What Promod Prototypenzentrum does

promod Prototypenzentrum GmbH is a privately held, family-owned German system service provider for Rapid Product Development (RPD), founded in 1993 by Norbert Schmidt and headquartered in Horb-Bildechingen, Baden-Württemberg. Rather than operating its own production equipment, the company coordinates a global network of approximately 70 vetted manufacturing partners to deliver prototype and small-series production across the full manufacturing-technology spectrum — including stereolithography (STL), selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), digital light processing (DLP), vacuum casting, injection molding with rapid tooling, 5-axis CNC machining, die casting (aluminum, magnesium, zinc), investment/plaster/sand/crucible metal casting, sheet metal fabrication, and an extensive surface-treatment portfolio. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified (certificate 2024) and provides VDA 6.1 first-article inspection and small-series inspection reports with full product traceability per DIN ISO 9001.

The company's service portfolio is organized into Engineering, Rapid Prototyping, Consulting, and Small Series (Kleinserien) divisions, providing single-point-of-contact project management from initial concept through validated small-series production. Promod's go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting automotive OEMs and e-mobility suppliers (Bosch is the only publicly named customer), medical technology companies, machinery and plant engineering firms, aerospace manufacturers, electronics producers, and start-ups / innovators across the DACH region (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) and France, with global delivery capability through its partner network. Revenue is generated on a project-based, quote-by-quote basis (no standardized pricing tiers, 10-day net payment terms) with reported annual revenue exceeding €5 million as of October 2018 and a headcount of 13 employees. Leadership transitioned in July 2014 when founder Norbert Schmidt transferred all shares to his son Florian Schmidt (Dipl.-Ing. Maschinenbau, specialization in Plastics Technology), who now serves as sole managing shareholder (geschäftsführender Gesellschafter) and has stated the strategic intent to remain a small, flexible, family-controlled company.

Name

Promod Prototypenzentrum

Legal name

promod Prototypenzentrum GmbH

Website

https://promod-technologie.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

promod Prototypenzentrum GmbH is a family-owned German system service provider for Rapid Product Development that coordinates a 70-partner manufacturing network to deliver prototyping and small-series production for automotive, medical technology, machinery, aerospace, and electronics customers across DACH and Western Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rapid Prototyping Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering Prototype Builds (Form/Fit/Function) (IMAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Prototype Program Management & Low-Volume Pilot Runs (Bridge to Production) (IMAAAFAO)

Keywords

• Rapid prototyping services
• Small series production
• Additive manufacturing services
• CNC machining services
• Die casting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bildechingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Rapid Prototyping Services: B2B service revenue from manufacturing prototypes and functional models across multiple technologies including 3D printing, machining, casting, and surface treatment. Projects range from single-piece presentation models to functional prototypes.
2. Small Series / Kleinserien Production: Revenue from low-to-medium volume production runs (from lot size 1 to high volumes) covering injection molding, die casting, sheet metal forming, vacuum casting, and CNC production. Includes post-processing and surface treatment.
3. Engineering & Consulting: Fees for mechanical design, product development, data validation, data preparation for manufacturing processes, simulations, feasibility analyses, and knowledge management / RPD training services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Promod Prototypenzentrum is a system service provider for Rapid Product Development (RPD), delivering prototypes, functional models, and small series production for B2B customers. The company coordinates a network of approximately 70 manufacturing partners to provide 3D printing (STL, SLS, SLM, DLP), vacuum casting, injection molding with rapid tooling, CNC machining, die casting, sheet metal fabrication, metal casting, surface treatment, measurement and documentation, alongside engineering and consulting services, across the full product lifecycle from idea to validated small series.

