India is taking a major step forward in advanced manufacturing as Lohia Aerospace Systems announces plans to establish the country’s first commercial large-format 3D composite manufacturing facility. The project represents a significant investment in aerospace innovation and is expected to strengthen domestic production capabilities for aerospace and defense applications.
The company plans to invest between $8 million and $10 million over the next two years to develop the new facility at its expanding manufacturing campus in Kanpur. The project will introduce large-format additive manufacturing technology capable of producing composite molds and production tooling in just days instead of weeks.
Large-format 3D printing offers a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional tooling methods. By manufacturing large composite molds directly through additive manufacturing, companies can significantly reduce production time while improving precision and lowering overall manufacturing costs.
According to the company, the new technology could reduce tooling production cycles by as much as 90%, allowing aerospace manufacturers to accelerate aircraft development and respond more quickly to production demands.
The facility will utilize advanced composite additive manufacturing systems designed specifically for aerospace tooling. These systems can produce large, lightweight, and highly accurate composite molds used in manufacturing aircraft components, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other advanced structures.
Lohia Aerospace also plans to expand its manufacturing footprint with a new 250,000-square-foot production facility alongside its existing operations. Multiple large-format 3D printers are expected to be installed during the initial phase, creating dozens of highly skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs.
Beyond aerospace and defense, the new manufacturing capability could also support industries including automotive, renewable energy, marine, and industrial composites, where large composite tooling plays an important role in production.
The investment reflects the growing global demand for advanced additive manufacturing technologies capable of producing industrial-scale components with greater speed, flexibility, and efficiency. By bringing this capability to India, Lohia Aerospace aims to reduce reliance on imported tooling while strengthening the country’s position in advanced manufacturing.
As large-format 3D printing continues to mature, projects like this demonstrate how additive manufacturing is moving beyond prototyping and becoming an essential part of high-volume industrial production. The new facility represents another milestone in the global expansion of 3D printing technology and highlights its growing role in the future of aerospace manufacturing.
