Protolabs, a developer of technology-enabled manufacturing, has been recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) as a Manufacturing Leadership Awards winner for its outstanding achievement in engineering and production technology.

The digital manufacturer's winning project involved a multi-toolpath engine that helped automate programming efforts in order to reduce customer lead times and lower production costs. The team at Protolabs developed toolpath generation software that achieved extremely smooth surface finishes for injection molds without increasing the milling time. The automation reduced production costs and provided customers with better quality surface finishes and shorter lead times. Given this automation, Protolabs can deliver quality on-demand manufacturing services at unprecedented speeds.

This is the fifth consecutive year in which the company has received a Manufacturing Leadership Award. Protolabs was previously recognized for categories including innovation process leadership, customer value leadership, operational excellence and manufacturer of the year. Protolabs will be recognized during the Manufacturing Leadership Summit, June 10-12, 2019, in Huntington Beach, California.