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The Digital Thread

Your blog feed for manufacturing resources, in-depth features, and industry news.

Past 'Thought Leadership' posts

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Protolabs x IMarEST Survey 2024
Thought leadership
05/09/2024

Protolabs x IMarEST Survey 2024: Manufacturing in the Maritime industry

A lack of expertise and skilled personnel is holding the maritime industry back, according to a new survey by the IMarEST and Protolabs – but solving it could open up a wealth of opportunity.
By Protolabs, IMarEST
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Aerospace Manufacturing in 2024 - On demand webinar
Thought leadership
01/07/2024

Protolabs and RAeS Webinar: Aerospace Manufacturing in 2024 – The Big Issues

In this panel discussion we look at the predictions and insights on the horizon for the Aerospace industry with Aerospace experts.
By Protolabs and RAeS
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aerospace in flight
Thought leadership
11/06/2024

Aerospace Manufacturing in 2024

In 2024, a joint survey from the Royal Aeronautical Society and Protolabs, revisited a 2023 questionnaire on the top concerns and issues for those in aerospace manufacturing. One year on, what were the fresh findings of this updated industry snapshot?
By Protolabs
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Protolabs x IMechE Survey 2023
Thought leadership
06/09/2023

Protolabs x IMechE Survey 2023: Cost Pressures Hit Manufacturing's Sustainability Goal

As the price of raw materials and labour rises, our annual survey of the UK manufacturing industry in association with IMechE reveals a new focus on cost: both as a major concern for businesses, and as a potential bottleneck in their adoption of new technologies. In this blog, we explore the survey results in detail.
By Protolabs
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Protolabs x IMarEST Survey 2023
Thought leadership
01/09/2023

Protolabs x IMarEST Survey 2023: Turning Down the Heat

Decarbonisation is the main challenge facing the maritime industry, according to a new survey by the IMarEST and Protolabs – but new technologies offer reasons to be optimistic.
By Protolabs
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aerospace engine
Thought leadership
29/05/2023

Aerospace Manufacturing in 2023

In early 2023, a joint survey from the Royal Aeronautical Society and Protolabs was conducted to learn more about the aerospace sector’s most important concerns and top priorities. In this blog, Tim Robinson FRAeS examines the results.
By Protolabs
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Building the Future
Thought leadership
05/09/2022

Building the Future

Digital manufacturing and other smart technologies promise to transform the maritime sector, but new expertise and skilled personnel are needed first, found a survey by the IMarEST and Protolabs
By Protolabs
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Challenges on the Horizon
Thought leadership
11/05/2022

Challenges on the Horizon

The Aerospace industry in no stranger to innovation, but with challenges of the pandemic and ongoing needs to address carbon emissions it has been left with some difficult challenges. Reflecting on a Protolabs research project two years ago, how is the industry shaping up now?
By Protolabs
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Automotive Report 2019
Thought Leadership
01/10/2019

The Innovation Race

Protolabs Auotomotive Report 2019 talking to some of the most influential people in the European automotive industry.
By Matt Hatch
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Shortening the Development Cycle in the Aerospace Sector
Thought Leadership
16/01/2019

Shortening the Development Cycle in the Aerospace Sector

Safety is the overriding concern in aerospace and space technology - countless test cycles, inspection procedures and certificates are behind every single part of the jigsaw. Although safety requirements are non-negotiable, they come at a cost – they slow down the speed of the product development cycle.
By Stephen Dyson
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Mould tool
Thought leadership
07/11/2018

Prototype to Production Series: Part 2

Once prototypes have been validated in terms of fit, form, function and aesthetics, development can move to low-volume production.
By Laura Reeves
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Rapid prototyping at Protolabs
Thought Leadership
24/10/2018

Prototype to Production series: Part 1

What should you include in the early stages of the project development process?
By Stephen Dyson
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