Desktop Metal
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAmerican industrial technology company developing metal, composite, polymer, and healthcare-oriented additive-manufacturing systems.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Desktop Metal is an American industrial technology company focused on developing additive manufacturing systems for metals, composites, polymers, and healthcare. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Massachusetts, the company aims to make metal 3D printing faster, more scalable, and easier to use. Its products include the Studio System, Production System, Shop System, and Fiber. The company went public in 2020, acquired EnvisionTEC in 2021, and established Desktop Health. In 2023, the acquisition by Stratasys was terminated, in 2024 Nano Dimension announced an acquisition, and in 2025 the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
History
Desktop Metal was founded in October 2015 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by a group combining industrial entrepreneurs, software and manufacturing specialists, and MIT researchers. Ric Fulop and Jonah Myerberg brought experience from A123 Systems; Rick Chin had been associated with SolidWorks; and Yet-Ming Chiang, Ely Sachs, Christopher Schuh, and A. John Hart contributed academic and materials expertise. The company began with the ambition of developing metal additive manufacturing that was faster, less expensive, safer, and easier to operate than systems dependent on high-power lasers and extensive specialist training. During 2015 and 2016, Desktop Metal built prototypes and raised early venture capital. Its headquarters later moved to Lexington and then Burlington, Massachusetts. Funding came from technology and industrial investors including New Enterprise Associates, Kleiner Perkins, Lux Capital, GV, GE Ventures, and Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures. A 2017 financing round involving GV, BMW iVentures, and Lowe's Ventures supported research, commercialization, and international expansion. In April 2017 Desktop Metal announced the Studio System and Production System. The Studio System was designed for engineering teams and smaller production volumes. It used Bound Metal Deposition, in which a mixture of metal powder and polymer binder is extruded into a shape before debinding and furnace sintering. This approach was intended to permit installation in ordinary work environments without the laser safety requirements associated with many powder-bed systems. The Production System used Single Pass Jetting to deposit binder onto metal powder at high speed and was aimed at larger-scale manufacturing. Both systems were presented as integrated workflows involving printing, thermal processing, and software. The company obtained early visibility through partnerships and recognition. It collaborated with Ford's research and manufacturing groups and explored applications with BMW, Milwaukee Tool, Jabil, and other industrial organizations. Stratasys announced that its reseller network would carry Desktop Metal products. The World Economic Forum selected Desktop Metal as a 2017 Technology Pioneer, while MIT Technology Review included it among its notable technology companies. The Studio System began shipping in December 2017 through a Pioneer program, with early users including Google's Advanced Technology and Products Group, the United States Navy, Built-Rite Tool & Die, and Lumenium. In 2018 the company continued patenting its processes and previewed Live Parts, software intended to generate printable designs algorithmically from user-defined requirements. Ford led a $65 million investment round in March, and Desktop Metal's reported valuation exceeded $1 billion later that year. At Formnext, the company presented an upgraded industrial system and promoted higher throughput and lower part costs. In 2019 it introduced the Shop System for machine shops and metal job shops, together with Fiber, a continuous carbon-fiber system based on automated fiber placement. European shipments also began in 2019. Desktop Metal went public in December 2020 through a reverse merger with Trine Acquisition Corp. In January 2021 it acquired EnvisionTEC, a German additive-manufacturing company known for photopolymer systems. The transaction broadened the business beyond metal printing. In the same year Desktop Metal introduced Desktop Health and appointed Michael Mazen Jafar to lead that business, targeting dental, orthodontic, dermatological, orthopedic, cardiological, plastic-surgery, and regenerative applications. The company's later history was shaped by consolidation and financial pressure in the additive-manufacturing sector. Stratasys announced a proposed all-stock acquisition in 2023, but the transaction was terminated after Stratasys shareholders rejected it. Nano Dimension announced an all-cash agreement in 2024. Reference material further records that Desktop Metal filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2025 as part of a plan involving the sale of European assets. The company's ultimate ownership and operating position after these events should be confirmed against current corporate, court, and regulatory records.
- 2025
Chapter 11 filing reported
[1]Reference material records a Chapter 11 filing associated with a plan to sell European assets.
- 2024
Nano Dimension acquisition agreement announced
[1]Nano Dimension announces an all-cash agreement to acquire Desktop Metal.
- 2023
Proposed Stratasys acquisition terminated
[1]The proposed all-stock combination ends after rejection by Stratasys shareholders.
- 2021
EnvisionTEC acquisition completed
[1]The acquisition expands Desktop Metal into photopolymer additive manufacturing.
- 2021
Desktop Health launched
[1]A healthcare-oriented business is established for dental, medical, and regenerative applications.
- 2020
Public-market listing
[1]Desktop Metal begins NYSE trading under DM following a reverse merger with Trine Acquisition Corp.
- 2019
Shop System and Fiber introduced
[1]The company adds a job-shop metal binder-jetting platform and a continuous carbon-fiber printing system.
- 2018
Live Parts software previewed
[1]Desktop Metal previews software for automatically generating additive-manufacturing designs from functional specifications.
- 2017
First printer systems announced
[1]Desktop Metal introduces the Studio System for engineering and small-batch use and the Production System for industrial production.
- 2017
Named a Technology Pioneer
[1]The World Economic Forum includes Desktop Metal in its Technology Pioneers selection.
Products and positioning
Industrial additive-manufacturing systems intended to make metal, composite, polymer, and healthcare 3D printing faster, more scalable, and more accessible across engineering and production workflows.
