HLH Rapid
HLH Rapid is a private UK-headquartered contract manufacturer operating a 12,000 sqm facility in Dongguan, China, offering in-house rapid prototyping and low-to-mid volume production across CNC machining, injection moulding, 3D printing, sheet metal, die casting, and composites for 3,000+ customers in 50+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What HLH Rapid does
HLH Rapid is a private contract manufacturer specializing in rapid prototyping and low-to-mid volume production, serving over 3,000 customers across 50+ countries. The company's core offering is a unified in-house manufacturing platform covering CNC machining (3, 4, and 5-axis milling plus turning), rapid injection moulding, multiple 3D printing modalities (SLA, SLS, DMLS, MJF, MJP, FDM), sheet metal fabrication, vacuum casting, die casting, composites/carbon fibre, metal injection moulding (MIM), aluminium forging and extrusion, and reverse engineering/3D scanning. Production is concentrated in a 12,000 sqm fully owned facility in Dongguan, China, operational since 2008 and equipped with 150+ CNC machines (including 100+ 5-axis units) and staffed by 300+ engineers, designers, operators, and QC personnel. A UK headquarters in Leeds acts as the commercial front for Western customers, handling sales, DFM analysis, and import documentation under a multilingual team (English, Italian, French, Chinese).
The business model is sales-led and quote-based. Customers upload CAD files through an online instant quote system and receive free design-for-manufacturing (DFM) analysis and pricing. Pricing varies by process and complexity: CNC rates range from $10-$30/hour (3-axis, China) to $75-$150/hour (5-axis, Europe/US); injection moulds span $1,000 for simple single-cavity tools to $100,000+ for complex projects; individual CNC parts run from $100 to several thousand dollars. Lead times are as short as two weeks for rapid injection moulding T1 samples. The go-to-market emphasizes content marketing (blog, knowledge base, video, podcast) targeting engineers and product designers, with a Trustpilot-driven trust layer. Customer segments span automotive, robotics and automation, medical devices, product development firms, consumer products, aerospace and UAV, industrial equipment, and electronics prototyping, with named logos including Martin Audio, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Neander Marine, Kombo Audio, R2R MedEquip, Aliform Surgical, and Detectronic.
The company is held out as one of the few providers worldwide offering such a broad in-house process range under one roof, supported by ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 13485 (medical devices), and IATF 16949 (automotive) certifications. Ownership is private (HLH Rapid Limited, UK Company Number 12704810) with no disclosed parent, venture funding, or M&A activity. Co-Founder and General Manager James Murphy leads the business.
HLH Rapid firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HLH Rapid
- Legal name
- HLH Rapid Limited
- Website
- https://hlhrapid.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- HLH Rapid is a private UK-headquartered contract manufacturer operating a 12,000 sqm facility in Dongguan, China, offering in-house rapid prototyping and low-to-mid volume production across CNC machining, injection moulding, 3D printing, sheet metal, die casting, and composites for 3,000+ customers in 50+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HLH Rapid industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Contract Manufacturing / Rapid Prototyping Services
- NAICS
- Machine Shops (332710), Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (3327)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Sheet Metal Work (3444), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Prototype Program Management & Low-Volume Pilot Runs (Bridge to Production) (IMAAAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Engineering Prototype Builds (Form/Fit/Function) (IMAAAFAB), Rapid Tooling & Prototype Molds (Additive) (IMAAAFAD), Concept & Industrial Design Prototyping (Additive) (IMAAAFAA)
Keywords
Where HLH Rapid is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
HLH Rapid business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Manufacturing Services: Quote-based pricing for rapid prototyping and production runs across multiple manufacturing processes including CNC machining, injection molding, 3D printing, sheet metal, die casting, and more. Revenue generated through per-project fees based on complexity, materials, and volume.
