Digital manufacturing service bureauProtolabs(PRLB)宣布的一个新的production facility that allows it to expand its 3D printing capacity by 60%.
据说该工厂位于巴伐利亚镇Putzbrunn，可容纳一支450个团队和“以未来为导向的技术”，使其能够更好地满足欧洲和英国客户的需求。实际上，Protolabs Europe的副总裁Bjoern Klaas表示，该综合大楼可能会在不列颠群岛上的客户带来重大的交付时间优势，同时为3D打印提供了更强大的平台。
“We are very pleased about the opening of our new European 3D Printing Centre, and the strategic importance it will have for customers in the UK,” said Klaas. “Our UK customers will enjoy an even greater range of services, and this latest investment will undoubtedly help us meet our promise of delivering prototypes and low-volume production parts in just a few days.”
“新的生产设施扩大了我们的能力，并在未来的开拓性3D打印技术中实现了进一步的增长。”
Protolabs’ recent expansion drive
Based in Telford, UK, Protolabs markets injection molding, CNC machining and 3D printing services to prototyping and low-volume manufacturing customers. In the case of the latter, the company’s offering relies on its portfolio of SLA, SLS, MJF, PolyJet and metal machines, and it continues to seek out new additions to (as well as applications for) these technologies.
例如，在2021年5月，公司gained DNV GL certificationfor its oil and gas 3D printing service, before highlighting the potential of its services in the sector with its‘Decision Time’ surveyin September, which revealed that 83% of related firms are considering adopting the technology to reduce the lead times of off-shore spares.
Protolabs has also grown its revenue in more direct ways, such as its$280 million Hubs acquisition, a move that has enabled it to expand its capacity and supply network, while improving its lead time options for users. Though, since renaming Hubs from ‘3D Hubs,’ the firm’s CEO Rob Bodor admits the business has suffered from a “temporary decline in customer acquisition,” he maintains this is short-term.
In Protolabs’ Q3 financials, it was revealed that its subsidiary actually brought in $9 million, allowing it to generate $125 million in revenue during Q3 2021, 17% more than the $108 million reported in Q3 2020. Hubs’ income therefore continues to boost that of Protolabs, although Bodor has previously credited the launch of its upgraded CNC machining and injection molding offerings for its recent growth as well.
可持续增长项目
当protolabsfirst announced its new facilityin May 2020, it anticipated that it would move its existing production departments from its nearby facility in Feldkirchen there, along with 25 additional machines. At the time, the firm believed the move would expand its 3D printing capacity by up to 50%, but now the complex is finally open, it is expected to rise by an even more impressive 60%.
This ramped-up productivity can be accounted for by the factory’s impressive arsenal of 60 industrial 3D printers, which allow it to offer metal and plastic production services via a range of additive technologies. If completed to the plans unveiled last year, the facility also features a CNC machining center, as well as a 5-axis milling machine and coloring systems, capable of high-quality part finishing.
Protolabs表示，除了扩大其能力外，它还使用“多个可持续功能”建立了其复杂性，可以“节省资源，同时减少其CO2占地面积，包括使用巧妙的热量恢复和“工程流程的智能联系”来减少网站施工期间花费的任何能量，以及绿色能源充电设施的整合。
据该公司称，鉴于它的汽车，航空航天，电气，工业，医疗和能源客户正在“希望投资”杂货后，它的扩张也在“完美的时间”上以前压抑的零件需求。
“The opening of the 3D printing centre illustrates our long-term corporate strategy, which is geared towards fast evolving technologies, rapidly shifting markets, environmental considerations and world-class employees,” added Klaas. “In doing so, we want to fulfil our social responsibility, as well as deliver an unparalleled service through digital manufacturing.”
“[Our] approach enables customers to more rapidly develop their products, go to market faster, reduce manufacturing costs and achieve a flexible supply chain.”
3D印刷局的战斗
Protolabs’ expansion comes at a time when the 3D printing sector is being hotly-contested by a number of capital-rich service providers, each seeking to corner a share of the same designer-maker space. Havingraised around $302 millionfrom its IPO earlier this year,Xometryis one such firm. Since going public, the company has gone from strength to strength, and reported having26,000 active users in Q3.
Following the completion of its与伽利略的合并,Shapewaysis another service bureau with ambitions of rapidly scaling its business. Using the $90 million worth of capital raised via its IPO, the company has set itself the ambitious goal of产生2.5亿美元的收入到2024年,尽管它仍有待观察,如果rapid growth will materialise.
Elsewhere,3D Systemshas opted to withdraw entirely from the part provider space, with thesale of its on-demand manufacturing armin September 2021. Bought byTrilantic North Americafor $82 million, the facilities now operate under the revivedQuickPartsBrand，它继续通过其150名STRONG SLA，SLS和FDM 3D打印机提供服务。雷电竞app下载
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特色图片显示了Protolabs的新Putzbrunn生产设施。通过Protolabs照片。
