In a landmark expansion move, Torrance-based Divergent Technologies Inc. unveiled an advanced metal 3D printer and a new 430,000 square feet facility in Long Beach, aiming to scale production capacity eightfold in the next two years.

The new facility will host 64 units of Monolith One, an industrial-grade metal printer that produced munition airframes as part of its artificial-intelligence driven manufacturing platform, Divergent Adaptive Production System. Dubbed by the company as “The Real Life Star Trek Replicator,” the system runs AI-assisted design data through 3D printers and assembles the printed parts with robotic arms. The platform has helped manufacture critical hardware for key partners in the defense, aerospace and automotive sectors. That includes companies like Lockheed Martin Corp., RTX Corp., General Atomics Corp. and Bugatti Automobiles.

Currently, Divergent has six printers in full operation in its Torrance headquarters, each standing over 26 feet tall and more than 19 feet in width. With the new fleet in order, the manufacturer is looking at an annual output “in the tens of thousands of munitions airframes or hundreds of thousands of critical piece parts,” according to Lukas Czinger, co-founder of Divergent who took on the chief executive role in January 2025.

“The Monolith One is the first metal 3D printer designed ground up for scaled production of critical hardware,” Czinger said in a statement. “Monolith One is an American machine with an American supply chain … our second factory represents the new industrial age at scale.”

Race to ‘Space Beach’

The race for faster, more advanced aerospace production is ever-present in the bustling aerospace scene in Los Angeles, and Long Beach is a key arena for that race. Joining the “Space Beach” marked one more step for the company to capitalize on a thriving market and brought it to the doorsteps of major aerospace players such as Rocket Lab Corp. and Vast Inc. The new facility is expected to support 1,000 direct roles and create thousands of additional tertiary jobs through construction, suppliers and supporting businesses, according to the statement. It will dedicate 30,000 square feet to office space and 400,000 square feet to manufacturing and assembly.

“Divergent’s expansion reinforces Long Beach’s position as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation. This investment will bring approximately 1,000 high-quality jobs to Space Beach, strengthen our talent pipeline, and accelerate the growth of industries shaping our future economy,” said Long Beach Department of Economic Development & Opportunity Director Bo Martinez in the statement. “Long Beach continues to lead the way and attract companies that are driving innovation, creating job opportunities, and building long-term economic success for the city and greater Los Angeles region.”

Speed is the essence

Thrust into the spotlight as one of the companies supporting the U.S. government’s move to boost domestic manufacturing in aerospace and defense, Divergent is facing a period of exponential growth. The company raised $230 million in series E funding last September, bringing its valuation to $2.3 billion. Initially focusing on the automotive market, the company has found a thriving niche by tapping into the defense sector.

The Monolith One is fundamentally a fast machine. It doubles the speed to pump out industrial products compared to existing printers, leading to an increased throughput. That cadence is in alignment with the current demand of the defense industry: according to Deloitte’s 2026 aerospace and defense industry outlook report, “speed to field” is rapidly shaping up to be a “unifying metric across portfolios.”

“On the defense side, budgets are a key focus, with a growing emphasis on enhancing mission readiness,” said the report. “At the same time, defense priorities are shifting to accelerate the fielding of AI-enabled systems and collaborative combat aircraft.”

The new addition to the factory floor captured that opportunity. Distinct from its competitors such as Nikon SLM Solutions’ laser metal printers, the Monolith One is not available for commercial purchase or licensing. That means the production stays in-house, eliminating third-party interference and potentially boosting production speed once more. While aerospace and defense supply chains traditionally span over months or even years, the company said that the system will condense the timeline into mere weeks or days. 

“Every feature of Monolith One was engineered to maximize reliability, scalability and control,” said Brian Erhartic, who helmed the development of Monolith One as Divergent’s newly appointed chief technology officer, in a statement. “It’s only because we custom engineered the printer specifically for integration into DAPS, that we were able to realize a significant increase in operational efficiency, quality control, and build volume.”

A volatile landscape

Spurred on by a massive convergence between technological advancements and a higher defense budget, the aerospace industry stands amid a volatile landscape as massive initial public offerings from the technology sector shake up the stock market.

The record $75 billion IPO of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has, in the words of an Investopedia report, “knocked space stocks out of the stratosphere.” However, beyond an initial shock and tanking share prices, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. analysts pointed out in a report that the heightened demand for satellites and rockets may yet bring business to other players in the scene, notably Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace Inc.

Applied to a company like Divergent, it could mean more purchasing interest as well. When the new facility becomes fully operational, it will be able to produce more than 30,000 missile airframes, over 60,000 warhead casings and 275,000-plus piece parts in a year. The demand for its service is already increasing, according to the company, which has raised over $1 billion since its founding in 2014.