Divergent Expands 3D Printing Facility in Long Beach
The 430,000-square-foot site will house 64 metal 3D printing systems to support industrial-scale aerospace component production.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Robotics
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Divergent Technologies is scaling its aerospace manufacturing operations in Long Beach with a planned 430,000-square-foot facility. Announced in June 2026, the site is designed to house 64 Monolith One metal 3D printing systems to support the mass production of integrated aircraft structures.
Why it matters
The facility marks a shift from prototyping to large-scale automated manufacturing for the aerospace and defense sectors. By integrating design software with robotic assembly, Divergent aims to prove that 3D-printed parts can meet stringent industry quality standards at volume.
The Monolith One system utilizes 12 lasers for its metal powder bed fusion process. Divergent validated its production capabilities by creating a 15-foot autonomous aircraft fuselage using only 26 3D-printed parts.
The players
Divergent Technologies
An advanced manufacturing firm specializing in software-defined, 3D-printed structural systems for the automotive and aerospace industries.
America Makes
A public-private partnership focused on accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies through standards development.
Saab
A Swedish aerospace and defense company that partnered with Divergent for the production of an autonomous aircraft fuselage.
NASA
The U.S. government agency providing technical input for the DAPS Airworthiness Guided Supplement program.
The details
The Divergent Adaptive Production System unifies design software, laser-based metal 3D printing, and automated robotic assembly. By using robotics to position and hold components during construction, the system eliminates the need for expensive, custom-built jigs or fixtures. The company refined its hardware through 546 documented design iterations over 20 months to ensure consistency in printed metal density and structural integrity.
Timeline
December 2025: Divergent and Saab displayed a 15-foot autonomous aircraft fuselage.
June 2026: Divergent announced the Monolith One printer and its Long Beach facility.
The Tech Race
The effort aligns with the DAPS Airworthiness Guided Supplement program to standardize 3D-printed parts for use in government contracts. This development directly competes with traditional subtractive manufacturing methods by aiming to match aerospace-grade quality standards.
Long Beach will host the 430,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to increase local high-tech manufacturing capacity upon completion. While the site is industrial-focused, its performance will dictate whether 3D-printed components become a standard in future defense and commercial aerospace supply chains.
The takeaway
Divergent is transitioning its additive manufacturing process from individual prototypes to a factory-scale deployment of 64 synchronized printing systems. Observers should track upcoming results from the DAPS Airworthiness Guided Supplement program to see if these parts receive official certification for flight-critical applications.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in industrial automation, visit the Robotics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 3DPrint.com | Additive Manufacturing Business.
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