Revolutionary Russian High-Tech 3D Printer Heads to India: Transforming Manufacturing with Electron Beam Technology

The massive Russian 3D printer that will be shipped to India for a 'make in India' effort

In the heart of Moscow, inside the high-security halls of Rosatom Additive Technologies, a revolution is quietly unfolding-one that could redefine how the world builds its rockets, reactors, and perhaps even its future. Towering over engineers and gleaming under industrial lights stands Russia's largest electron beam 3D printer. This advanced machine doesn't merely print objects—it welds, sculpts, and forges titanium into precision components that power space missions and nuclear reactors. Russia has established itself as a world leader in additive printing technology, commonly known as 3D printing.

"These 3D printing units are so advanced that they can print anything except currency notes, which only the federal bank does," explains Ilya Vladimirovich Kavelashvili, Director of the Additive Manufacturing Business Unit at Rosatom State Corporation in Moscow.

This isn't a concept from science fiction but the new frontier of manufacturing technology, and New Delhi is positioning itself at the forefront by acquiring this machinery. The impressive Russian 3D printer will soon be transported to India.

Indian organizations have already finalized several multi-year framework agreements for the procurement of additive equipment and materials, with a combined value of approximately 1.5 billion roubles. The specific printer destined for India—to be housed at an undisclosed location—carries a price tag of roughly Rs 20 crores.

According to Kavelashvili, the Russian printer will soon be participating in 'Make in India' initiatives, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of localizing advanced technology production.

The printer can process simple titanium or stainless steel wire and, using powerful electron beams, transform these materials into intricate components that would be challenging to manufacture through conventional methods.

Complex parts can be fabricated with these 3D printers utilizing lasers and computer-controlled robotic systems.

What makes 3D printing technology truly transformative? Traditional metalworking relies on subtractive methods—cutting, grinding, and shaping metal blocks with lathe machines. While effective, this approach is time-consuming, wasteful, and limited in terms of design complexity.

In contrast, 3D printing or additive manufacturing reverses this paradigm. It constructs objects layer by layer using powdered metals or titanium wire, guided by digital blueprints. This enables the creation of complex geometries that would be impossible to achieve through traditional machining alone. Additionally, it generates minimal waste since only the necessary material is utilized. For rapid prototyping applications, this technology can shorten development cycles from months to days.

Advanced 3D technologies, such as laser melting and electron beam melting, fuse metal particles with microscopic precision, yielding products with superior strength, reduced porosity, and enhanced thermal resistance—qualities crucial for space and nuclear applications.

During the inauguration of this facility in 2020, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, emphasized, "It is fundamentally important that it is the first such facility in Russia operating Russian-made equipment. All of it was developed by our engineers. The equipment of the 3D-printers was manufactured, and the complete machines have been assembled locally, and they run on Russian software."

India and Russia have maintained a long-standing strategic partnership, but this collaboration marks a significant new chapter. From the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant—where Rosatom has provided the entire nuclear facility and continues to support India's atomic energy ambitions—to the aerospace sector, where ISRO rockets may soon incorporate Russian-printed components, the partnership is evolving from merely transactional to truly transformational. India and Russia share a historical friendship, and this technology transfer will further strengthen and weld their partnership.

In a world where currency is often understood metaphorically, Rosatom's additive technology facility is creating something far more valuable—trust, innovation, and a pathway to the future.