The Protocase Companies today announced the launch of laser cutting operations at its Wilmington, North Carolina manufacturing facility, marking a major milestone in the company's continued expansion of its U.S. manufacturing footprint. The first production parts were successfully cut on July 7, bringing one of Protocase's foundational manufacturing capabilities to its rapidly growing U.S. operation. Laser cutting is a core technology behind Protocase's proprietary High Velocity Mass Customization (HVMC) model, which enables rapid turnaround of precision custom parts.
Bringing laser cutting to Wilmington establishes end-to-end precision sheet metal fabrication within the company's U.S. operation, increasing production capacity and supporting the fast turnaround times customers rely on. The milestone comes during a period of rapid growth for the company's North Carolina operations. Between May and July, Protocase grew its Wilmington workforce from 39 to 72 employees while expanding production inside its 20,900-square-foot facility. This investment reflects the company's long-term commitment to growing advanced manufacturing capacity in the United States and creating skilled manufacturing careers in southeastern North Carolina.
“High Velocity Mass Customization isn't just about the equipment. It's about how experienced people, proven systems, smart facilities, and years of proven advanced manufacturing know-how work in harmony together,” said Co-founder and Vice President Dr. Doug Milburn. “Bringing laser cutting to Wilmington is another step in building a stronger manufacturing operation. Every capability we add gives us more capacity to serve customers while maintaining the speed and quality they've come to expect from Protocase.”
For engineers, researchers, and product developers, manufacturing speed often determines how quickly ideas become prototypes, products, and breakthroughs. Expanding core production capabilities in Wilmington enables Protocase to move more projects from design to finished parts in days instead of weeks, helping customers accelerate development without compromising precision or quality.
Protocase is already investing in the next phase of its Wilmington expansion. A dedicated CNC machining operation is planned to further broaden its U.S. manufacturing capabilities, while exploratory plans are underway for a larger Wilmington campus that would include expanded manufacturing space and corporate offices. With laser cutting now online and additional investments underway, Wilmington is becoming an increasingly important manufacturing hub for The Protocase Companies. Each new capability strengthens the company's ability to deliver rapid, custom manufacturing to engineers, innovators, and organizations across the United States and around the world.
For more information about The Protocase Companies and their capabilities, visit their official website at protocase.com. The original announcement is available at newmediawire.com.
