Aerospace Protolabs Joins Space Foundation

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As a member of the Space Foundation, Protolabs brings its expertise in aerospace manufacturing. The company thereby supports the nonprofit organisation as well as projects in space and education.

Protolabs, the world's leading provider of digital manufacturing services, announced that it has joined the Space Foundation.

The globally active nonprofit organisation is tasked, on the one hand, with advancing education on space-related topics and, on the other hand, serves as an important network to bring together government and commercial players in the aerospace sector, as well as to enhance the exchange between them.

Protolabs is ideally suited as a supplier for aerospace companies of all sizes to give the Space Foundation additional momentum. Thanks to its many years of expertise in the rapid production of products with high variety even in small quantities, the company significantly contributes to driving innovation in the industry.

For example, Protolabs' European CNC branch in Telford is certified to AS9100—a qualification that ensures product developers and engineers receive high-quality parts that meet aerospace industry standards. Additionally, every customer from the mentioned industries has access to dedicated technical support, customer service teams, and manufacturing capabilities offered by the company. As a global manufacturer, AS9100-certified machining facilities in both Europe and the United States enable aerospace companies to nearshore their respective supply chains, thereby reducing component supply shortages.

The Space Foundation is a leading organisation for one of the most important industries we serve at Protolabs. This is precisely why I am looking forward to connecting with the other members. Together, we can ensure that we remain at the forefront of development and drive innovation in aerospace.

Suresh Krishna, CEO and President at Protolabs

Protolabs serves its aerospace customers both through its own facilities and a network of certified manufacturing partners worldwide. The hybrid business model leverages the speed and automation of its own plants, as well as the extended capacity and cost efficiency of manufacturing partners, to create a service unique in the manufacturing industry.

Our hybrid model enables aerospace engineers and buyers to reduce risks, bring products to market faster, and optimise their supply chains through rapid prototyping and on-demand production.

Chris Gottlieb, Senior Product Director at Protolabs

"Moreover, our collaboration with the Space Foundation will further help us to position ourselves more clearly with regard to our roadmap and to better meet the needs of the industry together," explains Chris Gottlieb, Senior Product Director at Protolabs.

Thanks to the capacities and capabilities of Protolabs' 3D printing center in Putzbrunn near Munich, the company is also optimally positioned in the field of additive manufacturing to support the aerospace industry. Recent investments in Multi-Jet Fusion technology (MJF), including the HP 5620 Pro with process development, expand the possibilities for lightweight aerospace components. By gaining better control over printing parameters, companies can produce finer structures, enabling high-performance, lightweight components.

To improve collaboration between engineering and procurement teams, Protolabs has also revamped its e-commerce platform with the introduction of ProDesk by Protolabs. The new online tool accelerates aerospace timelines for product development and procurement teams through AI-powered quoting and real-time Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analysis, enables seamless peer-to-peer collaboration, and includes a range of tools to support prototyping and production projects.