Industrial 3D Printing Service
Choose Industrial 3D Printing if you are looking to accelerate product development, scale production seamlessly, enable complex and integrated parts design, while maintaining a cost-effective production from lower volumes all the way up to 100,000 parts.
Prototal is your serial production partner from one to one million parts. With our services, we deliver functional prototypes in high quality and parts ready for end-use products serving up to mid-volume production parts with industrial-grade materials, tight tolerances, and repeatable quality.
Industrial 3D Printing for Serial Production
By moving away from the constraints of traditional tooling, you gain the ability to scale your manufacturing with unprecedented flexibility. This digital approach allows you to respond to market shifts instantly and produce complex, high-performance components.
Lowering the Barrier to Market
Traditional manufacturing requires an upfront investment in tooling, which often creates a financial barrier for new projects. By printing directly from digital files, you remove these initial capital costs and lower the overall financial risk of your product launch and move into production immediately.
Combining Multiple Parts
Designing for additive manufacturing allows you to merge complex assemblies into a single, unified component. This consolidation reduces the number of items you need to track in your inventory and simplifies your overall procurement process. The result is a more robust structure with fewer joints, leading to increased part reliability and a significantly lighter administrative burden on your supply chain.
Reducing Assembly Cost
When a product is designed as a single unit rather than a collection of parts, the labor required to finish it decreases. You spend less on manual tasks like fastening or gluing, which streamlines your internal production flow and reduces the chance of human error during assembly.
Cutting Lead Times
In traditional manufacturing, a design change can stop production while a tool is modified. 3D printing enables you to update a design digitally ensuring your product reaches the market without delay. This agility allows you to maintain a leaner inventory, as you can produce high-quality parts on demand to meet fluctuating market needs.
Achieving Impossible Geometries
Additive technology builds parts layer by layer, allowing for internal features like lattice structures and conformal cooling channels that cannot be machined or molded. These geometric freedoms result in parts that are lighter, more thermally efficient, and specifically optimized for their environment.
Our Powder Bed Fusion Technologies
Powder Bed Fusion is our core engine for tool-less serial production. By using high-precision lasers or fusion agents to selectively melt micron-scale powder, we manufacture dense components with near-isotropic mechanical properties. This ensures the structural consistency required for large-scale industrial runs, delivering parts that perform reliably under stress regardless of their orientation.
Specialized Technologies for Prototyping and Niche Production
While our high-volume Powder Bed Fusion systems drive large-scale serial production, our specialized additive technologies are engineered for precision, material specificity, and rapid iteration. Whether you require the extreme surface resolution of DLP or SLA, multi-material complexity of PolyJet, or the exotic material selection of FDM, these processes provide the technical agility needed for niche production and prototyping.
A Trusted 3D Printing Partner
Join Europe’s largest digitally distributed manufacturing network with 130+ Industrial 3D Printers, an extensive material selection combined with advanced post-processing & quality control.
With 5 industry-specific certifications we can deliver high-quality parts specifically for Aerospace & Defense, Medical Applications, Automotive Industry & Motorsport. Additionally, we are one of the few service providers certified for serial additive production by HP and EOS.
Certified for Serial Production.
Partnered for Your Success.
Prototal is one of Europe’s leading industrial 3D printing partners, offering a unique combination of local expertise and massive industrial scale. With a fleet of over 130+ industrial 3D printers strategically located across Italy, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and Austria, we provide the capacity to handle everything from rapid prototypes to high-volume global rollouts.
We go beyond traditional vendor relationships by focusing on long-term partnerships that optimize your entire production lifecycle. As a certified partner for serial production with both HP and EOS, our processes meet the highest rigorous standards for consistency, quality, and repeatability. When you choose Prototal, you gain a locally rooted partner with the industrial horsepower to deliver certified, production-grade components at any scale.
Precision Engineered DMLS for
Peak Performance
Based in our UK center of excellence, Prototal delivers metal 3D printing utilizing advanced Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technology. Our process is backed by decades of experience in high-stakes engineering, where our deep-rooted ties to the motorsport sector serve as a testament to our technical reliability.
We consistently meet the extreme mechanical and thermal demands required by elite racing standards. We apply this high-performance mindset to every project, providing our partners with the race-proven accuracy and material integrity required for the most critical industrial applications.
