Since the events of October 7, Israeli defense industries have found themselves under unprecedented workload. The race for procurement, the urgent need for rare spare parts, and the struggle with covert or overt embargoes and global supply chain crises have forced the defense establishment to seek creative, rapid and extraordinary solutions. One entity that has greatly helped solve these severe difficulties is a unique family company from Yokne'am: CMI – C.M.I. Trade for Electronics Industries Ltd. With advanced software for locating components worldwide and a sister company located in Connecticut, U.S., CMI functions as a "rescue unit" for the giant companies in the defense and aviation market – including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Elbit Systems, the Defense Ministry and others.
"Since the outbreak of the war, we encounter unique problems daily that arise with our clients," says Moshe Cohen, the company's founder and CEO, in a special interview. "This could be a product or component that no one even knows who manufactured it, systems purchased 20 years ago that have long since ceased production worldwide, or particularly complex engineering problems. We know how to solve these problems at lightning speed, deliver the smallest or most complex item, and prevent the shutdown of critical defense projects. We fully understand that in the complex geopolitical and security reality of the State of Israel, the concept of 'manufacturing independence' is no longer a nice slogan, but a first-order existential need."
The range of CMI's activities is particularly broad and surprising, spanning from tiny components to heavy ground equipment. The company's commercial supply arm daily provides aviation fasteners according to military and civilian standards, complex components for jet engines and aircraft spare parts in general. In addition, the company exclusively represents a number of international industry giants in Israel: AHG (Ateliers de la Haute-Garonne) – a leading French company in aviation and military fasteners; Gaines LeJeune – a manufacturer of advanced insulation sleeves for electrical cable production in the aviation world; FOOKE – a manufacturer of giant 5-axis gantry (CNC) machines for machining; Meld Manufacturing Inc. – a groundbreaking American company that developed AFSD technology (3D metal printing by friction stir deposition without material melting), which provides a direct solution to the severe global shortage of aviation parts produced through complex forging processes; and its subsidiary Meld Printworks Inc., which specializes in providing manufacturing services for massive 3D metal printed products according to customer requirements. Hetek – a German company specializing in lifting, leveling and positioning systems for complex terrain wagons (see box).
"We are a critical logistical and technological link in the supply chain," emphasizes Michal Cohen Simcha, Moshe's daughter, a vice president at the company and the next generation leading the company with him. "The combination we offer is unique: on the one hand, we provide traditional solutions – such as special screws or lifting and leveling systems, and on the other hand, we bring the world of tomorrow through the most advanced technologies of 3D metal printing with forging properties." A significant strategic step in this direction is an exclusive representation agreement signed with the American-Indian manufacturing giant Jeh Aerospace Inc. The agreement is intended to serve as extensive backup for the industrial production of parts and projects for the Israeli defense establishment, while cleverly leveraging U.S. aid funds (FMF) and international agreements between Israel and the U.S. "The group's Head of Development was in Israel & participated in meetings with IAI, Rafael , organizations working with us," she adds. "I remind you that the company's motto is that our customers are satisfied because they know they can rely on us."
"If there is a very complex product for which there is currently no machine or technological capability to physically produce it within the State of Israel, we know how to solve the problem ad-hoc," she elaborates. "Our connections with manufacturers worldwide, such as Germany's Boellinger Group or Jeh Aerospace Inc. allow us to transfer production to their end-factories abroad. They manufacture for us at the most stringent ISO9100 quality level, and we supply the finished product to the defense establishment, or to its subcontractors in Israel. This way, we solve the problem of the lack of manufacturing capacity that currently exists in Israel."
The Bridge between the US and Israel
One of the biggest challenges for Israeli companies facing local defense industries is the historical tendency of large entities to procure directly from the U.S., partly due to U.S. aid funds (FMF) constraints. Moshe Cohen identified this obstacle early on and decided to turn it into a relative advantage.
"When I initially tried to do business directly with the defense industries, including Israel Aerospace Industries, I saw that things simply weren't moving at the right pace," Moshe Cohen explains. "I understood that they prefer and are accustomed to ordering most spare parts and components from the U.S. Instead of giving up, I realized I needed to adapt to the system – and simply established a company in America."
Today, the CMI group operates two sister companies: the original company in Israel, which provides a comprehensive response to the local civilian and military aviation market; and the American company CMI Aircraft Spares & Supplies INC, located in Connecticut. The two companies work in perfect synchronization. In the aviation and military world, every screw, seal or aviation component has a unique catalog number (P/N). Through advanced proprietary software developed and acquired by the company, CMI employees can precisely locate supply sources, warehouses or manufacturers worldwide holding the desired component at any given moment, and develop and build reliable, long-term commercial relationships. This capability allows the CMI group to function as a one-stop-shop for its customers. The procurement officer at the Defense Ministry, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael, Elbit or one of their subcontractors does not need to manage a frustrating chase after manufacturers in Europe, the U.S. or Taiwan; they turn to CMI, which locates, procures, inspects and delivers the part to the factory gate in Israel, or anywhere else in the world, according to the final customer's instructions, with accompanying quality documentation in accordance with international aviation standards. The group is certified and managed based on the most stringent standards in the industry and aviation world, ensuring traceability and approvals from aviation authorities such as the CAA/FAA, all according to the requirements and needs of the customer and the specific system, such as those of Israel Aerospace Industries and similar companies worldwide. "Meeting the stringent threshold and quality requirements of defense companies like Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, Rafael and their subcontractors pushes us to strive for a better, higher-quality and more reliable standard, thereby helping the final customer successfully fulfill their commitments," Cohen emphasizes.
