A software-driven contract manufacturing company has "written the book" on rapid injection molding - how to go from 3D CAD to functional plastic parts in as little as a day. Now, it's looking to apply the advantages of its technology to new areas of product development.

 

Since its founding in 1998 by Larry Lukis, Protomold has sought to "radically change the economics and lead times associated with prototype and low-volume production of injection molded parts." Thanks in large part to the time-saving advantages of its proprietary software, Protomold has swiftly achieved recognition as a fast-growing provider of rapid injection molding services, a market segment positioned between rapid prototyping and high-volume injection molding.

 

Earlier this year, Protomold and First Cut Prototype, a startup launched by Protomold to provide CNC-machined plastic prototypes, became divisions of Proto Labs, Inc., a new corporate entity that will continue to explore and develop new applications for the company's proprietary software technology. Proto Labs recently acquired a new 96,000-square-foot facility in Maple Plain, Minnesota to house the headquarters and rapidly-growing production operations of Protomold and First Cut Prototype. All told, Proto Labs now occupies approximately 160,000 square feet of combined manufacturing and office space in Maple Plain. The company also has a fully-operational manufacturing facility in England with 50 employees, and has plans to open another plant in Japan next year.

 

"The successful launch of the First Cut Prototype division has demonstrated that the company's software has applications well beyond our rapid injection molding origins," said Brad Cleveland, president and CEO of Proto Labs, Inc., in a statement announcing the new facility. "The new Proto Labs name reflects the company's broadened mission to help product developers get functional prototype parts quickly, easily, and cost effectively."

 

Both of Proto Labs' divisions—Protomold and First Cut Prototype—provide quick-turn prototypes and low volumes of plastic parts for applications across all industries. Both offer their customers the strategic advantage of extremely quick turnaround from 3D CAD files to real, plastic parts. "Our biggest strength is the speed with which we can ship real injection-molded or CNC machined parts—as fast as one business day in some cases," says Cleveland. "We've automated the process of going from a customer's 3D CAD model to a highly illustrative, interactive quotation, and then to the manufacture of real, plastic parts, faster than anyone in the world."

 

Protomold's motto is "Nobody's Faster in the Short Run!®" Design-2-Part Magazine's Rich Novicky recently spoke with Brad Cleveland about the company's efforts to make its vision a reality.