Northrop Grumman & Protolabs: Speed and Precision in Space

Enhancing efficiency, precision, innovation, and accelerating your design vision

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Certifications ISO 9001:2015 | AS9100D | ITAR


We are the fastest and most comprehensive digital manufacturer in the industry with more than 25 years of experience developing products for innovative aerospace companies around the world.

30,000
Parts Delivered to Northrop
Grumman Since 2024

100%
of Fortune 500
Aerospace Companies Served



How Northrop Grumman Partners with Protolabs


Rapid Prototyping

Take advantage of design for manufacturability (DFM) feedback in our instant quotes to make adjustments to part design before any manufacturing begins, then navigate quickly through early- and late-stage prototyping with ease.

 

End-to-end Product Development

Move quickly through iterative development with our rapid prototyping and low-volume production services. When ready, work with our team of applications engineers to meet all of your production needs for end-use aerospace applications.

 

Quality Certifications and Traceability

Take advantage of our AS9100- and ISO9001-certified machining and 3D printing processes for high-requirement parts. Aluminum traceability is also available on projects that qualify.

 

Aerospace Materials

Choose from high-temperature plastics, medical-grade silicone rubber, and 3D-printed micro-resolution and microfluidic parts, among hundreds of other plastic, metal, and elastomeric materials.

 


Approved for Flight Hardware Production

Let’s shrink the development timelines of Northrop Grumman’s Space & Missions Systems team. We deliver quickly, whether for prototype or production parts. We’ve been a trusted partner for Northrop Grumman, expediting your projects for more than a decade, supporting development, testing, and IRAD programs across all four of your major sectors. 

For example, we bolstered your Payload and Ground Systems division with quick-turn, high quality prototype parts, accelerating your timelines. Recently, when Northrop Grumman moved toward flight hardware qualification, you conducted an audit of our Nashua, N.H. facilities. This led to Protolabs’ approval for Ammolite—and more significantly—for the entire Northrop Grumman Space sector.  

Reach out about our AVL status

A Complete Solution for Engineers and Sub-Contract Managers

 

Engineers

  • Accelerate iteration: Quotes in hours, parts in days, plus design support 
  • Improve designs: Automated and engineer-reviewed DFM feedback enhances manufacturability 
  • Get parts from a certified facility: AS9100 and ITAR certification to meet the strict demands of aerospace manufacturing 
  • Experience the freedom of material choice: Huge variety of stocked material for CNC-machined and 3D-printed parts 

 

Sub-Contract Managers

  • Shrink lead times and source domestically: ITAR-compliant parts in days, not weeks, with full U.S.-based manufacturing 
  • Get trustworthy documentation: FAI, COC, material traceability, and other reports aligned with defense flow down clauses 
  • Ensure certification: AS9100 and ITAR-registered built to support high-consequence programs from prototyping through low-rate initial production (LRIP) 
  • Make procurement efficient: Digital quotes, transparent pricing, and predictable turnaround with minimal back-and-forth 

 


Northrop Grumman Support Team

We have a team of manufacturing experts working behind the scenes to fulfill your order—we manage the entire process and keep you updated along the way.

Joseph Sattler

Northrop Grumman Partnership Manager

Joseph.sattler@protolabs.com

763-479-7259

 

Eric Cruzen

Factory Sales Specialist

Eric.cruzen@protolabs.com

612-225-4874

 

Israel Putnam

myRapid Sales Specialist

Israel.putnam@protolabs.com

603-686-8828

 

Gabby VanBeaver

Network Sales Specialist

Gabby.vanbeaver@protolabs.com

312-766-1782

 



Manufacturing Services for Aerospace Parts


CNC Machining expand_less expand_more

CNC Machining

Leverage the same speed, precision, and reliability in machining that you’re accustomed to at Protolabs but unlock advanced machining capabilities like tighter tolerances and volume pricing through our manufacturing network.

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  • Machined parts in as fast as 1 day with optional plating and anodizing in as fast as 4 days
  • Cost-efficient machined parts at higher volumes
  • Tolerances down to ±0.001 in. (0.020mm) through our digital network
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3D Printing

Want quality parts and additive expertise at a single 3D printing source? Choose from seven different additive manufacturing technologies for cost-effective prototyping and highly precise, repeatable production parts.

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  • Additive technologies include metal 3D printing, SLA, SLS, FDM, and more
  • 30 plastic and metal materials in a range of finishes
  • 25 years of additive manufacturing expertise
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Sheet Metal Fabrication

From easy quoting to quick-turn production and finishing options, get up to 500 quality sheet metal parts in your hands in days from a single supplier.


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  • Instant quotes with interactive manufacturability feedback
  • Six sheet metal materials including aluminum, stainless steel, steel, brass, and copper
  • Finishing options from welding and hardware insertion to powder coating and silk screening
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Injection Molding

Get affordable, high-quality molded parts and bridge tooling within days. With our free moldability consultation, the design and molding process is rapidly accelerated to save you time and money.

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  • Low-volume molding up to 100,000+ parts with volume pricing available—no MOQ required
  • 100+ plastic, elastomeric, and silicone rubber materials
  • Automated CMM for fast, in-house quality documentation

 

Quality Measures for Aerospace Components

Our industry-standard procedures and certifications guarantee quality and regulatory compliance.

CMM inspection report First Article Inspection (FAI)
Dimensional Inspection Report (DIR) PPAP
Material Certificates + Certificate of Analysis Conflict Minerals Reporting
REACH + RoHS Certificates Prop65
Industry Certifications: ISO 9001 and AS 9100  Certificate of Conformance (CoC)
Industry Certifications (Protolabs Network): ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO TS16949   


Materials for Aerospace Components


Titanium

Available through machining and metal 3d printing services, this lightweight and strong material offers excellent corrosion and temperature resistance.

Aluminum

This metal’s high strength-to-weight ratio makes it a good candidate for housing and brackets that must support high loading.  Aluminum is available for both machined and 3D-printed parts. 

Inconel

This 3D-printed metal is a nickel chromium superalloy ideal for rocket engine components and other applications that require high-temperature resistance.


Resources for Aerospace Manufacturing