The Final Chapter: Desktop Metal’s Liquidation and the End of an Era

Desktop Metal US25058X1054

The story of Desktop Metal, once hailed as a revolutionary force in 3D printing, has reached its conclusion. The company is now undergoing a complete liquidation, with its entire patent portfolio sold off. For shareholders, this process follows a failed restructuring attempt in 2025 and likely signifies a total loss of their investment.

Desktop Metal's trajectory is emblematic of a broader wave of consolidation sweeping the additive manufacturing sector. The industry's high capital requirements and the pressing need for operational scale are driving a shift. Increasingly, established industrial conglomerates and specialized investment firms are gaining control over key 3D printing technologies, absorbing innovators like Desktop Metal.

The company's original organizational structure has been entirely dismantled. Its core technology assets, most notably its metal binder jetting systems and specialized solutions for the dental sector, were acquired by various private equity firms and industrial groups in the latter half of 2025. These technologies are now being integrated into the new owners' operational businesses, erasing the legal and operational framework of the former industry pioneer. Desktop Metal no longer exists as an independent manufacturer in the marketplace.

The Mechanics of the Wind-Down

The procedure has now entered its final administrative phase. Observers tracking the remaining wind-down are focused on several critical factors:

• Creditor Claims: A court-approved liquidation plan took effect at the end of 2025, initiating the review and reconciliation of all submitted creditor claims.
• Shareholder Equity: Under standard liquidation terms, existing equity shares are typically annulled. Any residual value for common shareholders is only considered after all senior creditors have been satisfied in full—an outcome currently viewed as improbable.
• Government Claims: A key deadline passed on January 26, marking the cutoff for claims from government entities. Resolving these potential liabilities is a fundamental prerequisite for finalizing the entire procedure.

With the January 26 deadline for state claims now passed, the process is concentrated on the conclusive distribution of any remaining funds. The final administrative closure of the Desktop Metal case will occur once this court-supervised distribution is complete, permanently sealing the company's records.