Lohia Aerospace Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israel-based Massivit to establish India’s first commercial large-format additive manufacturing facility for composite tooling and critical aerospace components, marking a significant step towards strengthening the country’s indigenous aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.
The joint manufacturing alliance will see Massivit’s large-format 3D printing platform installed at Lohia Aerospace’s Kanpur facility, enabling the production of composite moulds and tooling in days instead of weeks. The technology is expected to reduce production cycles by up to 90% while lowering manufacturing costs for customers by as much as 50%.
Investment and expansion plans
Lohia Aerospace plans to invest $8-10 million (around ₹68-85 crore) over the next one to two years, with investments scaling in line with market demand. The company is simultaneously expanding its Kanpur manufacturing footprint by adding 250,000 sq ft to its existing 80,000 sq ft facility.
Each large-format 3D printer will be capable of producing one to two complete sets of composite tools daily. The company intends to deploy 8-10 printers in the near term, creating an estimated 60-100 skilled jobs, with each machine requiring a dedicated team of eight to ten personnel.
Boost for aerospace manufacturing
The partnership addresses one of the biggest bottlenecks in composite manufacturing—long tooling lead times. By introducing digital manufacturing and automation into India’s composite tooling sector, Lohia Aerospace aims to reduce dependence on imported tooling and support the country’s rapidly expanding aerospace and defence industries.
Under the alliance, Lohia Aerospace will have exclusive rights to deploy the platform in India’s aerospace and defence sectors, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned aircraft production.
The company will leverage its ISO 9001, AS9100D and NADCAP-certified manufacturing capabilities to provide design, finishing, quality control and customer delivery services for domestic and international clients.
Innovation with industrial scale
“Lohia Aerospace Systems is committed to staying at the forefront of composite manufacturing technology. This alliance pairs innovation with industrial scale to serve India, one of the world’s fastest-growing aerospace and defence markets,” said Lohia Aerospace Systems Chairman and Managing Director Anurag Lohia.
“As demand for indigenous aerospace and defence manufacturing accelerates, RapidWings and its core composite manufacturing technology give us the exact edge we need to scale production, reduce dependence on imported tooling and shorten delivery timelines for customers.”
Lohia Aerospace Systems President, Sales and Marketing Avik Bhattacharya said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to providing rapid scale-up and cost-effective manufacturing solutions to customers.
Massivit Chief Business Officer Ziki Kuly said the partnership would help deliver the company’s RapidWings platform to India’s fast-growing defence market and support the scaling of local production for mission-critical applications.
Import substitution opportunity
With large-format additive composite tooling currently unavailable in India and existing demand largely met through imports, the alliance is expected to create a significant import substitution opportunity.
Each composite tool manufactured using the platform is expected to be priced between $10,000 and $20,000, positioning Lohia Aerospace to cater not only to aerospace manufacturers but also to composite producers across multiple industries.
The collaboration aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in advanced manufacturing by bringing cutting-edge global technology to the country while creating skilled employment and strengthening domestic production capabilities.