40 miles from the Nogales port of entry, so product moves to the US by truck instead of by ocean.
Read answer Location & logisticsWho will I work with day to day?
A US-based team in Tucson — on Arizona time and in English — backed by the leadership who run the company.
Read answer About MicromexWho owns Micromex?
Micromex is a family-owned company, founded in 1988 by Juan Garcin.
Read answer About MicromexHow long has Micromex been in business?
Since 1988 — more than 37 years.
Read answerWhat would it cost to build it in Sonora?
Answer a few questions about your line. See your estimated savings in under a minute.
- Wages and Mexican benefits
- Supervisors and quality inspectors
- Engineering
- Floor space and electricity
- Management and admin
- IMMEX administration
Your production
Start with what you build and where you build it today.
What do you build?Buying from an overseas supplier? Choose “Outside the US & Canada.”
Continue to my estimateBridge vs. contract manufacturing, shelter and campus.
Answer three questions and the best fit is highlighted.
| Micromex BridgeOur plant, our people | Contract manufacturingA sealed box | ShelterTheir building, your operation | CampusYour plant, their building | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns the building | Micromex | The manufacturer, or often a landlord one step further removed | The shelter company (owned or rented) | The campus owner |
| Equipment | Ours, or yours: we bond it and handle the temporary import | The manufacturer’s | Yours to buy | Yours to buy |
| Who employs the people | Micromex | The contract manufacturer | The shelter, on paper; you pay every cost | You |
| Employment liability | Stays with Micromex | With the manufacturer | Passed to you | Yours |
| Speed to launch | Weeks | Weeks | 12–18 months | 6–12 months |
| Your control | As much as you want | Low | Full | High |
| Your visibility | Full | Low | Full | High |
| Capital you put in | None | None | High | Medium |
| Headcount you carry | None | None | All | Most |
| Material | Consigned or turnkey | Usually turnkey | Yours | Yours |
| Changing the program | We adjust it together | Renegotiate the contract | Your call, your cost | Your call, your cost |
| Best for | Brands that want control without running a plant | Simple, stable products you hand off | Large, long-term operations | Companies ready to run their own plant |
Taking over a global brand’s entire returns operation.
When Conair — one of the world’s largest personal care and small appliance brands — needed to get out of the returns business, they didn’t hand it to a 3PL. They handed it to Micromex, and we stood up a dedicated returns and remanufacturing center in Tucson, Arizona.
More partner than vendor.
Conair“One of our best vendors including off-shore groups. Strong, dependable, creative getting the job completed on time and at budget.”Conair
BH Electronics“MicroMex is a key partner and supplier to BH Electronics with a long term relationship of over 20 years. They have responded well to the increasing complexity of our products and consistently maintained a very high level of performance.”BH Electronics
Tattoo Manufacturing Group“Their quality is consistent & top notch. They have definitely become more of a partner than a vendor and that is why they are consistently at the top of our vendor list. A++.”Tattoo Manufacturing Group
The Hillman Group“Micromex is a value added company, consistently achieving positive results, great customer service. Micromex is an example of the model to which we would like all suppliers to aspire.”The Hillman Group
Tectrol“It’s wonderful to work with MICROMEX! Hopefully we can continue working together for years to come.”Tectrol
Built in Sonora. Managed from Tucson.
US-based management, Mexico-based production. Your point of contact is in Arizona, on your time zone, and a short drive from the plant floor.
Imuris, Sonora
Our 80,000 sq ft plant: wire harness assembly, electrical and mechanical sub-assembly, transformer winding, specialty packaging and remanufacturing lines.
Tucson, Arizona
Program management, engineering support, quality, customer service and cross-border logistics.
Family-owned. All of us are reachable.
Our leadership runs the plant, the programs and the partner relationships every day, and two of them share the family name.
Juan GarcinCEO & Founder
Giovanni GarcinPresident
Michelle PalafoxVP Supply Chain
Luis Fernando PerezDirector of Engineering
Elena ZuzuarreguiHuman ResourcesHow to get started
- Get in touch
Tell us what you build, your volumes and what you want to improve.
- See your savings
Use the calculator, then get a program proposal in about two weeks.
- Visit the plant
Meet the team in Tucson and walk the Imuris floor. We can arrange it in a day.
- Launch and grow
Pilot, sign off, then ramp to volume. We staff the line; you carry no headcount.
Every partnership starts with a conversation.
Straight answers to the questions partners ask most.
What is Micromex Bridge Manufacturing?
A way to produce in Mexico where Micromex owns the plant, the people, the permits, quality and management — while you stay as involved as you want to be.
Most ways to build in Mexico make you choose between control and convenience. A shelter or a campus gives you control but leaves you running a plant and carrying the headcount. A contract manufacturer is fast and hands-off but works like a sealed box. Bridge connects the two: we own and run everything, your engineers can be on our floor or on a call, and material can be consigned or turnkey.
Who carries the employment liability?
Micromex. Employment obligations under Mexican labor law stay with us and are never passed on to you.
Labor-law compliance, severance and staffing changes when volumes go up or down are our responsibility as the employer. You get a stable, trained team without the legal and financial exposure of employing people in another country.
How is Bridge Manufacturing different from contract manufacturing?
Nothing is sealed. You get the speed and zero headcount of contract manufacturing, plus full visibility and as much control as you want.
With a typical contract manufacturer you send a print and a purchase order and product shows up. You rarely see inside, problems surface when the truck arrives, and changes mean renegotiating. With Bridge, your engineers are welcome on our floor, you see the line, your supply chain can stay yours, and we adjust the program together as you go.
How fast can we get started?
Most Bridge programs are up and running in weeks, not quarters. Expect a proposal in about two weeks and a plant tour within a day.
Because the plant, IMMEX certification and trained workforce are already in place, you skip the slowest parts of manufacturing in Mexico on your own. Exact timing depends on your product, tooling and volumes, and your proposal includes a written timeline.
What is IMMEX?
Mexico’s export-manufacturing program. It defers import duties on materials and components that are built into goods for export.
IMMEX lets certified manufacturers import raw materials and components into Mexico, build them into finished goods and return them without the duty burden that would otherwise erase the savings. Micromex has held IMMEX certification since 2006.
Who owns Micromex?
Micromex is a family-owned company, founded in 1988 by Juan Garcin.
Juan Garcin is CEO, and his son Giovanni Garcin runs the business day to day as President.