3D Hubs and Protolabs join forces to create the world’s most comprehensive manufacturing portfolio
At 3D Hubs, we empower engineers to create revolutionary products.
3D Hubs empowers engineers to create revolutionary products by making custom manufacturing more accessible. We leverage automation to allow fast and affordable access to manufacturing capabilities from all over the world.
A broad range of capabilities
3D Hubs started life as the world’s largest peer-to-peer network of 3D printing services, but as we grew with our customers we needed to offer a broader range of capabilities to help their businesses succeed.
Today there are hundreds of manufacturers in our global network, and customers can order parts in a broad range of materials using multiple manufacturing technologies, and with many secondary processes as well. Our customers come back again and again because we’ll always find a way to make what they need.
Fast & affordable
The two main drivers of accessibility are price and speed, so we build state-of-the-art automation that makes custom manufacturing cheaper and faster.
We use machine learning to quote costs better than any machinist, instantly. This reduces the overhead costs in our prices, and eliminates a lot of the time our customers would normally spend sourcing quotes.
We automate production through a global network of hundreds of specialised manufacturing partners. This means we can guarantee capacity and lead times 24/7, 365 days a year, and leverage competitive forces to guarantee our prices are always fair and unbiased.
Milestones
- 2013
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
3D Hubs founded
2013
April
Acquired Printivate for DfM analysis
2016
November
Increased capabilities - CNC Machining
2017
January
Partnered with manufacturers in China
2017
February
3D Printing Handbook published
2017
November
Increased capabilities - Sheet Metal Fabrication
2019
March
Increased capabilities - Injection Molding & Rapid Tooling
2019
September
Partnered with manufacturers in India
2019
October
Partnered with manufacturers in Eastern Europe
2020
April
Partnered with manufacturers in Mexico
2020
June
Updated quote building portal
2020
October
3D Hubs acquired by Protolabs
2021
January
A Protolabs Company
In January 2021 3D Hubs was proudly acquired by Protolabs, the global leader in fast custom manufacturing.
We’re very excited because it’s an incredible opportunity to further our mission of making custom manufacturing accessible. By combining forces we’ve created the world’s most comprehensive digital manufacturing offer for custom parts, giving our combined customer base better access to increased design complexity, tighter tolerances, additional finishing options, more materials, and a broader range of lead-time options.
You can read more about the acquisition here: 3D Hubs and Protolabs join forces.
3D Hubs would have been an essential resource when we were building the iPod, the iPhone, and Nest. Instead of waiting weeks to get back models & prototypes, now with 3D Hubs' crucial online prototyping & manufacturing platform, engineers and designers can turn ideas into objects in only a few days, with precision 3D printed, CNC'd, or injection molded parts, and even move straight into volume manufacturing.
Tony Fadell
iPod inventor, iPhone co-inventor, Nest founder,
and Future Shape principal
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