3D Hubs alternative for UK buyers (Hubs is now Protolabs Network)

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Summary

3D Hubs no longer exists under that name. Protolabs acquired it in 2021, and it now trades as Protolabs Network (formerly Hubs). If you want a replacement for the network model, stay with Protolabs Network or look at other marketplaces; if you want one UK team that reviews and builds your parts, HenleyPrint3D is an alternative.

What happened to 3D Hubs

• 19 January 2021: Protolabs announced an agreement to acquire 3D Hubs (Business Wire).
• 25 January 2021: the deal closed, according to Protolabs' release. Reported consideration was $280 million in cash and stock.
• The brand became Hubs, and in January 2024 it was renamed Protolabs Network, according to public sources including Wikipedia and trade press.
• 1 July 2026: Protolabs moved European purchase orders, invoicing and payments for Protolabs and Protolabs Network to Protolabs Europe B.V. It says pricing, quoting and lead times are unchanged and customers can quote on hubs.com or protolabs.com.

What the Protolabs Network site says today

According to its site (accessed 10 November 2026), the platform offers CNC machining, 3D printing (FDM, SLA, SLS and MJF), sheet metal fabrication and injection moulding, from "hundreds of manufacturers" in a vetted global network working alongside Protolabs factories. The homepage advertises "instant quoting with free design analysis" and says pricing is generated by machine learning from previously manufactured parts. It states 3D printing lead times from 1 business day (CNC from 5 business days) and displays ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D marks for its quality management system. It says it handles customs clearance and covers import duties on orders shipped to the EU, UK and US. The page does not describe what the design analysis contains.

Its UK 3D printing page (accessed 10 November 2026) cites more than 90 3D printing shops in the network, lists FDM from 1 business day, SLA from 2 and SLS and MJF from 3, and says a standard inspection report is included with every order, with first article inspection for orders of 100 or more units. It accepts STEP, STP, IGES, IGS, SLDPRT, 3DM, SAT, STL, OBJ and X_T files. It does not say which partner or country produces UK orders.

Hubs (Protolabs Network) compared with HenleyPrint3D

How ordering compares, step by step

When staying with Protolabs Network is the better choice

• You buy CNC, sheet metal or moulding alongside printed parts.
• Your customer requires a supplier with an AS9100 quality system.
• You need metal 3D printing, which Protolabs lists through its own DMLS service.
• Your parts are fully specified and you want to compare lead-time options on screen.

When HenleyPrint3D is the better choice

• You want repeat orders made by the same people on the same machines.
• The part is fit-critical and the drawing needs a human read before printing.
• You want to agree inspection and records before the build.
• You need FDM parts up to 1000 × 1000 × 1000 mm or fine-detail SLA and PolyJet.

How to replace it

• For broad process choice, compare other marketplaces such as Craftcloud.
• For multi-process factory manufacturing, see Protolabs.
• For UK 3D printing with design review, send your STEP file to HenleyPrint3D.

Migrating from 3D Hubs: a short plan

1. Pull the specification from your old orders: material, finish, tolerance, quantity and the part revision.
2. Note anything that went wrong or needed rework last time and add it to the notes.
3. Write it once as a single RFQ (see the filled-in example in our comparison of Protolabs, Hubs and Craftcloud alternatives) and keep it as your standard.
4. Send it unchanged to your shortlist, including us, and run a small trial order.
5. Keep the winner as a primary supplier and a second as backup.

For a filled-in example RFQ and a step-by-step trial order plan, see the worked example in our comparison of Protolabs, Hubs and Craftcloud alternatives.

Common mistakes

The quote comparison checklist shows how to compare responses. See also the full platform comparison, online platforms vs a UK engineering partner and how to choose an additive manufacturing supplier. Our processes: FDM up to 1000 × 1000 × 1000 mm (±0.5%), SLA to 350 x 250 x 250 mm at 10 micron, SLS in PA12 to 165 x 165 x 300 mm (±0.3%), and PolyJet at 16–30 micron layers, from 1 calendar day (SLS from 2). See all services and finishing. You can start with an instant quote or contact an engineer.

HenleyPrint3D is working towards ISO 9001. We hold no AS9100 certification, security clearance or ITAR registration. NDAs are available on request. If your programme needs those approvals, tell us first. See our aerospace and defence pages.

Sources: hubs.com and its UK 3D printing page (Protolabs Network), protolabs.com/en-gb billing notice, Protolabs Business Wire release, accessed 10 November 2026. Last reviewed 10 November 2026.