Hubs
On-demand manufacturing for custom parts
- Founded:
- 2013
- Headquarters:
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (founded); now operates under Protolabs (Maple Plain, Minnesota, USA)
- Website:
- https://www.hubs.com
Instant Quoting
Summary
Hubs operates a Distributed supplier network for custom manufacturing. Core capabilities include CNC Machining — CNC Milling, CNC Machining — CNC Turning, 3D Printing — FDM, 3D Printing — SLA, 3D Printing — SLS and others using materials like Aluminum 6061-T651 (CNC), Aluminum 6082-T651 (CNC), Aluminum 7075-T651 (CNC), Aluminum 7075-T7351 (CNC), Mild Steel S275JR (CNC). Key certifications: ISO 9001:2015 (Protolabs Network Standard — required floor for all suppliers), ISO 13485:2016 (medical devices — available via certified network suppliers). Minimum order is 1 part for CNC, 3D printing, and sheet metal (no stated minimum); injection molding: typically 50–10,000+ parts for production runs via network (inferred from network positioning) with lead times starting at 3D printing: as fast as 1 business day. Region coverage includes United States, United Kingdom, European Union (Germany, France, Netherlands, broader EU). No public API is available.
Capabilities
| Processes | CNC Machining — CNC Milling (3-axis, 4-axis, 5-axis), CNC Machining — CNC Turning, 3D Printing — FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), 3D Printing — SLA (Stereolithography), 3D Printing — SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), 3D Printing — MJF (Multi Jet Fusion), Injection Molding — Plastic Injection Molding, Sheet Metal Fabrication (laser cutting, bending, forming) |
|---|---|
| Materials | Aluminum 6061-T651 (CNC), Aluminum 6082-T651 (CNC), Aluminum 7075-T651 (CNC), Aluminum 7075-T7351 (CNC), Mild Steel S275JR (CNC), Brass CZ121 (CNC), 50+ metals and plastics total for CNC (per Protolabs Network capabilities page), PLA (FDM), PETG (FDM, including ESD-safe PETG), ABS (FDM), Nylon (FDM), TPU (FDM), 15+ plastic materials for FDM (per Protolabs Network capabilities page), Standard resins (SLA), Engineering resins (SLA), Nylon PA12 (SLS), Standard and engineering thermoplastics (injection molding — full list not publicly enumerated) |
| Certifications | ISO 9001:2015 (Protolabs Network Standard — required floor for all suppliers), ISO 13485:2016 (medical devices — available via certified network suppliers), AS9100D (aerospace — available via certified network suppliers), ISO 14001 (environmental — available via certified network suppliers), ISO TS16949 (automotive — available via certified network suppliers), ITAR: NOT supported — defense and government orders must use Protolabs.com direct |
| Finishing | Anodizing Type II (CNC — confirmed via Protolabs Network), Anodizing Type III / Hard coat (CNC — confirmed via Protolabs Network), Plating (CNC), Chromate coating (CNC), Bead blasting (CNC), Powder coating (sheet metal — inferred from 250+ sheet metal supplier network), Painting (sheet metal — inferred), Additional finishing options vary by individual supplier in the network |
| Tolerances | CNC Machining via Hubs Network: ±0.001 in. (0.025 mm) — tighter than Protolabs own-factory CNC (±0.005 in.). Sheet Metal via Hubs Network: ±0.008 in. (0.2 mm) for cutting features. FDM 3D Printing via Hubs Network: ±0.5% with lower limit of ±0.0196 in. (±0.5 mm). ISO 2768 standard applies for CNC. |
| DFM Feedback | Yes |
Ordering & Commercial
- Minimum Order Quantity
- 1 part for CNC, 3D printing, and sheet metal (no stated minimum); injection molding: typically 50–10,000+ parts for production runs via network (inferred from network positioning)
- Lead Time
- 3D printing: as fast as 1 business day; sheet metal: 5–23 business days; CNC: not publicly specified for network (inferred longer than Protolabs factory 1-day for small runs); injection molding: not publicly specified (network targets high-volume production)
- Instant Quoting
- Yes
- Pricing Model
- Instant market-based pricing: CAD file upload generates an automated quote reflecting market rates across the supplier network. Network provides competitive pricing and volume breaks not available from Protolabs own factories. No RFQ process for standard services. Pricing described as lower unit cost than Protolabs direct for higher volumes.
Coverage
- Regions Served
- United StatesUnited KingdomEuropean Union (Germany, France, Netherlands, broader EU)Global shipping (specific country restrictions not publicly enumerated)
- Manufacturing Locations
- North America — USA (primary supplier concentration)Europe — Netherlands, Germany, UK (strong footprint from original 3D Hubs Amsterdam origins)Global — 20+ countries at time of acquisition; network has grown post-2021Asia — some suppliers; exact regional coverage not publicly disclosed
- Industries Served
- Consumer ElectronicsIndustrial EquipmentAutomotiveAerospace (via AS9100D-certified network suppliers)Medical (via ISO 13485-certified network suppliers)RoboticsGeneral Engineering and Product Development
- Volume Range:
- Prototyping through high-volume production. Network CNC supports instant quotes for up to 1,000 parts. Injection molding positioned for high-volume production (100,000+ parts). Sheet metal covers broad volume range via 250+ suppliers. 3D printing suitable for prototyping through low-volume production.
