This Huge Hybrid Manufacturing Machine is Ready to Start 3D Printing Construction Parts and Structures
September 28 23:10:16, 2025
The European LASIMM project, a groundbreaking initiative in hybrid manufacturing, has officially launched and is now fully operational. This ambitious collaboration brought together 10 organizations from six countries, all working under the Horizon 2020 program to develop a revolutionary machine capable of producing large-scale industrial components directly from CAD models.
Located at Loxin’s facilities in Pamplona, Spain, LASIMM is one of the world's largest hybrid manufacturing systems. It combines both additive and subtractive technologies, allowing it to 3D print metal parts as large as 6 meters by 2 meters and weighing up to 2,000 kilograms. This innovation is set to redefine the way industries approach production, offering greater flexibility, efficiency, and cost savings.
In addition to Autodesk, the project includes five other companies, two universities, and two research institutes from Belgium, the UK, Denmark, Spain, Germany, and Portugal. All partners contribute their expertise within a scalable open architecture framework, enabling parallel manufacturing across multiple processes.
The machine will be tested with complex demonstrator parts such as large cantilever beams, airplane panels, and wind turbine components—designed to push its capabilities to the limit. With features like additive manufacturing, machining, cold-working, metrology, and inspection, LASIMM aims to cut time and costs by 20% while boosting productivity by 15% for high-volume additive manufacturing.
The system uses modular configurations of industrial robot arms and a specialized milling robot—one for 3D printing aluminum and steel, the other for finishing and removing excess material. This allows for the creation of customized solutions tailored to industries like aerospace, renewables, energy, transport, and construction.
As the lead software partner, Autodesk is transforming manufacturing by moving from single-machine-single-process CAM to multi-machine-multi-process CAM. Their technology helps generate toolpaths during the build process, ensuring seamless integration across different stages of production.
Despite cultural differences among the international team, they have formed strong bonds through shared meals and conversations after long days of work. The project not only represents a technological milestone but also a step toward more localized, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing.
LASIMM offers numerous benefits, including reduced inventory, smaller workspaces, shorter supply chains, and increased flexibility. It also contributes to the standardization and certification of new hybrid manufacturing procedures, setting a foundation for future advancements.
“This project marks a turning point in industrial 3D printing,†said Eurico Assuncao, Deputy Director at the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting and LASIMM project coordinator. “It shows that 3D printing can scale up and become a viable solution for large-scale manufacturing, paving the way for entire infrastructures to be built using this technology.â€
With its impressive capabilities and global impact, LASIMM is a powerful example of how Europe is leading the charge in next-generation manufacturing.
