Interview with Mr. Romuald CHASSEUR, Protolabs Director of Strategic Sales, EMEA.

October 16th, 2025

AeroMorning: Mr. Chasseur, could you please introduce your company Protolabs and its main services?

Romuald Chasseur:  Of course. Protolabs is a global leader in digital and rapid manufacturing of custom parts. Founded in 1999 in the United States, the company combines 3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding, and sheet metal fabrication to offer rapid prototyping and low-volume production solutions.
We operate both through our digital factories and our worldwide network of qualified partners, allowing us to meet a wide range of industrial needs.

Protolabs has its France  head office in Le Bourget-du-Lac, , where it manages its sales, consulting, and customer service operations.

AeroMorning: Your online platform is often highlighted. What makes it stand out?

Romuald Chasseur: Our online quoting tool is at the heart of our offer. Users can upload a 3D CAD file, define the material, dimensions, tolerances, surface finish, quantity, and desired lead time, and receive within seconds a precise quote and delivery schedule.
We also provide manufacturability feedback and suggest faster or more cost-effective alternatives while maintaining performance. This helps our customers optimize their designs before production, in a fully transparent and interactive way.

AeroMorning: Which industrial sectors do you primarily serve?

Romuald Chasseur: We serve a wide range of industries, including dual-use sectors:

• Aerospace and Defense: drones, satellites, propulsion components (AS9100 certified)
• Medical: diagnostic devices and medical parts (ISO 13485)
• Automotive: prototypes and components for electric vehicles
• Electronics: housings, connectors, thermal components
• Machinery and Robotics: fixtures, supports, automation parts

Our certifications and quality systems ensure traceability and regulatory compliance, which is crucial in these fields.

AeroMorning: Could you explain how your global partner network operates?

Romuald Chasseur: The Protolabs Network brings together over 250 audited partners worldwide. It complements our in-house production by offering a wider range of materials, finishes, geometric complexity, and production volumes.
Customers can choose either Protolabs’ internal factories for ultra-fast delivery or the network for specific capabilities or cost advantages — always under strict quality control.

AeroMorning: What would you say are Protolabs’ main advantages for customers?

Romuald Chasseur: Our strengths are numerous:

• Speed: prototypes delivered sometimes within a single day
• Transparency: real-time pricing and lead times
• Flexibility: wide selection of materials and processes
• Quality: ISO, AS9100, and ISO 13485 certifications
• Scalability: from prototype to small-series production

We also enable customers to test alternative approaches, helping them balance cost, performance, and speed.

AeroMorning: What challenges do you face?

Romuald Chasseur: For highly complex assemblies or ultra-tight tolerances, instant quoting may require manual review. In addition, specific materials or finishes can extend lead times or costs. Finally, when it comes to global deliveries, logistics can occasionally influence the schedule.

AeroMorning: How do you envision the future of digital manufacturing and Protolabs’ role within it?

Romuald Chasseur: We see a future where digital manufacturing becomes the standard for prototyping and low-volume production. Automated quoting, real-time DFM (Design For Manufacturing)  feedback, and a global partner network allow engineers to shorten design cycles and accelerate innovation.
In the context of growing dual-use applications, Protolabs plays a key role in combining speed, quality, and flexibility — whether in aerospace, medical, automotive, or electronics sectors.

AeroMorning: Thank you very much for these insights, Mr. Chasseur.

Romuald Chasseur: Thank you. It’s always a pleasure to share how digital manufacturing is transforming the industry.

Source: Aeromorning