Most Requested Materials for 3D Printing
SLS PA 2200
A versatile, strong, and durable classic for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). It offers excellent mechanical properties, making it ideal for functional prototypes and end-use parts.
MJF PA 12
Known for its exceptional strength and fine resolution, this Nylon 12 powder provides a smooth finish and excellent chemical resistance, perfect for complex, detailed parts.
SLS PA 2210 FR
This material is a flame-retardant variation, often required for components in the automotive, aerospace, or electronic industries where safety standards are paramount.
SLS TPU
An elastomeric material, TPU is highly valued for its flexibility, shock absorption, and abrasion resistance, making it the go-to choice for seals, grips, and flexible connectors.
MJF PA 11
Offering superior impact resistance and ductility compared to Nylon 12, PA 11 is derived from renewable sources, making it a more sustainable, high-performance option.
DMLS Aluminium AlSi10Mg
This high-grade alloy offers exceptional thermal conductivity and strength-to-weight ratios, providing a durable, corrosion-resistant metal solution for high-performance components.
Engineering Your Perfect Surface
We empower you to tailor every surface to your exact requirements — whether your application demands the high-gloss, fluid-tight seal, a refined tactile haptic, or the vibrant, scratch-resistant branding with dyecoloring.
By utilizing industry-leading technology from partners like AMT, AM Solutions and DyeMansion, we ensure that your parts don’t just meet mechanical tolerances but also achieve the specific resilience your project requires.
Bridging Manufacturing Technologies
Prototal is a technology-agnostic partner, prioritizing the best manufacturing method for your project’s specific stage. While industrial 3D printing offers unmatched speed and complexity for up to 100,000 parts, we provide a seamless transition to Injection Molding for higher volume requirements.
By offering both additive and traditional solutions under one roof, we ensure your supply chain remains unified and cost-effective as you scale from a single functional part to mass product
3D Print Guidelines
Our helpful guides are specifically designed to assist you before submitting your design to us. We always strive to achieve the best possible outcome, and by following our guidelines, you can be confident that your design will be of the highest quality.
Get in touch with us if you need guidance, we are happy to help you!
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Enabling the Next Industrial Revolution Together
Quote Your Next Project
Looking for high-quality industrial 3D printing solutions tailored to your needs? Our team is ready to provide a detailed quote for your project. Simply share your specifications, and we’ll deliver a clear, competitive estimate — no surprises, just precision and reliability.
Why choose us?
- 3D printing solutions for any scale and complexity
- Fast and accurate quoting process
- Local presence close to your business and business needs
FAQs
Do you have questions regarding Industrial 3D Printing? Find the most common questions and answers about the subject here.
Industrial 3D printing, or Additive Manufacturing, creates three-dimensional objects by joining materials layer-by-layer based on a digital CAD model. At Prototal, we utilize four primary technology categories, each defined by how the material is cured or deposited:
- Powder Bed Fusion (MJF, SLS, FDR & SAF): This process begins with a thin layer of polymer powder spread across a build platform. A thermal energy source — either a laser (SLS/FDR) or an infrared lamp combined with a fusing agent (MJF/SAF) — selectively melts the powder particles to fuse them together. The platform then drops, a new layer of powder is spread, and the process repeats. Best for: Durable, functional parts and serial production with no support structures needed.
- Powder Bed Fusion (DMLS): A high-powered fiber laser selectively melts layers of metal powder (such as Aluminum or Titanium). Unlike polymer fusion, metal parts are anchored to the build plate with support structures to manage heat dissipation and prevent warping. Best for: Functional metal prototypes, lightweight aerospace components, and high-strength niche serial production.
- Material Extrusion (FDM): Often referred to as Fused Deposition Modeling, this technology works by melting a thermoplastic filament and extruding it through a heated nozzle. The nozzle moves in the X and Y axes to “draw” the part’s cross-section, while the build plate moves down for each new layer. Best for: High-performance engineering plastics (like PEEK or Ultem) and large structural components.
- Material Jetting (PolyJet): PolyJet works similarly to an inkjet printer but uses liquid photopolymers. Multiple print heads jet microscopic droplets of resin onto the build tray, which are immediately cured by a UV light. This allows for the simultaneous printing of multiple materials and colors in a single part. Best for: High-resolution prototypes, realistic medical models, and multi-material components.
