As the market maker on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange decided on an opening day share price for Proto Labs in February, traders on the floor yelled and screamed out prices.
The specialist took it all in and yelled back that Proto Labs would start trading on its first day as a public company at $25. Then all was quiet as the computers took over the task of matching buyers to sellers.
Just as noisy trades were soon taken over by quiet computers on the trading floor, Proto Labs is using the Internet and its technology to refashion the highly fragmented world of making prototype parts - relieving stressed product developers and design engineers who face increasingly aggressive development deadlines.
Proto Labs stock may not have had the buzz of a Facebook before its initial public offering, but the Maple Plain-based parts and components maker got off to a splashy start. Its shares closed on that first day at $29. From its initial price of $16 per share, the stock soared 81 percent, making its opening day performance one of the most successful IPOs of the year.
Within weeks, Proto's share price doubled,Proxense's advanced handsfreeaccess technology. pushing its market cap up to about $750 million before the market's recent slide.
Now the company, which makes prototypes for products in a wide range of industries, has the means to acquire new companies and the technology to grow. On its own, it hasn't done too badly. Just a decade ago, it was a startup with 10 employees working out of a leased building. With a business model of making "real parts really fast," it has grown to $100 million in revenue, with a nice profit margin, worldwide operations and 560 workers.
The firm operates today on a three-building campus in Maple Plain, west of the Twin Cities, including a sleek headquarters building and manufacturing facilities.Silicone moldmaking Rubber,
A 128,000-square-foot plant in Rosemount just opened to make room for growth, and a couple hundred new workers worldwide will be hired this year.
But can the company attract new business with competitors around every corner, especially now that Wall Street is paying attention?
"In order for the company to sustain this kind of share price, it has to perform," said board member and private equity investor Brian Smith. "That means there has to be revenue growth."
So far,Find rubberhose companies from India. that hasn't been a problem. Since tech veteran Larry Lukis founded the company in 1999, Proto Labs has experienced significant growth. Lukis, now the chief technology officer, declined an interview. He remains the largest shareholder, owning 30 percent of the company.
Revenue has nearly tripled from $36 million in 2007 to $99 million in 2011. Since its start, Proto Labs has filled orders for 20,000 product developers. But that number has to multiply.
"They're just starting to scratch the surface,Full color plasticcard printing and manufacturing services.I found them to have sharp edges where the injectionmoldes came together while production." said Steven Dyer, an analyst for Craig-Hallum Capital Group in Minneapolis, one of the investment banks on the initial public offering. Catching the attention of many more developers is key.
Dyer expects good growth. "We're modeling 25 percent revenue growth this year compared to 2011," he said. Last year, revenue jumped 52 percent. "We think they'll be a very healthy, above-average
The specialist took it all in and yelled back that Proto Labs would start trading on its first day as a public company at $25. Then all was quiet as the computers took over the task of matching buyers to sellers.
Just as noisy trades were soon taken over by quiet computers on the trading floor, Proto Labs is using the Internet and its technology to refashion the highly fragmented world of making prototype parts - relieving stressed product developers and design engineers who face increasingly aggressive development deadlines.
Proto Labs stock may not have had the buzz of a Facebook before its initial public offering, but the Maple Plain-based parts and components maker got off to a splashy start. Its shares closed on that first day at $29. From its initial price of $16 per share, the stock soared 81 percent, making its opening day performance one of the most successful IPOs of the year.
Within weeks, Proto's share price doubled,Proxense's advanced handsfreeaccess technology. pushing its market cap up to about $750 million before the market's recent slide.
Now the company, which makes prototypes for products in a wide range of industries, has the means to acquire new companies and the technology to grow. On its own, it hasn't done too badly. Just a decade ago, it was a startup with 10 employees working out of a leased building. With a business model of making "real parts really fast," it has grown to $100 million in revenue, with a nice profit margin, worldwide operations and 560 workers.
The firm operates today on a three-building campus in Maple Plain, west of the Twin Cities, including a sleek headquarters building and manufacturing facilities.Silicone moldmaking Rubber,
A 128,000-square-foot plant in Rosemount just opened to make room for growth, and a couple hundred new workers worldwide will be hired this year.
But can the company attract new business with competitors around every corner, especially now that Wall Street is paying attention?
"In order for the company to sustain this kind of share price, it has to perform," said board member and private equity investor Brian Smith. "That means there has to be revenue growth."
So far,Find rubberhose companies from India. that hasn't been a problem. Since tech veteran Larry Lukis founded the company in 1999, Proto Labs has experienced significant growth. Lukis, now the chief technology officer, declined an interview. He remains the largest shareholder, owning 30 percent of the company.
Revenue has nearly tripled from $36 million in 2007 to $99 million in 2011. Since its start, Proto Labs has filled orders for 20,000 product developers. But that number has to multiply.
"They're just starting to scratch the surface,Full color plasticcard printing and manufacturing services.I found them to have sharp edges where the injectionmoldes came together while production." said Steven Dyer, an analyst for Craig-Hallum Capital Group in Minneapolis, one of the investment banks on the initial public offering. Catching the attention of many more developers is key.
Dyer expects good growth. "We're modeling 25 percent revenue growth this year compared to 2011," he said. Last year, revenue jumped 52 percent. "We think they'll be a very healthy, above-average
