Improving Business in the Wilmington Region

Coming Together: Polyhose and Protocase Ink Deal

Two companies recruited in recent years by Wilmington Business Development will work together to support each other’s growth. Polyhose, which continues to expand at Pender Commerce Park, is now leasing a portion of its building to Protocase as the latter company scales its Greater Wilmington presence.

“Both companies, in their unique ways, have been dream clients for us,” says Cliff Pyron, Director of Business Development at WBD. “We are proud of the relationships we build with our clients, and this lease is a testament to the trust they put in us.”
In the coming five years, the Proto companies, which include Protocase and subsidiaries 45Drives, Protospace Mfg and Protomentum, plan to generate $1 billion in annual revenue, according to Protocase co-founder Doug Milburn. “Much of that growth is slated to happen in Wilmington,” says Milburn. “We are here, in large part, because of Wilmington Business Development,” he continues. “So, when it was time to look for additional space in this market, we called our trusted partner.”

In 2024, Protocase, a rapid manufacturing and prototyping firm based in Sydney, Nova Scotia, selected the Port City for its first U.S. expansion. Since then, the company has leased office space in the City of Wilmington’s Skyline Center and established a production facility on the U.S. Highway 421 corridor. Although its ultimate plan is to build its own corporate campus, Protocase will lease approximately 30,000 square-feet within the Polyhose building, a move that will support near-term growth needs.

“This is a tremendous fit for us,” says Mohammed Millwala, President of Polyhose and a WBD Board member. “We expanded our building in recent years and want to continue that momentum over to Lot 4.”

Architects at Wilmington’s Becker Morgan Group worked with McKinley Building Company in executing Polyhose’s expanded facility, which was completed earlier last year. The project doubled the company’s existing 52,500-sq.-ft. assembly and logistics space. As part of that expansion, Lot 4 at Pender Commerce Park was also acquired from Pender County, which it plans to develop soon. WBD facilitated the property transfer.

“We are excited about the Wilmington market,” says Millwala. “Look at what’s around us at Pender Commerce Park – from Amazon to Maersk to Home Depot. We feel well-positioned.”

Protocase plans to upfit the space and be active in the building later this year.