Pioneering Metal 3D Printing
CMI's most significant breakthrough in the last decade, which has made it a technological thought leader in the Israeli market, is its early and pioneering entry into the field of 3D metal printing. Already in 2012, when the field was still in its infancy and many regarded it as a nice gimmick, Moshe Cohen recognized the enormous potential of this technology for the aeronautics and defense industry. CMI was the company that broke ground and was among the first to introduce the first-ever 3D metal printing system into Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Since then, the company has led and made accessible vast knowledge in the field, offering professional seminars in cooperation with the German company AMPOWER, which teach innovative design approaches (Design for Additive Manufacturing) specifically tailored for aerospace products.
"The world is advancing at tremendous speed, and 3D technologies are forcing engineers to think outside the box and completely change the way they design parts," explains Moshe Cohen. "In the field of aviation and defense, this technology has strategic significance and significantly reduces dependence on external sources, while substantially improving timelines and enabling immediate improvements. There is no longer a need to wait many months for a part manufactured in foreign countries overseas using outdated methods. Our industries can achieve full manufacturing independence, produce spare parts ad-hoc here in Israel, and cut off dependence on external suppliers. This is the most direct and best solution to the global supply chain crisis."
To remain at the forefront of technology, CMI represents the best and most advanced companies in the world in advanced manufacturing in Israel: Sciaky – an American manufacturer offering EBAM 3D printing technology & systems; Meld Manufacturing Inc. – a groundbreaking American company that developed AFSD technology, enabling 3D metal printing of large parts by friction stir deposition without material melting, and providing a direct solution to the severe global shortage of forgings (aviation parts produced through complex forging processes); Meld Printworks Inc., specializing in manufacturing services for massive metal products according to customer requirements; Bollinger Group – a high-quality German manufacturing group engaged in 3D printing, complex aluminum castings and complementary machining (finishing); CNPC POWDER – a supplier of unique metal powders for 3D printing; Vibrant GmbH – a company offering advanced NDT (non-destructive testing) technology based on resonance, for checking the integrity and quality of printed and/or traditionally manufactured parts before their integration into aircraft or combat systems; and CNC Barcenas – a manufacturer of giant printers for polymeric materials.
The Antennas are Always Directed Outward
Despite CMI's success and established position as a vital link in the defense supply chain, Moshe and Michal Cohen are not resting on their laurels. The company's great advantage – being small, agile, free of exhausting internal bureaucracy and possessing an exceptionally fast response capability – allows it to change and adapt to shifting market needs at any given moment. Currently, the company is working to establish a special and extensive technical support system for the advanced 3D printers it imports and installs in industrial plants in Israel, based on the understanding that customers require close, professional, round-the-clock technological support. When Moshe Cohen is asked about his vision for the coming years, his eyes sparkle with the same gleam that characterized him as a young man in the Israel Air Force: "Our vision is to constantly keep our antennas pointed outward, to locate and find the newest and most groundbreaking technologies that the Israeli industry and defense market needs. Our aspiration for the coming year is to grow significantly, expand our ranks and bring in new customers."
"As a company positioned at the most sensitive intersections between futuristic technology and the world of practical supply and procurement, we will continue to develop the rapidly evolving world of 3D printing and provide a game-changing solution in the field of metal product printing," adds Michal Cohen Simcha. "We will continue to be vigilant about innovations in 3D technology. CMI will remain at the forefront of developments, all with the aim of meeting the evolving needs of the Israeli market in general, and the defense sector in particular."
From the Drone Runway's Edge to the Very Heart of the Defense Sector
The story of Moshe Cohen, CMI's founder, is a lesson in Israeli pioneering. As a teenager who immigrated from Morocco, he spent two decades in the Israel Air Force, at the heart of classified projects – from operations in France under de Gaulle's embargo to the absorption of the State of Israel's first drones and the establishment of the historic squadron.
Cohen translated the pioneering DNA and international connections he gained in uniform into establishing CMI. After two initial and challenging years, the phone rang: "Moshe, come for a cup of coffee," the defense establishment told him. That coffee turned into a massive and classified project that required him to scour the globe, build unique systems and provide critical maintenance services for aircraft auxiliary power units (APU). "The experience in uniform gave me a deep understanding of the most stringent procedures," Cohen concludes, "We became an agile company that knows how to find a technological solution to any complex question."
The Backbone of Iron Dome
The connection with the German company Hetek clearly demonstrates CMI's criticality to Israel's active defense array. Hetek's systems, imported and maintained by CMI, are what constitute the special deployment and stabilization legs for the control cabins and other "Iron Dome" systems and platforms. These legs are critical for maintaining the precise stability and balance of the cabins in harsh and complex terrain conditions, to ensure successful and accurate interception of aerial threats.
Partnered with CMI
