U.S., June 6 -- The Minnesota-based digital manufacturing company, Protolabs, has launched production capabilities for its metal 3D printing service.

Using secondary processes, metal parts will feature improved strength, dimensional accuracy and cosmetic appearance. Such advances are contributing to Protolabs' efforts to make the additive manufacturing of metal viable beyond just prototyping.

"We see it every day. The designers and engineers we work with in industries like aerospace and medtech are choosing additive manufacturing for complex components in high-requirement applications," said Greg Thompson, global product manager for 3D printing at Protolabs. "These new production capabilities help them optimize their designs to enhance ...