Protolabs Accelerates the Future of Robotics with Rapid Manufacturing

• Companies developing robotics rely on Protolabs to bring products to market faster in an increasingly competitive industry
• The industry leverages Protolabs’ owned factories and suppliers through Protolabs Network for comprehensive capabilities
• Demand for the company’s speed and manufacturing agility has driven robotics revenue to more than double in the first half of 2025.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB), the world’s leading provider of digital manufacturing services, is helping companies move from concept to real-world application faster with flexible, on-demand manufacturing support for robotics applications. As funding and competition intensify across the industry, robotics leaders are turning to Protolabs’ digital manufacturing model to meet ambitious speed-to-market goals with quick-turn parts tailored to the needs of robotics companies.

Robotics demand is accelerating at Protolabs. In the first half of 2026, revenue from the company’s robotics customers more than doubled compared to the first half of 2025. Market growth is reinforcing that momentum: The market size of the global robotics industry is estimated at $88 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach $219 billion by 2031, representing a 20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The addition of robotic devices to the Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List underlines the need for stateside manufacturing to promote this growth.

Through its extensive U.S.-based manufacturing footprint, Protolabs collaborates with robotics subsystem teams to accelerate the development of every required component including specialized tools like grippers, sensor systems, and enclosures. Advances in physical AI have pushed robotics beyond scripted automation and into adaptive, generalizable behavior. Protolabs’ comprehensive offering provides secure, high-speed prototyping and low-volume production manufacturing to support the extreme pace of robot development.

“Protolabs’ expanding role in robotics development is a testament to how our capabilities and manufacturing expertise compress product development timelines for industry leaders,” said Suresh Krishna, President and CEO of Protolabs. “As manufacturing advances with artificial intelligence and automation, we are rapidly implementing technologies powered by physical AI that enable us to move at the speed of emerging industries. For our customers, that speed and flexibility provide a clear competitive advantage in achieving their go-to-market goals.”

Speed is a Product Development Priority

Robotics companies are moving from concept to commercial deployment at an accelerated pace, even as many applications remain in the early stages of development. With a single robotic subsystem often comprising hundreds of parts, companies need manufacturing partners that can support rapid design iteration without slowing development. Protolabs’ high-mix, low-volume manufacturing model supports that. With parts available in as fast as a day, engineering teams can seamlessly move from design revision to testing, shortening development cycles and helping teams stay on track for ambitious launch timelines.

Robotics companies rely extensively on Protolabs’ 3D printing technologies, for example, to produce high-quality parts quickly. Protolabs’ broad library of flexible materials, including TPU, TPV, and silicone, gives engineers the flexibility to support rapid testing, revision, and reordering throughout development as performance requirements evolve. Customers turn to CNC machining for structural components, gears, motor mounts, and more, utilizing lightweight metals and engineering plastics while incorporating extensive secondary operations.

Robotics companies work with Protolabs engineers to make components safer during testing and development. By adjusting designs and using softer, more flexible materials where needed, teams can help parts withstand impacts and reduce the risk of damage or injury as robots continue to operate more often in real-world environments.

Comprehensive Manufacturing with IP Protection

In addition to its owned factories, Protolabs offers expanded capabilities through Protolabs Network, comprised of highly vetted manufacturing partners. Protolabs works to protect customers’ confidential information and intellectual property throughout the process—whether a project is manufactured in a Protolabs factory or through a Protolabs Network partner. Customers benefit from a multilayered cybersecurity approach that includes encryption, access controls, auditing and logging, and system hardening, helping safeguard sensitive product data at every stage of manufacturing.

RoboBusiness Event

Protolabs will showcase its manufacturing capabilities at RoboBusiness 2026, taking place Oct. 20 – 21 in Santa Clara, Calif. Attendees can visit Protolabs at booth #411 to learn how its digital manufacturing services support rapid prototyping and end-use production parts for developers of robotic technologies.

About Protolabs

Protolabs is the world’s fastest manufacturing service enabling companies across every industry to streamline production of quality parts throughout the entire product life cycle. From custom prototyping to end-use production, we support product developers, engineers, and supply chain teams along every phase of their manufacturing journey. Get started now at protolabs.com.