- Tooling and Mould Manufacturing: Production of custom injection moulds and tools, including rapid tooling, bridge tooling, and production tooling. Mould costs range from $1,000 to $100,000+ depending on complexity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Manufacturing Quote |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
HLH Rapid product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HLH Rapid is a rapid prototyping and low-to-mid volume contract manufacturer offering in-house CNC machining (3, 4, and 5-axis milling plus turning), rapid injection moulding, and 3D printing services, supported by sheet metal fabrication, vacuum casting, die casting, composites, MIM, aluminium forging/extrusion, and reverse engineering. Customers upload CAD files online, receive free DFM analysis and instant quotes, and have parts produced at a 12,000 sqm factory in Dongguan, China with sales and project management from Leeds, UK.
Product overview
HLH Rapid is a rapid prototyping and low-to-mid volume manufacturing services provider offering an integrated portfolio of in-house manufacturing capabilities. The core offering centers on rapid injection moulding (with tooling and production runs), CNC machining (milling and turning across 3, 4, and 5 axes), and 3D printing (covering SLA, SLS, DMLS/SLM, MJP, MJF, and FDM technologies). These are complemented by secondary processes including sheet metal fabrication, vacuum casting, die casting, composites/carbon fibre, metal injection moulding, aluminium forging, aluminium extrusion, and reverse engineering/3D scanning. The company operates a 12,000 sqm factory in Dongguan, China, with a UK headquarters in Leeds, and serves customers in 50+ countries. An online instant quote system provides pricing for these services. The product portfolio is organized as a unified manufacturing services platform rather than discrete software products, with all processes performed in-house.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rapid Injection Moulding Rapid tooling and plastic injection moulding services with lead times as fast as 2 weeks for T1 samples, supporting mould shot life from 100 to 25,000+ parts. Designed for low-to-mid volume production runs from a few hundred to tens of thousands of parts, targeted at product teams needing fast iteration and bridge tooling before full production.
- CNC Machining Services Contract CNC milling (3, 4, and 5-axis) and CNC turning services with tight tolerances (down to ±0.002 inches, ±0.0005 inches for turning). Backed by over 150 advanced CNC machines, supporting series production, rapid prototyping, and one-off precision parts in metals, plastics, and carbon fibre.
- 3D Printing Services Multi-technology 3D printing service covering SLA, SLS, DMLS/SLM, MJP, MJF, and FDM for plastic and metal prototypes and production parts, offered as a unified service line so customers can select the best process for their application.
- Sheet Metal Prototyping Sheet metal fabrication services including laser cutting, punching, welding, and other processes for prototypes and low-volume production of metal assemblies and enclosures.
- Vacuum Casting Vacuum casting service producing plastic and rubber parts without the cost or lead time required for production tooling, suited to prototypes and low-volume production runs where injection moulding economics are not yet justified.
- Die Casting Die casting service for production of 10 to 100,000+ production-quality metal components in aluminium and zinc alloys, targeted at low- to mid-volume runs and bridge-to-production needs.
- Composites Carbon Fibre Carbon fibre composite prototyping services providing lightweight, high-strength parts for applications where reduced weight equals better performance, such as motorsports, UAV, and high-performance hardware.
- Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) Metal injection moulding service for producing small, complex metal parts at scale using powdered metal and binder systems, suited to high-volume production of intricate geometries that would be costly to machine.
- Aluminium Forging Custom aluminium forged parts manufacturing service suited to low and medium production quantities, delivering stronger parts than cast equivalents for structural applications.
- Aluminium Extrusion Custom aluminium extrusion and profile manufacturing service with turnaround times as quick as 2-3 weeks for low-volume and custom profiles.
- Export Tooling Flexible export tooling and production solutions that bring manufacturing closer to the customer's home market, acting as a bridge between rapid prototyping and full-scale production.