Product overview

Promod Prototypenzentrum is a system service provider for Rapid Product Development (RPD) offering a comprehensive portfolio of prototyping and small-batch manufacturing services. The company operates four main divisions: Engineering, Rapid Prototyping, Consulting, and Small Series (Kleinserien). Core services include 3D Printing (STL, SLS, SLM, DLP), Vacuum Casting, Injection Molding, CNC Manufacturing, Die Casting (aluminum, magnesium, zinc), Sheet Metal Fabrication, Metal Casting, Surface Treatment, and Measurement Technology Documentation. Rather than operating its own production facilities, promod acts as a process-independent coordinator, selecting the optimal technology for each customer project from its network of 70+ manufacturing partners worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3D-Druck (3D Printing) Additive manufacturing service offering Stereolithography (STL), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Digital Light Processing (DLP) for prototypes, functional models, and small series in plastic and metal materials.
• Vakuumguss (Vacuum Casting) Silicone-mold vacuum casting service for small series production, including colored (RAL) parts, transparent or translucent parts, rubber-like materials, and embedded inserts, with turnaround within one week.
• Spritzguss (Injection Molding with Rapid Tooling) Injection molding service using original materials with rapid tool inserts (milled, eroded, or laser-melted in steel or aluminum) for small series production, including multi-component and LSR injection molding with mold-making turnaround within one week.
• CNC-Fertigung (CNC Manufacturing) CNC machining service including 5-axis milling, turning, grinding, gear cutting, and assembly of metal and plastic parts for small series production and precision components.
• Druckguss (Die Casting) Pressure die casting service for aluminum, magnesium, and zinc (ZAMAK) alloys, delivering structural, functional, and lightweight components for automotive, e-mobility, aerospace, electronics, and machinery applications.
• Blechfertigung (Sheet Metal Fabrication) Sheet metal processing service covering laser cutting, water jet cutting, CNC bending, and surface finishing for prototypes and small batches.
• Metallguss (Metal Casting) Metal casting service using investment (lost-wax), plaster, sand, and crucible casting methods for metal prototypes and small series, including full mechanical post-processing of cast metal parts.
• Oberflächen (Surface Treatment) Surface treatment services including brushing, sandblasting, chrome plating, painting (conductive, high-gloss, protective), polishing, vapor deposition, powder coating, tinning, zinc plating, nickel plating, KLT coating, laser marking, pad printing, screen printing, anodizing, and burnishing.
• Messtechnik & Dokumentation (Measurement Technology & Documentation) Measurement and documentation services including 3D coordinate measuring technology, surface measurement, optical non-contact measurement, material analysis, CT/X-ray testing, cross-section preparation, contour measurement, and VDA 6.1 first article inspection reports for prototypes and small series.
• Engineering Services Engineering services including mechanical design, product development, data verification, data preparation for manufacturing processes, and simulations, supporting customers from idea to manufacturable prototype.
• Consulting Services Consulting services covering project planning, knowledge management, training on Rapid Product Development, technical research, and feasibility analyses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Turnaround times as short as 1 week for mold making and 2–10 days for prototype production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 70 International Manufacturing Network PartnerscoreOtherspromod coordinates a network of approximately 70 international manufacturing partners across the world's key markets. This network enables the company to offer technology-independent manufacturing across all relevant processes — from additive manufacturing to machining, casting, and surface treatment — without owning production equipment. Partners are selected for their high technical standards and enable rapid execution of complex projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HLH Prototypes: China-based rapid prototyping company offering CNC machining, 3D printing, vacuum casting, injection molding, and sheet metal for low-volume production. Direct peer to promod in multi-technology prototype-to-small-series services for industrial customers.
• Star Rapid: China-based rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing service offering CNC, 3D printing, injection molding, vacuum casting, and surface finishing. Comparable to promod as a multi-technology prototyping service bureau serving global enterprise customers.
• Stratasys Direct Manufacturing: Service bureau arm of Stratasys offering rapid prototyping and low-volume production via PolyJet, FDM, SLS, SLA, and DMLS technologies. Comparable to promod's 3D printing service line for enterprise prototyping customers.
• Protolabs: Global on-demand digital manufacturer providing CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal, and 3D printing services for rapid prototyping and low-volume production. Direct peer to promod across the same multi-technology prototyping offering and enterprise target customers.
• Materialise: Belgium-headquartered 3D printing service bureau offering industrial prototyping, small series, and software solutions across automotive, medical, aerospace, and consumer goods. Direct peer to promod in process-agnostic additive manufacturing services for enterprise customers.
• FIT AG: German additive manufacturing service provider focused on industrial 3D printing (metal and polymer) for prototyping and series production. Direct peer to promod in the German market, particularly for industrial customers needing process-agnostic AM expertise.
• Xometry: Global on-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting buyers with CNC, 3D printing, injection molding, and sheet metal suppliers. Direct competitor to promod's coordinator/aggregator model, with a much larger digital platform footprint.
• Quickparts: On-demand custom prototyping and low-volume production service from 3D Systems covering CNC, plastic injection molding, urethane casting, and metal 3D printing. Comparable to promod's full-spectrum prototyping offering for enterprise clients.

Broad incumbents

• EOS GmbH: German market leader in industrial metal and polymer additive manufacturing systems and a related network of service partners. Broad incumbent in the same AM category that promod serves, although EOS primarily sells systems and operates its own network rather than running third-party-coordinated projects.

Emerging players

• Sculpteo: France-based 3D printing service bureau (now part of BASF) offering online prototyping and small-series production. Comparable to promod's 3D printing line and relevant in the French market where promod also serves customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Promod Prototypenzentrum