Massivit Manufacturing Platform Reduces Composite Tooling Lead Times for Defense, Aerospace

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Massivit (Lod, Israel and Alpharetta, Ga., U.S.) has launched RapidWings — a turnkey composite manufacturing platform designed to help defense and aerospace manufacturers reduce production lead times and tooling costs. Built on Massivit’s Cast-In-Motion (CIM) technology, the platform is already operational in Israel and is currently scaling its operations globally.

RapidWings is designed to significantly compress composite tooling lead times. In some cases, processes that previously took 3 months are now said to take a matter of days. RapidWings partners have reported up to 70% savings in cost versus conventional metal and machinable-board tooling.

Learn more about Massivit’s technology in a video interview with Massivit by CW editor-in-chief Scott Francis

Against the backdrop of surging defense budgets worldwide, OEMs and manufacturing primes in the defense industry have suffered backlogs due to unstable supply chains and outsourcing constraints. Over the past year, Massivit has received increasing demand for manufacturing services from defense buyers in Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia and India. The company is establishing RapidWings as a global network of local, on-demand, sovereign production facilities to overcome recognized manufacturing bottlenecks in the defense arena.

The RapidWings network will consist of regional partnerships — Joint Manufacturing Alliances (JMAs) — with certified Tier 2 composites manufacturing facilities. By embedding Massivit’s CIM digital tooling capability into established manufacturing facilities, JMA partners will have the opportunity to accelerate and scale production without additional capital expenditure.

The first JMA — between Israel-based Comparts Ltd. and Massivit — is currently fully operational, with ongoing defense engagements serving leading OEMs. According to numerous defense programs completed to date, the RapidWings platform has been shown to overcome backlogs by significantly shortening production tooling lead times from months to days, Massivit reports. The RapidWings model enables JMA partners to retain full operational control of their existing business and customer relationships while acquiring the capability to accept a greater volume of orders. Results of programs completed thus far are said to have revealed a 40-70% reduction in tooling costs as compared to conventional tooling methods.

Massivit is currently accepting applications from qualified composite manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe to join its expanding RapidWings network.

“Defense is a necessity worldwide,” says Yossi Azarzar, CEO of Massivit. “By cutting manufacturing times, RapidWings’ technology could save defense and aeronautical companies months and millions. RapidWings marks a strategic milestone for Massivit as we pivot from providing industrial 3D printers to delivering a much-needed defense manufacturing platform that overcomes bottlenecks and empowers manufacturers to scale.”