Metal additive-manufacturing system · 2017
Studio System
The Studio System is an office- and workshop-oriented metal printing platform for engineers, designers, and relatively small production runs. Its Bound Metal Deposition process extrudes a feedstock containing metal powder and polymer binder. Printed parts are subsequently debound and sintered in a furnace, with software accounting for dimensional shrinkage during thermal processing. The system was designed to avoid the high-power lasers and specialized safety infrastructure associated with some competing metal powder-bed technologies. Supported material families include steels, copper, aluminum, and selected alloys.
Industrial metal binder-jetting system · 2017
Production System
The Production System is intended for industrial-scale metal part production. It uses Single Pass Jetting to apply binder to layers of metal powder, allowing multiple parts to be arranged and processed together before sintering. Desktop Metal positioned the system as a high-throughput alternative to slower laser-based powder-bed approaches, particularly for manufacturers seeking repeatable production of batches of complex components. The platform combines printing, thermal processing, materials, and workflow software.
Metal binder-jetting system · 2019
Shop System
The Shop System is a metal binder-jetting platform aimed at machine shops and metal job shops. It was developed for production environments that need to make batches of metal parts without investing in the infrastructure and operating practices associated with some laser powder-bed systems. The product extends Desktop Metal's industrial strategy into contract manufacturing, tooling, and job-shop workflows, where throughput, material handling, and the ability to produce multiple parts per build are important considerations.
Continuous-fiber composite printer · 2019
Fiber
Fiber is an industrial composite-manufacturing system using automated fiber placement technology to produce parts reinforced with continuous carbon fiber. It was introduced alongside the Shop System in 2019 and broadened Desktop Metal's offering beyond metals. The technology is intended for structural or performance-oriented composite components where fiber reinforcement can provide strength and stiffness while reducing weight. Specific commercial availability and current product status require verification.
Generative design and additive-manufacturing software · 2018
Live Parts
Live Parts is software developed to help users generate printable geometries from functional requirements. Rather than relying solely on conventional computer-aided design workflows, the program can create computer models based on specified loads, constraints, or other design inputs. Desktop Metal presented it as a way to explore organic and optimized forms suitable for additive manufacturing and to connect design automation with a range of 3D-printing systems.
Healthcare additive-manufacturing business · 2021
Desktop Health
Desktop Health is the company's healthcare-oriented business, introduced in 2021. Its stated application areas include dentistry, orthodontics, dermatology, orthopedics, cardiology, plastic surgery, and printed regenerative products. The business was supported by technologies brought into the portfolio through the EnvisionTEC acquisition, particularly photopolymer-based printing capabilities. Product-level availability, regulatory clearances, and current ownership should be checked against contemporary company and regulatory sources.
Brand decisions
2024
Proposed acquisition by Nano DimensionM&ABackground
Following the termination of the Stratasys transaction, Nano Dimension announced a plan to acquire Desktop Metal.
Action taken
Nano Dimension announced an all-cash acquisition agreement with reported consideration of approximately $135 million to $183 million.
Aftermath
The completion of the transaction and its effect on Desktop Metal's ownership require verification from current regulatory and company records.
Reported acquisition consideration. $135 million to $183 million (2024)
2023
Proposed acquisition by StratasysM&ABackground
The additive-manufacturing industry was undergoing consolidation, and Stratasys proposed combining with Desktop Metal in an all-stock transaction.
Action taken
Stratasys agreed to acquire Desktop Metal, with existing Desktop Metal shareholders expected to own approximately 41 percent of the combined company.
Aftermath
Stratasys shareholders voted against the transaction, and Stratasys terminated the proposed acquisition in September 2023.
Proposed transaction valuation. Approximately $1.8 billion proposed combined-company valuation (2023)
2021
Acquisition of EnvisionTECM&ABackground
Desktop Metal sought to broaden its technology base beyond metal printing and enter additional photopolymer and healthcare applications.
Action taken
The company acquired EnvisionTEC, a German additive-manufacturing company.
Aftermath
The deal expanded Desktop Metal's portfolio and supported the creation of Desktop Health.
2020
Reverse merger with Trine Acquisition Corp.M&ABackground
Desktop Metal pursued a public-market listing through a combination with the special-purpose acquisition company Trine Acquisition Corp.
Action taken
The transaction was completed and Desktop Metal began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under DM in December 2020.
Aftermath
The transaction converted Desktop Metal from a venture-backed private company into a publicly traded additive-manufacturing business.
Recent events
Reported
Desktop Metal acquires Adaptive3D[3]
Desktop Metal announced that it had acquired Adaptive3D, a provider of elastomeric solutions for additive manufacturing.
Reported
Desktop Metal acquires Aidro[4]
Desktop Metal reported that it had acquired Aidro, an Italy-based producer of hydraulic and fluid power systems using metal additive manufacturing.
Reported
Desktop Metal launches Forust wood 3D-printing tool[5]
Desktop Metal announced the launch of Forust, a wood 3D-printing tool and manufacturing process that uses cellulose powder and lignin derived from byproducts of the wood and paper industries. Samples and designs were made available online from the announcement date.
Reported
Desktop Metal launches Desktop Health[6]
Desktop Metal announced that it launched Desktop Health, a line devoted to healthcare-adjacent products encompassing technologies including binder jetting, bioprinting, and materials.
Sources6 sources
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