Telford, UK, based Proto Labs Ltd has won the MWP Award 2010 for the Best Sub-contractor – Machining category; sponsored by tooling manufacturer, Sandvik Coromant. The MWP Awards ceremony was held on June 8th, during the biennial MACH 2010 manufacturing technology exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham.

Collecting the award on behalf of Proto Labs was European Marketing Manager Mr. Richard Vaughan, accompanied on the evening by Marketing Co-ordinator, Katie Dunn. The award was presented by former racing driver, TV personality and motor sport journalist, Amanda Stretton and Mr Philip Palin, Senior Manager – National Sales for Sandvik Coromant UK. ‘We are absolutely delighted with this latest award marking several firsts.’ said Mr. Vaughan. ‘A first award for our CNC machining service First Cut, the first time we have exhibited at the MACH event and the first time we have entered the MWP Awards. We couldn’t have asked for a better debut!’

Proto Labs is one of the UK’s most exciting and fastest growing advanced manufacturing companies with sales offices in Germany and France offering two services: First Cut delivers CNC machined plastic and aluminium parts in quantities from 1-10 units, and Protomold delivers injection-moulded plastic parts in quantities from 10–10,000 units. ‘Proto Labs has been honoured with several awards in our first five years, most notably a Queen’s Award for Enterprise this year,’ adds Mr Vaughan, ‘however the MWP Award recognises in particular our machining service, First Cut.’

Since being founded just five years ago, Proto Labs has radically improved the economics and delivery times associated with the production of prototype and low-volume parts for manufacturers with customers who are world-leaders in many different industry sectors, including medical, aerospace, automotive and domestic appliances. What makes the Proto Labs process particularly innovative is the company’s super-computer cluster and powerful software, both of which were developed in-house. An engineer or product designer can upload a 3D CAD model of a part via the secure First Cut or Protomold website and receive an online quote that includes a detailed manufacturability analysis and an accurate all-in production price – within hours. The quote also gives the chance to instantly see how material choice and delivery can affect the price. And of course, whichever Proto Labs service you choose, orders can be shipped in as little as one business day.

‘For a company working on new products or modifications, time-to-market is critical,’ says Mr. Vaughan. ‘To test and develop a product to the point where it is ready for manufacturing means making working prototypes. The longer this process takes, the higher the development cost and chance that a competitor will get there first. Our First Cut service allows design and development engineers, even with very little or no experience of machining to order and receive precise, functional and high-quality parts faster.’