Shortly after Suresh Krishna took the helm of Protolabs in May, the Maple Plain-based digital manufacturer reported a turnaround. The company had struggled mid- and post-pandemic, with sales stagnating and stock tumbling since 2021, but this year saw record second-quarter revenue. Krishna attributed it to growth in machining and sheet metal fabrication, as aerospace, drone, and satellite communication industries grew. Protolabs is the world’s fastest manufacturer, he says, with same-day prototyping, manufacturing, and shipping. It may present a model for the U.S. reshoring of manufacturing, too, as the company has embraced automation by deploying 1,200-plus machines across its eight manufacturing facilities, six of which are in the U.S.