Protolabs Grows Digital Manufacturing Footprint, Celebrates Two Decades of Expansion

In May digital manufacturer Protolabs celebrated its 20-year anniversary with the grand opening of its eighth manufacturing facility in the United States, and 12th globally. A lot can happen in 20 years, and for digital manufacturer Protolabs, a lot has. The company, a producer of rapid prototyping and on-demand production of custom parts and assemblies, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In its two decades, the Maple Plain, Minnesota-based manufacturer has achieved explosive growth that is reflected in a multitude of indicators, including this one: In 2004 it shipped 1.6 million total parts; in 2018 total parts shipped reached 47.3 million.
The growth has come by acquisition, by service extension, by global expansion, by technology advances. And that growth hasn't stopped. Last week the company held the grand opening of its new 215,000-square-foot CNC machining facility in Brooklyn Park, Minn. The plant, which houses nearly 300 mills and lathes, is Protolabs' eighth U.S. manufacturing plant and 12th globally.