Protolabs Launches On-Demand Manufacturing for Molded Production Parts, Opens Metrology Lab for Digital Inspections

Digital manufacturing company Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB) has always been known for its rapid injection molding prototyping services. Now, the company has added a suite of capabilities designed specifically to address the on-demand manufacturing needs of the low-volume, high-mix product segment.

For years, there has been a gap in manufacturing services for low-volume, custom molded components. Companies had to purchase in large volumes to meet the minimum order quantities often required by traditional manufacturers, and work with multiple vendors to address varied needs from prototyping to final part production. Both would add cost and time to part procurement. Now, Protolabs has tailored its offerings to specifically address the needs of both prototyping and on-demand manufacturing.

“Since every manufacturing project is different, our two injection molding options let customers begin to focus on what is really needed from their tooling,” explained Becky Cater, global product manager for injection molding at Proto Labs. “Whether it’s a product development need for molded prototypes or a strategic partnership for on-demand production parts, we now have a total solution for the entire life cycle of a product.”

The new on-demand manufacturing service offers customers more competitive part pricing along with guaranteed lifetime mold maintenance and ownership.

In addition, Protolabs is reinforcing its commitment to quality and serving its customers’ production needs by opening its first metrology lab for enhanced inspection reporting on end-use production parts. The metrology lab houses a range of standard inspection equipment, as well as state-of-the-art 3D scanners that provide an automated 360-degree look at parts within minutes. In addition to the standard range of First Article inspection Reports, Protolabs also offers a digital inspection report that includes a precision surface scan with a detailed color map for a direct CAD-to-scan comparison to quickly identify dimensional variances on parts. 

“Digital inspection reporting is a final checkpoint for the digital thread as it moves from CAD model to final part,” said Jeff Schipper, director of special operation at Protolabs, and lead engineer in the metrology lab. “We’ve always provided our customers with front-end design analysis on their CAD models really fast—digital inspections bookend this process by significantly reducing the cost and time associated with conventional inspection reporting.”

Learn more about Protolabs’ new injection molding options online at the company’s on-demand manufacturing page and take a virtual tour to see its digital manufacturing facility in action.

About Proto Labs

Proto Labs is the world's fastest digital manufacturing source for custom prototypes and low-volume production parts. The technology-enabled company uses rapid 3D printing, CNC machining, and injection molding processes to produce parts within days. The result is an unprecedented speed-to-market value for designers and engineers and an on-demand resource throughout a product’s life cycle. Visit protolabs.com for more information.

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