
ABOUT US
Protolabs was founded in 1999 by Larry Lukis, a successful entrepreneur and computer geek who wanted to radically reduce the time it took to get injection-molded plastic parts. His solution was to automate the traditional manufacturing process by developing complex software that communicated with a network of mills and presses. As a result, plastic and metal parts could be produced in a fraction of the time it had ever taken before.
Over the next decade, we continued to expand our injection molding envelope, introduced quick-turn CNC machining, and opened facilities in Europe and Japan. In 2014, we launched our industrial-grade 3D printing service to allow product developers, designers, and engineers an easier path to move from early prototyping to low-volume production.
Today, Protolabs is a leading rapid manufacturer of custom prototypes and on-demand production parts due to our commitment to accelerating our customers’ product development. Our three services—3D printing, CNC machining, and injection molding—have continuously evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of product developers and engineers around the world.
At the heart of our manufacturing speed is our proprietary software, web-based quoting system, and automated manufacturing processes. Product developers can upload a 3D CAD model online and receive an interactive quote within hours. Each interactive quote contains design feedback and real-time pricing—so customers can adjust material, lead times, quantities, and more and instantly see the impact on pricing. Once an order is placed, digital manufacturing instructions are sent to an interconnected network of industrial 3D printers, CNC mills, and injection molding presses.
3D printing at Protoabs consists of four commercial-grade technologies: stereolithography, selective laser sintering, PolyJet, and direct metal laser sintering. In addition to a range of capabilities designed to meet our customers’ needs, we have process controls in place to ensure precise parts every time. Each 3D CAD model is carefully reviewed by an applications engineer before the build begins to ensure they’re properly supported and the part is properly oriented.
Our CNC machining process uses three-axis milling, five-axis indexed milling, and turning with live tooling to machine parts from more than 30 engineering-grade plastic and metal materials. The result is functional parts suitable for form and fit testing, jigs and fixtures, and end-use applications. Our automated CNC process can manufacture and ship up to 200 parts in as fast as one day.
Rapid injection molding at Protolabs leverages our proprietary software to quickly fabricate aluminum tooling and mold plastic parts within days. It’s a cost-effective prototyping solution when customers need low-volumes of functional parts and is also used for on-demand production. Our injection molding service includes multiple options: plastic molding, overmolding, insert molding, and liquid silicone rubber molding, and we offer more than 100 thermoplastic resins and elastomeric materials.
In 2016, Protolabs served more than 30,000 product developers globally. We now have more than eight manufacturing facilities located around the world and continue to explore new ways to accelerate product development, reduce costs, and optimize our customers’ supply chain with rapid manufacturing technologies.
Check us out at:
CONTACT INFORMATION
Protolabs, Inc.
5540 Pioneer Creek Dr.
Maple Plain, MN 55359
UNITED STATES
Phone: 877.479.3680
BLOG ARTICLES
FEATURED ARTICLES
- Protolabs Launches All-New Digital Quoting Platform In Europe, U.S. Release To Follow In Early 2021
- Brain Injury Awareness Made Possible By Protolabs' Manufacturing Grant
- Unique Wheelchair Opens the Road Less Traveled
- There's No Crying In Medical Manufacturing!
- 3-D Printing Creates Big Innovation From Tiny Parts For Medtech Firm
- Navigating From Additive Manufacturing To Injection Molding
- PEEK, PEI, LSR, And Other Material Options For Medical Prototyping
- Part Marking Using Pad Printing And Laser Engraving
- Protolabs Adds Carbon Technology To Its 3D Printing Service
- Strategic Prototyping For Human-Factors Engineering
- Keeping You Safe In The ‘Pool’ Of Manufacturing
- CNC Machining: Designing For Speed
- Designing For Sheet Metal Fabrication
- Designing For Metal 3D Printing
- Protolabs Introduces Precision Color Matching On Molded Parts
- Protolabs Launches Production Capabilities For Metal 3D Printing
- Innovation Is Personal: Cleveland Clinic Alliance Spurs Med Advances
- Digital Manufacturing Helps Medtech Firm’s Goal To Improve Patient Outcomes
- Parker Hannifin Brings Robotic Exoskeleton To Life With Digital Manufacturing
- Heart Monitor Maker Never Misses A Beat with Digital Manufacturing
- Digital Manufacturing Helps Medtech Company Revolutionize Surgical Stapler
- Rapid Injection Molding Helps Med Device Company Bring Vision to Blind
- Proto Labs Reaches Agreement to Acquire RAPID, Expands Services With Sheet Metal Fabrication
- Design Considerations For Liquid Silicone Rubber
- Proto Labs Expands 3D Printing Service With HP’s Multi Jet Fusion Technology
- Thermoplastic Material Selection For Injection Molding
- Design Considerations For Overmolding And Insert Molding
- Considerations When Designing Injection-Molded Parts With Rapid Overmolding
- Mind Over Machine
- Advantages Of Stereolithography For Product Designers
- Reducing Risk Through On-Demand Manufacturing
- Selecting The Right Material For 3D Printing
- Data, Digital Threads, And Industry 4.0
- 5 Design Considerations To Improve Success Rate Of Multi-Cavity Molds
- 3D Printing Technologies For Prototyping And Production
- Prototyping and Low-Volume Production for the Medical Industry
- Six Ways To Cut Machining Costs
- Design Considerations For The Visual Appearance Of Injection-Molded Plastic Parts
- Design Essentials for Injection Molding
- Liquid Silicone Rubber Takes The Heat
- Res Solutions: Selecting The Right Materials For Your Parts
OUTSOURCING SERVICES
- Overmolding And Insert Molding Capabilities
- Direct Metal Laser Sintering Capabilities
- Multi Jet Fusion Capabilities
- CNC Turning Capabilities
- CNC Milling Capabilities
- On Demand Manufacturing
- PolyJet 3D Printing Services
- Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) for Additive Manufacturing
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) for Additive Manufacturing
- Stereolithography For Additive Manufacturing