Protolabs reports 90% drone revenue growth since 2023, expands MJF capacity with HP Additive

Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB) announced on July 7, 2026 that revenue from its drone-manufacturing customers has grown more than 90% since 2023, representing a compound annual growth rate of nearly 40%. The digital manufacturing service bureau has expanded its quick-turn CNC machining capabilities to deliver end-use metal and plastic parts with tighter tolerances and broader cosmetic finishes, and has added Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing capacity through a partnership with HP Additive specifically tailored to drone production. CEO Suresh Krishna framed the investment around the need for flight-ready parts delivered in days rather than weeks, noting that drone developers are innovating at the speed of software. Protolabs operates ITAR-registered U.S. facilities and AS9100/ISO9001-certified sites, serving all Fortune 100 aerospace companies.

This announcement fits the service-based adoption pattern in AM, where the largest revenue pool in the industry is already production services rather than new machine sales. Protolabs is capturing the intersection of two demand verticals - aerospace and defense - where drone programs require high-mix, low-volume production with rapid iteration cycles that traditional supply chains cannot support. The HP Additive partnership for MJF capacity is notable because polymer PBF (specifically MJF) has become the go-to process for lightweight, aerodynamic drone components such as ducts, housings, and brackets in PA12, a material with proven strength-to-weight ratio for extreme environments. The 90% revenue growth figure is a concrete signal that the drone segment is moving from prototyping into repeatable production, validating the thesis that service bureaus with broad process portfolios are best positioned to capture fragmented, fast-moving demand.

For Protolabs, the challenge is maintaining quality governance and repeatability as drone volumes scale - the company's existing AS9100 and ITAR certifications provide a structural advantage over generalist service bureaus that lack aerospace-grade quality systems. The HP Additive partnership is a capacity play, not a technology moat; what matters is whether Protolabs can turn that capacity into consistent yield for customers who need certified parts, not just fast parts. Buyers evaluating Protolabs for drone production should verify that the expanded MJF capacity includes in-process monitoring and material traceability, not just throughput.