Agnikul’s New 3D Printing Facility Promises Faster, Smarter Rocket Manufacturing in India

In a landmark moment for India’s private space sector, Chennai-based spacetech startup Agnikul Cosmos has commissioned the country’s first large-format 3D printing facility dedicated to aerospace and rocket systems, reported Times of India today. Located at the IIT Madras Research Park, the facility integrates design, simulation, printing, post-processing, and testing under one roof—dramatically accelerating the production of flight-ready hardware.

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“This is not just a milestone for Agnikul, it is a statement of national capability,” said Moin SPM, Co-founder & COO of Agnikul Cosmos.

Key Highlights 

• Scale & Capability: First in India to enable 3D printing of aerospace components up to 1 metre in height, previously considered too complex for additive manufacturing.
• Speed & Efficiency: Fully finished rocket engines can now be produced in just days, cutting development cycles and costs by up to 50%.
• Indigenous Innovation: Includes a homegrown de-powdering machine for flawless post-processing, ensuring space-grade quality without external dependencies.
• Patent Power: Agnikul holds a US patent for single-piece 3D-printed rocket engines. The new facility allows production of engines with seven times the thrust of earlier designs.
• Strategic Vision: The facility strengthens India’s space manufacturing ecosystem, positioning it as globally competitive in terms of quality, speed, and affordability.

Founded in 2017 and incubated at IIT Madras, Agnikul previously made headlines by launching its Agnibaan rocket from Sriharikota’s first private launchpad, Dhanush. The startup has raised $45 million to date from investors including Celesta Capital, Rocketship.vc, and Pi Ventures.

Agnikul was started with the goal of making space available to everyone, said Srinath Ravichandran, Co-founder & CEO. “By developing not just printing capacity but also full-scale machines in-house, we are equipping ourselves to build space transportation systems faster.”

With over 250 space-tech startups now active in India, Agnikul’s new facility marks a pivotal step toward a self-sustaining, innovation-driven space economy.