- Reverse Engineering / 3D Scanning 3D scanning and reverse engineering service that digitises existing parts and produces manufacturable CAD models, enabling reproduction, redesign, or design for manufacturing improvements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Time to market reduced through rapid prototyping capabilities
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use HLH Rapid
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HLH Rapid technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
HLH Rapid partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
HLH Rapid competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hubs (formerly 3D Hubs): Global on-demand manufacturing platform aggregating CNC, 3D printing, injection moulding, and sheet metal services. Directly comparable via instant-quote model, broad process offering, and engineering customer base.
- Protolabs: Global leader in rapid prototyping and on-demand manufacturing, offering CNC machining, injection moulding, and 3D printing services. Closest direct competitor by service breadth and target customer (engineers needing fast prototypes and low-volume runs).
- Xometry: AI-enabled on-demand manufacturing marketplace offering CNC, 3D printing, injection moulding, and sheet metal fabrication. Competes directly via instant-quote platform and similar target customers across automotive, medical, and industrial.
- Fictiv: Digital manufacturing platform offering CNC machining, 3D printing, injection moulding, and sheet metal with an instant-quote workflow. Competes for the same hardware-startup and OEM prototyping customers.
- RapidDirect: China-based rapid manufacturing service bureau with online quoting for CNC, injection moulding, 3D printing, and sheet metal. Directly comparable in service portfolio and target customer.
- 3ERP: China-based rapid prototyping and on-demand manufacturing services company offering CNC machining, 3D printing, injection moulding, and finishing. Direct peer with similar cost-arbitrage model.
- Star Rapid: China-based rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing service bureau offering CNC, injection moulding, 3D printing, and sheet metal. Closest peer by ownership model (China factory + Western sales) and service mix.
Emerging players
- MakerVerse: Europe-based on-demand manufacturing platform providing CNC, 3D printing, and sheet metal services with a focus on European supply chain resilience. Emerging competitor targeting the same customers who may shift away from China-based suppliers.
- Shapeways: On-demand 3D printing and manufacturing services company with an online quote and ordering platform. Comparable on the 3D printing and rapid prototyping dimension, though more focused on additive-only workflows.
Broad incumbents
- JLCPCB: Large China-based rapid manufacturing services company offering PCB fabrication, CNC machining, 3D printing, and injection moulding. Broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities, though primarily known for PCB and electronics-focused production.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HLH Rapid social profiles
Digital presenceHLH Rapid compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
HLH Rapid financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HLH Rapid leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HLH Rapid funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HLH Rapid M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HLH Rapid
What does HLH Rapid do?
HLH Rapid is a rapid prototyping and low-to-mid volume contract manufacturer offering in-house CNC machining (3, 4, and 5-axis milling plus turning), rapid injection moulding, and 3D printing services, supported by sheet metal fabrication, vacuum casting, die casting, composites, MIM, aluminium forging/extrusion, and reverse engineering. Customers upload CAD files online, receive free DFM analysis and instant quotes, and have parts produced at a 12,000 sqm factory in Dongguan, China with sales and project management from Leeds, UK.
Is HLH Rapid a public or private company?
HLH Rapid is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HLH Rapid founded?
HLH Rapid was founded in 2008. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is HLH Rapid based?
HLH Rapid is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does HLH Rapid make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Custom Manufacturing Services are the primary driver. The others are tooling and Mould Manufacturing.
Who are HLH Rapid's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hubs (formerly 3D Hubs), Protolabs, Xometry, Fictiv, RapidDirect, 3ERP and Star Rapid. Emerging players are MakerVerse and Shapeways. JLCPCB is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does HLH Rapid have an API?
No public API is recorded for HLH Rapid.
What industry is HLH Rapid in?
HLH Rapid's product category is Contract Manufacturing / Rapid Prototyping Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAAFAO, Prototype Program Management & Low-Volume Pilot Runs (Bridge to Production), with a secondary code of IMAAAFAB, Engineering Prototype Builds (Form/Fit/Function). Its NAICS code is 332710 and its SIC code is 3550.