- Focus:
- Prototyping and production. Network designed to bridge prototyping-to-production at volumes and part sizes beyond Protolabs own factories. CNC and 3D printing suitable for prototyping; injection molding and sheet metal positioned for production volumes. Comparative advantage vs. Protolabs direct is at the production end (higher volumes, larger parts, tighter tolerances).
- IP Protection:
- NDA and confidentiality terms apply through the Protolabs/Hubs platform. ITAR orders explicitly NOT supported on Hubs — must use Protolabs.com direct. CAD files uploaded and shared with matched suppliers in the network. Specific file deletion policies, data retention terms, and security certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2) for hubs.com platform not publicly documented. (inferred)
Platform
- Marketplace Model
- Distributed supplier network — 250+ vetted third-party manufacturing partners globally. Hubs does not manufacture in-house. Orders routed to matching suppliers based on process, material, and geography. Cross-dock quality inspection at Hubs facilities (EU/UK/US) for CNC and injection molding orders before shipment to customer. 3D printing orders direct-shipped from partner manufacturers without cross-dock.
- Supplier Vetting
- Comprehensive onboarding and selection per the Protolabs Network Standard. Certifications verified at onboarding; ongoing performance monitoring per supplier. ISO 9001:2015 required floor for all suppliers; higher certifications (AS9100D, ISO 13485, ISO TS16949) available via specialist suppliers. Process-specific quality standards documented for CNC, 3D printing, and injection molding.
- Quality Assurance
- Cross-dock inspection at Hubs facilities for EU/UK/US orders: dimensional and visual inspection of each order during and after production before shipment to customer. Quality documents available: Certificate of Conformance (CoC), CMM Inspection Report, Material Test Report, First Article Inspection (FAI), Dimensional Inspection Report (DIR), REACH compliance, RoHS declarations, Material Certificates. 3D printing orders direct-shipped from suppliers without cross-dock QC checkpoint.
- Order Tracking
- Account-based dashboard on hubs.com provides order status tracking. Specific features (real-time production status, milestone notifications, API-queryable status) not documented publicly. Cross-dock model creates a trackable handoff point for EU/UK/US orders. 3D printing orders direct-shipped via carrier. (inferred)
- API Available:
- No
- Account Required:
- Yes
Differentiation
Best For
Engineers and procurement teams needing production-volume custom parts (CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication) at competitive market pricing, or requiring tighter tolerances and larger part sizes than Protolabs own factories support — especially when Protolabs brand quality standards matter more than absolute lowest price. (inferred)
Key Strengths
- Network model unlocks larger part sizes — CNC up to 40 in., injection molding up to 79 in. — vs. Protolabs own-factory constraints (CNC 22 in., IM 29.6 in.)
- Tighter CNC tolerances (±0.001 in.) than Protolabs factories (±0.005 in.) via access to precision-specialist suppliers
- Higher-volume injection molding (100,000+ parts) at competitive market-based pricing
- 250+ vetted manufacturing partners with cross-dock quality inspection — not a raw spot marketplace
- FDM 3D printing with 15+ materials — a process Protolabs own factories do not offer
- Broader supplier certifications available: AS9100D (aerospace), ISO 13485 (medical), ISO TS16949 (automotive) via network specialists
- Instant market-based pricing from CAD upload — competitive quotes generated from real network capacity
- European market strength: Amsterdam origin, German/French/Dutch language support, EU supplier network
- Protolabs brand trust and quality standard applied to a distributed supplier network model
Known Limitations
- ITAR not supported — export-controlled parts cannot be ordered through Hubs; must use Protolabs.com direct
- No metal 3D printing (DMLS) confirmed available — metal additive manufacturing is a Protolabs factory service, not offered via the network
- 3D printing orders are direct-shipped from suppliers without cross-dock QC — different quality guarantee than CNC and injection molding orders
- Separate account from Protolabs.com required — friction for customers wanting to use both platforms
- No public API — not currently usable for programmatic or agent-driven ordering as of Feb 2026
- Lead times for network CNC not publicly specified — likely slower than Protolabs factory CNC (1-day) for small runs
- Brand identity in active transition (Hubs to Protolabs Network) — may cause customer confusion
- Payment terms not publicly documented — requires account creation to understand commercial terms
- Less brand recognition than Xometry in the US market (Xometry is NYSE-listed with broader US market presence)
- hubs.com renders as JavaScript SPA — limited transparency on full capabilities without account creation