Protolabs has significantly expanded its U.S. manufacturing capacity in 2025 in response to rising domestic demand for metal 3D-printed parts.
Protolabs recently added four large-format, dual-laser Colibrium Additive M2 metal printers to allow for more metal 3D printing capacity. The technology can produce complex, lightweight structures, making it a fit for medical device, aerospace, and defense industries.
The new printers were installed at a recently opened Raleigh, North Carolina, facility dedicated to direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) printing—an established additive manufacturing process for metal components. The 120,000-square-foot factory features nearly 40 DMLS printers, with production capacity of more than 8,000 parts monthly.
With medical device, aerospace, and defense industries leading adoption of metal 3D printing, Protolabs also recently gained ISO 13485 certification for its DMLS production facility and AS9100D for aerospace manufacturing.
This expansion supports the continued evolution of metal 3D printing, with emerging technologies, new materials, and improved secondary operations. Innovative customers can continue leveraging metal 3D printing for its design freedom and lightweighting capabilities but do so without sacrificing overall part quality in end-use applications.
