Divergent Technologies, known for its 3D-printed components ranging from Bugatti supercars to Tomahawk missiles, is set to launch a large factory in Long Beach, California. This facility will feature an innovative industrial metal printer that has the capacity to create over 30,000 missile airframes annually.
The newly introduced Monolith One 3D printer is specifically engineered for rapid, high-volume production of large parts. The factory spans 430,000 square feet and can house up to 64 Monolith One printers, amplifying production capacity by a factor of eight.
Once in full operation, the Long Beach facility is expected to produce 60,000 warhead cartridges in addition to the 30,000 missile vehicles and will employ more than 1,000 workers.
This development is timely, as the U.S. seeks to replenish its weapons stockpiles after extensive conflicts, particularly regarding Russia and Ukraine, plus escalating tensions in the Middle East. Although hostilities with Iran seem to have cooled, Pentagon officials stress that replenishing inventories is essential.
Lucas Zinger, a co-founder of Divergent, remarked, “It’s evident that leaders in the defense industry see the necessity for enhanced production capabilities across various systems. Manufacturing tens of thousands of missile vehicles and warhead cartridges from a single location is a significant contribution to the defense industrial base.”
He further noted, “A key aspect is that this output comes from a versatile manufacturing platform. Traditionally, achieving such production volumes required major investments in tooling and very long supply chain lead times.” He emphasized the advantage of being able to produce complex structures at scale while remaining flexible as demands change.
The initiative has drawn attention from Washington, with Divergent hosting Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in January as part of his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour aimed at revitalizing the U.S. defense industry and boosting local manufacturing.
Divergent has spent the last decade refining its technology to 3D print intricate metal structures, a significant achievement for the company.
The company’s DAPS (Digital Additive Production System) is already in use, creating components for major defense initiatives and lightweight parts for supercars like McLaren, alongside the company’s own Chinger supercar. Divergent collaborates with prominent defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, RTX, and General Atomics.
Unlike traditional defense supply chains, which can involve prolonged delivery times for new hardware, DAPS manages design, printing, and assembly in a streamlined process that cuts timelines from weeks to days. Czinger pointed out that agility is increasingly essential.
“DAPS enables us to manufacture various metal products within the same facility by merely adjusting the design and production inputs, which significantly lessens the traditional manufacturing limitations tied to launching new products or ramping up production,” Czinger explained. “This adaptability allows us to react swiftly to demand fluctuations, unlike conventional models that depend on dedicated production lines.”
Since its founding in 2014 by Kevin and Lucas Zinger, Divergent has raised over $1 billion, achieving a valuation of $2.3 billion following a $290 million funding round last year.
Further expansion is already in progress, with additional printers expected to be operational within the next couple of years.
Czinger emphasized the growing importance of this flexibility for missile systems, unmanned systems, and other defense applications, particularly given the rapidly changing requirements. “By designing a manufacturing platform that can adjust to customer needs instead of focusing on a single product, we can scale up more rapidly and respond effectively during surges in demand,” he added.
