Divergent Manufacturing Revolutionizes Production with 3D Technology
This month, Pete Hegseth explored the Divergent factory in Torrance, California. What was meant to be a brief 30-minute tour ended up stretching over two hours. Hegseth was captivated by how Divergent utilizes advanced 3D printing technology to produce a variety of items—from Tomahawk missiles to luxury car parts—all in one facility. This innovation allows for products that once took years to create to now be manufactured in merely weeks.
Lucas Zinger, the 31-year-old CEO of Divergent, noted, “For the last decade, our goal has been to establish 21st-century industrial infrastructure.” He highlighted that Divergent aims to reimagine engineering and manufacturing processes.
Founded in 2014 by Lucas’s father, Kevin, who has a background with Goldman Sachs in electric vehicles, Divergent was created to break conventional manufacturing molds. The company excels in AI-driven design and 3D printing of intricate structures, collaborating with both defense giants like Lockheed Martin and luxury automotive brands such as McLaren and Aston Martin.
One of the most impressive aspects of Divergent is its comprehensive supply chain located under one roof. They can transform an idea—whether from their own conceptualization or a customer’s—into a design using AI. Then, they print the component with proprietary aluminum powder on their custom 3D printers and finally assemble it using robots, often completing the process in a single day.
This vertically integrated approach unlocks the true potential of 3D printing technology.
According to Lucas, “No company had ever integrated the entire manufacturing environment like we do.” Divergent’s printers operate three times faster than others on the market, capable of producing large components that can even exceed 13 feet when assembled. The enhanced speed allows for rapid iterations. Companies can produce new iterations overnight and scale up production quickly—each printer can churn out 400 munitions annually, and Divergent boasts 14 printers.
Operating in this manner not only boosts efficiency but also cuts down on transportation and fuel costs.
Lucas explained, “We create high-performance products at a lower cost per unit, and bring them to market much faster.” Their rapid production capabilities tie into a broader vision of peace through strength in foreign policy.
Divergent’s journey has been remarkable, especially considering the challenges faced when it first sought investors about a decade ago. At the time, the focus was heavily skewed toward software and tech startups, leaving physical manufacturing seemingly out of vogue in places like Silicon Valley.
“Hardware wasn’t in demand back then,” Lucas remembered. “We needed investors who resonated with our vision.”
Today, the company can proudly claim significant progress, securing $290 million in Series E funding and reaching a valuation of $2.3 billion. It holds over 600 patents, employs more than 500 individuals, and is involved in numerous contracts with the Department of Defense.
Lucas, who graduated from Yale in 2017 and joined the family business right away, remarked on their working relationship: “There’s an unparalleled level of trust and efficiency when working with your own blood.”
Divergent is distinctly positioned to reshape America’s manufacturing landscape, especially in competition with China, which accounts for 30% of global manufacturing—far higher than the U.S.’s 16%.
Benefiting from the Trump administration’s push for domestic production, Lucas believes this trend will persist. Moreover, the capability to print countless parts adds to their advantage.
These innovations are being applied not just in defense but also in creating some of the world’s priciest automobiles, including their luxury hypercar, the 21C, which began production as a $3 million model in 2020. Lucas speculated that while these cars are currently expensive, the underlying technology could soon reach mass-market vehicles.
“Divergent enables future affordability in the U.S. auto market,” he stated. He’s optimistic that scaling production will drive down vehicle costs while maintaining quality.
Over the coming decade, Divergent plans to establish over 100 new factories nationwide. Although some companies are leaving California, Lucas emphasized their commitment to remain anchored in the state.
Located about 32 miles from downtown Los Angeles, their Torrance site is well-suited for defense technology, with engineering talent and venture capital readily available. There’s a notable clustering of companies focused on defense innovation in the area.
Currently, the focus is on enhancing defense capabilities swiftly. “This is a race,” Lucas pointed out. “Every day, we strive to build better systems because we know those with such capabilities can deter conflicts—something we all want to avoid.”
