Protolabs Acquires 3D Hubs; Creates World’s Largest Digital Manufacturing Platform

Image Credit: Protolabs

Proto Labs, Inc. a global technology-enabled digital manufacturing leader, announced in an official release that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 3D Hubs, Inc. – a leading online manufacturing platform that provides engineers with on-demand access to a global network of approximately 240 premium manufacturing partners.

The transaction creates the world’s most comprehensive digital manufacturing offer for custom parts, providing Protolabs with a network of manufacturing partners to fulfill a breadth of capabilities outside of its current envelope, as well as a broader offering of pricing and lead time options.

Founded in 2013, 3D Hubs has facilitated the production of over 6 million custom parts and products through its digital platform. 3D Hubs provides customers with instant pricing and design feedback, and orders are fulfilled through thoroughly vetted premium manufacturing partners in over 20 countries worldwide, offering vast manufacturing capacity and a broad range of manufacturing capabilities at a variety of competitive pricing levels.

Above: The 3D Hubs team/Image Credit: 3D Hubs

Offering details of how the acquisition of 3D Hubs will lead to the creation of largest digital manufacturing solution, Rob Bodor, current VP and GM of the Americas and incoming President and CEO at Protolabs said, “The addition of 3D Hubs provides Protolabs a platform to evolve our service model to provide unprecedented manufacturing flexibility to our customers”.

“Our combined organizations will provide the market with an industry-leading digital manufacturing solution to serve their needs from idea to prototype to full end-use part production. Together we can fulfill nearly every custom manufacturing need across the product life cycle,” adds Bodor.

Under the terms of the agreement, closing consideration of $280 million will be funded with $130 million in cash and $150 million in Protolabs common stock. An additional $50 million of contingent consideration is payable subject to performance-based targets over two years after close, funded with 50% cash and 50% Protolabs common stock. Protolabs has also established an employee incentive fund payable to 3D Hubs employees based on achievement of both financial performance and employee retention targets.

Thrilled with the acquisition by Protolabs, Bram de Zwart, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at 3D Hubs, said, “The entire 3D Hubs team is thrilled to join Protolabs and continue to revolutionize the manufacturing industry through innovation. At 3D Hubs, our goal is to empower companies to create revolutionary products through supply chain efficiency and reliability. We are confident that partnering with Protolabs will help us advance that mission.”

[penci_related_posts taxonomies=”undefined” title=”You Might Also Like to Read” background=”” border=”Blue” thumbright=”yes” number=”4″ style=”grid” align=”none” displayby=”recent_posts” orderby=”random”]

“3D Hubs’ company culture lives and breathes engineering and fast-paced innovation; our team is very excited to partner with Protolabs to build the best on-demand manufacturing solution imaginable,” said Brian Garret, 3D Hubs’ Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer.

Protolabs anticipates the acquisition of 3D Hubs will accelerate its revenue growth rate and be marginally dilutive to non-GAAP earnings per share in 2021. 3D Hubs’ 2020 revenue is estimated to be $25 million and the company’s revenue has had a compound annual growth rate of over 200% since 2017. The transaction is expected to close by the end of January, subject to customary closing conditions.

“The acquisition of 3D Hubs is part of the continued evolution of Protolabs as the digital manufacturing leader, serving more and more of our customers’ needs. Protolabs’ leading in-house technology-enabled manufacturing services combined with 3D Hubs’ global network of premium manufacturing partners will yield the greatest value to our customers for years to come,” concluded Bram de Zwart, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at 3D Hubs.