Skip to main content

Desktop Metal

HardwareBurlington, Massachusetts, United StatesFounded 2015· One of 1738 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Desktop Metal was a pioneer in metal and sand 3D printing systems for mass production applications.

CEO / Founder
Ric Fulop
Team Size
201-500
Stage
Defunct
Total Funding
$437M
Latest Round
Acquired
Key Investors
Google Ventures, BMW, Ford, NEA, Lux Capital, Koch Disruptive Technologies, GE Ventures

Technology & Products

Key Products

Shop System, Production System, X-Series (sand printing), Studio System

Technological Advantage

Bound metal deposition and binder jetting technologies for production-scale metal parts

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Made metal 3D printing accessible for mass production through binder jetting and bound metal deposition.

How They Differentiate

Production-focused systems vs. prototyping-only competitors; acquired multiple AM technologies

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Manufacturing companies, automotive OEMs, aerospace suppliers

Industry Verticals

Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace, Dental

Competitors

HP Metal Jet, Markforged, 3D Systems

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Raised over $1B total funding; 2018: Fastest-growing unicorn in US history ($1.2B valuation in 21 months); 2020: SPAC IPO at $2.5B valuation; 2025: Acquired by Nano Dimension for $183M; Never turned a profit

Major Milestones

2015-10: Founded in Cambridge, MA by 7 founders including MIT professors; 2018-05: Fastest unicorn in US history at $1.2B; 2019-01: Raised $160M at $1.5B valuation; 2020-12: SPAC IPO at $2.5B valuation (NYSE: DM); 2021-02: Acquired EnvisionTEC for $300M; 2024-07: Agreed to Nano Dimension acquisition ($183M); 2025-03: Court ordered Nano to close; 2025-04: Acquisition completed; 2025-07-28: Filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Notable Customers

Ford Motor Company, BMW, Various aerospace and automotive manufacturers

https://desktopmetal.com

Recent coverage of Desktop Metal

Why this company matters

Desktop Metal was founded in 2015 to address the gap between prototyping-focused metal AM systems and the throughput requirements of mass production. Its core technologies—binder jetting (BJT) and bound metal deposition (MEX)—were designed to produce metal parts at speeds and costs competitive with traditional manufacturing, a departure from the slower LPBF processes common in the industry.

The company's product line included the Shop System, Production System, and Studio System for metal, plus the X-Series for sand printing. These systems targeted manufacturing companies, automotive OEMs like Ford and BMW, and aerospace suppliers. Desktop Metal also expanded its technology portfolio through acquisitions, notably EnvisionTEC in 2021, which added over 140 DLP patents for ceramics and composites.

Desktop Metal raised over $1 billion from investors including Google Ventures, BMW, and Ford, and went public via SPAC in 2020 at a $2.5 billion valuation. Despite rapid growth, the company never turned a profit. In 2025, it was acquired by Nano Dimension for $183 million and subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Its assets and IP now reside within Nano Dimension, marking the end of its independent run.

The company's strategic moat lay in its production-scale binder jetting systems and broad IP portfolio, but it faced intense competition from HP Metal Jet, Markforged, and 3D Systems. The open question is whether Nano Dimension can successfully commercialize Desktop Metal's technology at scale, or whether the production metal AM market will consolidate further.