- Vat Polymerization (SLA, DLP): This technology uses a vat of liquid photosensitive resin. A light source (a UV laser for SLA or a projector for DLP) selectively cures the resin, hardening it layer-by-layer. As each layer is finished, the build platform moves to allow fresh resin to flow over the surface. Best for: Parts requiring extreme dimensional accuracy and a smooth, “fine-detail” surface finish.
Industrial 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, offers a wide range of advantages that have made it increasingly popular across various industries. Here are some key advantages of 3D printing:
- Design Flexibility: 3D printing allows for intricate and complex designs that are difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. It offers design freedom, enabling the creation of geometries and structures that were previously impractical or cost-prohibitive.
- Rapid Prototyping: 3D printing enables rapid prototyping, significantly reducing the time and cost involved in developing prototypes. It allows for quick iterations and design improvements, accelerating the product development cycle.
- Cost Efficiency: Traditional manufacturing often involves high setup costs and tooling expenses. With 3D printing, these costs can be minimized or eliminated since it requires little to no tooling. It is particularly advantageous for low-volume production or customized/personalized manufacturing.
- Reduced Waste: 3D printing is an additive process that minimizes material wastage. It only uses the exact amount of material required for building the object, leading to more sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing.
- Complex Geometry and Customization: 3D printing enables the creation of complex geometries, intricate internal structures, and customizable designs. This is particularly beneficial for industries such as aerospace, healthcare, and architecture, where highly specialized and personalized products are required.
- Supply Chain Optimization: Additive manufacturing can decentralize production, allowing for on-demand manufacturing closer to the point of need. This can lead to reduced lead times, lower transportation costs, and optimized supply chains.
These advantages make Industrial 3D printing a valuable tool in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, consumer goods, and more. By leveraging the benefits of 3D printing, businesses can gain a competitive edge, drive innovation, and unlock new possibilities in product development and manufacturing processes.
We offer a range of post-processing services to ensure your 3D printed parts meet the highest standards of quality, precision, and aesthetics.
Polymer 3D Printing Post-Processing
- Support Removal & Sanding
- Vapor Smoothing
- Vibratory Finishing
- Bead Blasting
- Coloring
- Primer, Painting, coating & lacquering
- Threaded/non-threaded inserts
- Assembly
Metal 3D Printing Post-Processing
- Heat Treatment
- EDM Wiring & Support Removal
- Dry & Wet blasting
- Vibratory Finishing
- CNC Machining
- Anodizing
- Polishing
- Painting
At Prototal, we offer a lot of different 3D printing technologies:
- Multi Jet Fusion – MJF
- Selective Laser Sintering – SLS
- Stereolithography – SLA
- Selective Absorption Fusion – SAF
- Fine Detail Resolution – FDR
- PolyJet
- Fused Deposition Modeling – FDM
- Digital Light Processing – DLP
- Direct Metal Laser Sintering – DMLS (also known as SLM)
We have a wide range of materials within different technologies. We are always introducing new materials, but right now this is what we offer:
MJF
- PA 11
- PA 12
- PA 12 W
- PA 12 S
- PA 12 GB
SLS
- PA 11
- PA 2200
- PA 3200 GF
- PA 2210 FR
- PA 2241 FR
- PA 603-CF
- PA 620-MF
- PA 640-GSL
- “Rubber” 50A-80A
- PA 12 Aluminium filled
- PEEK*
- PA 6*
- BlueDP 3S approved for food contact*
FDR
- PA 1101
SAF
- Polypropylene (PP)
SLA
- Accura ClearVue
- Accura Extreme
- Accura 25
- Accura HPC
- Somos® WaterClear Ultra
DLP
- PRO-BLK 10
- FLEX-BLK 20
- Hi-Temp 300 AMB
- Rubber 65A Shore
PolyJet
- All Digital Materials from Stratasys
DMLS / SLM
- Aluminium (AlSi10Mg)
- Titanium (Ti6Al4v)
- Stainless Steel 316L*
FDM
- Ultem (9085 & 1010)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- PC/ABS
- PC-ISO
- ABS (ESD7, M30 & M30i)
- ASA
- SR-30
- PEKK & PEKK-ESD
- PA 12 CF
- Polypropylene (PP)
- And other engineering materials
*Subcontracted materials
The maximal size of part printable is dependable on the 3D printing technology and the geometry of your part:
- SLS – 700x380x580 mm
- MJF – 380x284x380 mm
- FDR – 200x250x125 mm
- SAF – 315x208x293 mm
