Protolabs Plans Hyderabad GCC, Eyes India Entry with Digital Manufacturing Focus
Senior leadership from Protolabs, including CFO Dan Schumacher, CHRO Agnes Semington, CTO & AI officer Marc Kermisch and India MD Ashish Sharma, meet Telangana IT and industries minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Global firm targets 200–300 hires, to drive advanced engineering and rapid prototyping capabilities
Hyderabad: Protolabs, a manufacturing service enabling company specialising in digital manufacturing and rapid prototyping, is set to enter the Indian market with plans to establish a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad, signalling a strategic push to expand its presence in Asia.
Senior leadership from Protolabs, including CFO Dan Schumacher, CHRO Agnes Semington, CTO & AI officer Marc Kermisch and India MD Ashish Sharma, on Thursday met Telangana IT and industries minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu here to discuss the proposed centre and its role in the company’s global operations.
Focus on Advanced Engineering and Product Development
The Hyderabad GCC will focus on advanced engineering, digital manufacturing technologies and product development, aligned with Protolabs’ rapid prototyping and on-demand production model.
The company plans to begin operations this month and scale the centre to 200–300 employees, with a strong emphasis on engineering talent.
Boost to Hyderabad’s Manufacturing Innovation Ecosystem
The proposed centre is expected to strengthen Hyderabad’s capabilities in custom prototyping and low-volume manufacturing, areas that have traditionally seen limited depth.
Its presence will enable startups and enterprises to accelerate the journey from design to physical products, reducing development timelines and improving speed-to-market.
The investment also reinforces Hyderabad’s positioning as a convergence hub for software, engineering and manufacturing, while creating high-quality jobs and supporting product-led growth, according to an official statement.
Telangana Positions for Next-Gen GCC Investments
Sridhar Babu said the move aligns with Telangana’s strategy to attract next-generation GCCs focused on deep tech and innovation.
The state is building an ecosystem that integrates design, prototyping and manufacturing to support emerging industry needs and global capability centres.
Strategic Expansion into Asia
Suresh Krishna, CEO and president of Protolabs, said the Hyderabad centre will act as a catalyst in the company’s next phase of manufacturing innovation.
The expansion into India complements Protolabs’ established presence in North America and Europe and enables closer engagement with customers across fast-growing markets.
Founded in 1999, Protolabs supports over 300,000 customers globally and has manufactured more than 750 million parts, serving enterprises including nearly 95% of Fortune 100 companies.
Ecosystem Partnership for GCC Setup
The GCC will be established in partnership with aAROHAN Global Consulting, a practitioner-led firm specialising in bringing global capability centres to India.
