Service Provider Spotlight: How NW Rapid Manufacturing Scales Industrial Polymer Additive Manufacturing
19 August 2026 | Reading time: 4 min
Founded in 2008 in McMinnville, Oregon, NW Rapid Manufacturing was created to support the growing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry and its sister company, Northwest UAV. What began as an in-house additive manufacturing operation has grown into a contract manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, medical, industrial, and other markets where lightweight, high-performance polymer parts matter.
Today, NW Rapid specializes in selective laser sintering (SLS), providing design support, prototyping, and low- to mid-volume production. With years of experience manufacturing functional components - not just prototypes - the team helps customers move additive manufacturing into production with repeatable processes and production-focused engineering.
Built Around Industrial SLS
Rather than offering every manufacturing process under the sun, NW Rapid has focused on industrial polymer SLS. That specialization has allowed the company to refine everything from build preparation and process control to finishing and quality assurance around one goal: producing consistent parts.
Its roots in UAV manufacturing shaped that approach. Aircraft components often need to be lightweight, durable, and easy to assemble - making SLS a natural fit. The technology also enables designers to consolidate assemblies, reduce part counts, and create geometries that would be difficult to manufacture conventionally.
"Customers don't come to us just because they need parts printed - they come to us because they need parts that will work in production. Whether we're helping optimize a design, select the right material, or scaling a build from prototype to production, our goal is to solve manufacturing problems, not just make parts."
Nick Classen, General Manager, NW Rapid Manufacturing.
NW Rapid works with customers early in development to review designs, improve printability, and prepare parts for production, helping reduce iterations later in the process.
Manufacturing with EOS
Beginning with its first EOS machine in 2008, the company has expanded its fleet to include the EOS P 390, INTEGRA P 450, and several EOS P 770’s, supporting everything from prototype builds to repeat production.
Machine reliability has been a key advantage. Some of NW Rapid's EOS systems have remained in production for well over a decade while continuing to achieve roughly 98% uptime, providing dependable manufacturing capacity for customers with ongoing production needs.
Beyond printing, the company performs bead blasting, vapor smoothing, machining, dyeing, painting, and other secondary operations in-house, giving customers finished parts without relying on multiple suppliers.
Materials for Real Applications
PA 2201 Nylon 12 remains NW Rapid's most widely used material because of its versatility, strength, and dimensional stability. The team also works with glass-filled, carbon fiber-filled, flame-retardant, biocompatible, and other specialty polymers selected for demanding applications.
That material flexibility supports everything from UAV engine components and airframe hardware to medical and industrial parts, allowing customers to choose materials based on application requirements instead of manufacturing limitations.
Engineering Beyond the Build
Many projects begin with prototype iterations before moving into production, but the printing itself is only part of the process. NW Rapid works alongside customers to optimize designs, simplify assemblies, and develop manufacturing strategies that scale beyond a single build.
NW Rapid provides consistency, material portfolio, and production-grade parts needed to support the work of their customers. Combined with EOS technology, the team has a manufacturing process they can rely on for both development programs and repeat production.
Learn more about NW Rapid Manufacturing and explore the EOS Contract Manufacturing Network.
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Website: NW Rapid Manufacturing
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EOS Contract Manufacturing Network: EOS Contract Manufacturing Network
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LinkedIn: Northwest Rapid Manufacturing: Overview | LinkedIn
