MAPLE PLAIN, Minn.—MARCH 27, 2018—Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB), a global leader in technology-enabled manufacturing, today announced that it has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as a Manufacturing Leadership Awards winner for its outstanding achievement in operational excellence.

Protolabs’ winning project was called Cellular Division—a continuous improvement initiative designed to position the company for further business growth, achieve more favorable manufacturing costs, and ultimately provide more economic value to its customers. The project consisted of reorganizing the layout of its U.S. injection molding production facility and modifying personnel responsibilities to reduce wasted time and motion, as well as excessive materials during its molding process.

The Cellular Division project achieved significant improvement in productivity of direct labor, cycle time reduction of non-value-added activities, and decreased material scrap. The improved operational efficiency will be critical as the company continues to scale its operations and grow its customer base with on-demand manufacturing, its latest injection molding service option tailored to low-volume production.

“It’s an honor to be selected by Frost & Sullivan as a leader in manufacturing,” said Vicki Holt, Protolabs’ President and CEO. “This continuous improvement project has been crucial to our growth during the past year and sets us up to continue serving our customers with high quality prototype and production parts well into the future.”

Protolabs will be recognized at the 14th Annual Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, which is to be held on the last day of the Manufacturing Leadership Summit, June 11-13, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach, CA.

About Protolabs

Protolabs is the world's fastest digital manufacturing source for rapid prototyping and on-demand production. The technology-enabled company produces custom parts and assemblies in as fast as 1 day with automated 3D printing, CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and injection molding processes. Its digital approach to manufacturing enables accelerated time to market, reduces development and production costs, and minimizes risk throughout the product life cycle. Visit protolabs.com for more information.

About the Manufacturing Leadership Awards

The Manufacturing Leadership Awards, now in their 14th year, honor manufacturing companies and individual manufacturing leaders that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Winning projects and individual manufacturing leaders have demonstrated achievement in one of a wide range of categories, and are chosen by a panel of expert judges for results that have delivered clear and compelling value, return on investment, and other tangible outcomes. There will be several winners in each category, including one High Achiever’s Award in each category, as well as a 2018 Manufacturer of the Year for both small and large enterprises. Also unveiled at the Gala will be the ML Awards Manufacturing Leader of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award winners.

The theme for the 14th Annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit is “Accelerating the Transformation to Manufacturing 4.0.” The event enables senior-level executives in all aspects of manufacturing an opportunity to network with and learn from the best minds in the industry.

For more information on the Manufacturing Leadership Awards or the Manufacturing Leadership Summit, please go to mlsummit.com.