Desktop Metal’s New CEO Shares His Roadmap Focused on Innovation and Reliability

One thing is certain: Desktop Metal has gone through several phases in recent months. If you follow industry news, you are already aware of all the upheavals the manufacturer has experienced and the difficulties it has faced. In fact, this summer, it announced its bankruptcy, even though just a few months ago, it was the talk of the town with its multiple acquisitions. Who hasn’t been following the famous saga with Stratasys and Nano Dimension? But what happened? How can such a reversal of fortune be explained? Can this decline be attributed to the downturn in the market, an overly rapid consolidation strategy, or a change of direction? These are all questions that leave us perplexed. However, there seems to be a small light at the end of the tunnel: an investment company, Arc Impact Acquisition Corporation, has acquired some of Desktop Metal’s assets.

A new lease of life for the company? In any case, it has announced a kind of revival as an advanced manufacturing platform, combining both metal and ceramic binder jetting, as well as real work on AI to accelerate the discovery of innovative materials and enable better control of manufacturing processes. Desktop Metal says it is also working on the development of industrial polymer foams. It is in this context that a new CEO has been appointed: Thomas Nogueira, formerly COO and an integral part of the company for almost nine years. We were able to ask him some exclusive questions to find out more about Desktop Metal’s new strategy, his vision for the business and the market, and the consequences of the acquisition by Arc. Discover the manufacturer’s roadmap now!

Thomas Nogueira, CEO of Desktop Metal

3DN: Can you introduce yourself and your career in the AM industry?

Previous to DM, my career was centered around the Plastics and Battery industries always with a focus between Operations and Engineering working at GE, A123 Systems and 24M Technologies. I’ve worked at DM for over 8.5 years starting in early 2017. The beginning of my time was focused on building up the initial Operations of the company across Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Facilities. My role evolved as the company grew, ultimately into the company’s COO in mid 2022 after all of the post IPO acquisitions were completed. The past few years have been focused on running the business while absorbing the numerous acquisitions amidst the various new M&A activity with both the Stratasys and Nano-Dimension transactions. I am personally energized about our ability to focus now on our core business going forward.

3DN: DM acquired a number of interesting companies over the last years. What will the relationship with them be moving forward?

We’re taking a disciplined approach—prioritizing the technologies and teams that align with our core strategy in metals, ceramics, and polymers. Some businesses have been divested, but the core platforms and expertise remain integral to our roadmap. Many of us also built strong friendships along the way, and we genuinely wish all of our DM family members success—whether they stayed within our portfolio or moved on.

In recent years, Desktop Metal has acquired numerous companies, including ExOne.

3DN: You’ve relaunched under new ownership after Chapter 11, selling off foreign subsidiaries and major parts of the business. How do you plan to regain customer and investor trust while ensuring service continuity?

By keeping the focus on clarity, execution, and customer success. We’ve stabilized the business, maintained continuity in service and support, and are concentrating resources where we can deliver the most value. Continued transparency and reliability are the foundation for regaining trust.

As CEO, my focus is on clarity and execution. The past few years in additive manufacturing have been turbulent for a variety of reasons, but this reset allows us to focus on the applications and programs that matter most for customers. We are building a company that is leaner, more disciplined, and better positioned for sustainable growth. Above all, we are focused on making our customers successful. 

3DN: Chinese 3D printing firms are scaling fast with lower costs. How do you plan to compete on technology and price?

We won’t compete on being the lowest-cost provider. Our edge is innovation and performance. AI-driven process control, advanced materials like SiC, and our production-ready platforms give us the ability to deliver speed, reliability, and total value that low-cost providers simply can’t match. We are also deeply committed to our customers and team members in Taiwan, who play an important role in our global strategy and our vision for a resilient supply chain.

3DN: How do you see the future of the AM market?

The future is application-driven—it has to be. AM will be judged by its ability to deliver parts that matter in aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, and energy. The companies that can scale reliably and economically in these applications will define the next era of the industry.

What do you think of Desktop Metal’s roadmap? What can we expect in the future? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn or Facebook pages! Plus, don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter to get the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox. You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.