Protolabs, a digital manufacturing services provider, has appointed Suresh Krishna as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Krishna will also join the company’s Board of Directors. He succeeds Rob Bodor, who will stay on temporarily as a consultant to support the leadership transition.
The company’s Board cited Krishna’s extensive leadership background as a strong fit for Protolabs’ strategic focus on being an end-to-end manufacturing partner—from prototyping to production—for engineers, product developers, and supply chain teams. “I’m honored to join Protolabs as its next CEO. This is an important time as the Company works to expand its offerings and gain a larger share of the $100 billion digital manufacturing market.”
In addition to announcing the leadership transition, Protolabs reaffirmed its financial guidance for the second quarter of 2025, projecting revenue between $124 million and $132 million. The company expects diluted net income per share to range from $0.11 to $0.19, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share between $0.30 and $0.38.
About Suresh Krishna
Krishna holds a mechanical engineering degree from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He also brings over three decades of leadership experience across manufacturing and retail. He most recently served as President and CEO of Northern Tool + Equipment, where he played a key role in strengthening the company’s customer-focused culture and expanding its client base, while also optimizing the supply chain. His previous roles include leadership positions at Sleep Number Corporation, Polaris Industries, and UTC Fire & Security.
“Protolabs has an amazing team, best-in-class production times and a key competitive advantage as the only digital manufacturer that combines in-house digital manufacturing with a network of manufacturing partners. This next chapter for the Company is going to be an extraordinary one, and I am thrilled to be leading the talented Protolabs team forward,” said Krishna.
Bodor Reflects on His Management
Outgoing CEO Rob Bodor noted that during his tenure, Protolabs strengthened its position as a leading prototype manufacturer, serving some of the world’s most innovative companies across a diverse range of industries. “Core to our success has been our unwavering commitment to quality and our customers, who have rewarded us with their loyalty and business. I look forward to seeing Protolabs continue to advance and achieve its full potential.”
Rainer Gawlick, Chairman of Protolabs’ Board of Directors, highlighted that under Rob’s guidance, Protolabs expanded its capabilities, enhanced its manufacturing processes, grew the Protolabs Network, and drove organization-wide improvements—all focused on delivering better service to customers. “With the solid foundation that Rob helped establish, the Company is well-prepared to enter its next phase of growth. We thank Rob for his dedication to Protolabs and its customers and wish him well in his next chapter.”
Protolabs 2024 3D Printing Trend Report
In 2024, Protolabs released its annual 3D Printing Trend Report, offering a comprehensive look at current trends and the future of additive manufacturing. Drawing on key market data and insights from more than 700 engineering experts, the report reflects growing confidence in the 3D printing industry.
According to Protolabs, the additive manufacturing sector is expanding 10.5% faster than previously predicted. The global market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21%, reaching $24.8 billion in 2024, and is projected to hit $57.1 billion by the end of 2028. The report also found that 70% of businesses 3D printed more parts in 2023 than in 2022, with 77% of respondents identifying the medical sector as having the greatest potential for impact.
One of the most notable shifts outlined in the report is the move beyond prototyping. Increasingly, 3D printing is being leveraged for serial production of end-use products, signaling a major evolution in how additive manufacturing is applied across industries.
This perspective is echoed by the Wohlers Report 2024, which also points to a growing focus on high-volume production of functional parts. Fueled by improvements in 3D printer technology and post-processing capabilities, the report forecasts a shift from producing thousands of parts to hundreds of thousands—with million-part production runs on the horizon for smaller components.
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Featured image shows Suresh Krishna. Photo via Protolabs.