- SLA – 1500x750x550 mm
- FDM – 900x600x900 mm
- DLP – 150x70x350 mm
- PolyJet – 490x390x200 mm
- DMLS – 500x280x365 mm
Manufacturing should not be transactional. At Prototal we value a partnership, which is why you will get a dedicated contact person close to your operations that knows your business and business needs. To start our future partnership, please reach out to the local team within your area that can be found under Contact us or send us an e-mail:
- Norway: post@prototal.no or +47 74 09 06 00
- Sweden: am@prototal.se or +46 (0) 36-38 72 00
- Denmark: 3dp@prototal.dk or +45 43 99 37 36
- United Kingdom: info@prototaluk.com or +44 01635 635855
- Italy: info@prosilas.com or +39 0733 892665
- Austria, Germany & Switzerland: 3dp@prototal.at or +43 5572 52946-9
As a flexible partner we can offer lead times down to 1* working day depending on the selection of technology, material, post-processing and quality control. Usually, you can expect a lead time within the range of 2-3* working days, depending on same variables as stated above.
*While Prototal offers industry-leading turnaround times, all lead times are provided as estimates. Lead times are based on standard operating conditions and the selection of the most efficient regional technology hub for your project. Final lead times are determined by the specific requirements of your order, including local availability, part geometry, material selection, and post-processing. For complex geometries that require extensive support structures or high-performance materials, we may allocate additional processing time. This ensures the structural integrity and dimensional accuracy of your components before they leave our facility. By leveraging our decentralized hub network and cross-border logistics, we work to minimize delays; however, the technical requirements of the manufacturing process remain the primary factor in our quality-assured lead times.
Commercial printers often use the technology Filament Extrusion (also known as FDM), where a nozzle “draws” layers with melted plastic string. At Prototal, we primarily use Powder Bed Fusion or PBF (SLS, MJF, SAF and FDR). Instead of a nozzle, these systems use high-powered lasers or fusing agents to bond microscopic layers of polymer powder together.
Design Freedom and Support: In filament printing, any “overhanging” part of your design requires supports that must be broken off, leaving scars on the surface. In our powder systems, the part is suspended in a bed of loose powder during the build. This means you can design complex internal channels, interlocking gears, and organic shapes that are impossible to produce on a standard printer.
Precision and Industrial Tolerances Accuracy is where the distinction between professional and standard systems is most visible. Because we utilize industrial-grade systems, we achieve significantly tighter tolerances and higher repeatability.
- Powder Bed Fusion: We typically achieve tolerances of ±0.3 mm (with a lower limit of ±0.2 mm). Because the parts are supported by the surrounding powder, they remain dimensionally stable and free from the “scars” left by support structures.
- Filament Extrusion: Standard filament printers often have loose tolerances of ±0.5 mm or more.
Surface Quality While filament printers often leave visible “layer lines,” Powder Bed Fusion produce a consistent, matte finish that looks and feels like a manufactured product. Because we use industrial-grade thermal control, we can achieve much tighter tolerances for PBF at ±0.5 mm and repeatability, which is critical when you need 100 parts that are all exactly identical.
Post-Processing While both technologies support basic manual finishing, Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) offers a significantly broader range of industrial surface treatments. Because PBF parts are porous and heat-stable, we can provide Vapor Smoothing for an injection-molded look, Bead Blasting for a uniform matte texture, and deep Coloring (Dyeing) that penetrates the material surface. In contrast, FDM post-processing is more focused on functional requirements. Due to the visible layer lines and material properties, finishing is typically limited to support removal and basic sanding.
Batch Production Efficiency Standard printers are limited to the surface area of the build plate. With Powder Bed Fusion, we can “nest” parts in 3D—stacking them on top of each other throughout the entire volume of the machine. This allows Prototal to scale from a single prototype to a series of thousands of parts with extreme efficiency.
