Arc Impact Buys Desktop Metal Assets

Arc Impact Acquisition Corp. (Arc Impact) has purchased selected assets of Desktop Metal, Inc. out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Arc Impact is relaunching Desktop Metal's business as an advanced manufacturing platform to onshore U.S. production.

Tom Nogueira is appointed the new chief executive officer of Desktop Metal—an Arc Company.

 

Under new ownership, the company's mission is to restore American and domestic manufacturing capacity—from defense, automotive, and aerospace parts to high-performance medical and energy components—by combining binder-jet metal and ceramic printing, production-grade polymer platforms, and AI-assisted materials discovery into a unified platform.

Arc Impact will focus on programs where domestic, scalable manufacturing is needed for economic competitiveness and national security—including heavy rare-earth–free permanent magnets, sodium-ion solid-state battery components, solid-state transformer parts for AI data centers and grid modernization, and similar applications.

"Our north star is simple: put advanced, automated manufacturing back to work in domestic markets," says Thomas Nogueira, chief executive officer. "By pairing proven additive processes with data-driven, autonomous workflows and AI-accelerated materials R&D, we can shorten development cycles from years to months—and deliver qualified parts at scale to solve our customers' challenges with high precision and service."

Enhancing Autonomous Manufacturing

The acquired portfolio includes Desktop Metal's binder-jet IP and know-how (covering the Production System and X-Series platforms), Adaptive3D's DuraChain elastomers and FreeFoam expandable resins—creating a stack for end-use parts across metals, ceramics, and elastomeric polymers. The company will deploy these assets in a distributed R&D-as-a-Service network with universities, feeding prototypes into centralized, high-throughput manufacturing hubs.

"Binder jetting's throughput and per-part economics unlock true production in metals," says Rick Lucas, chief growth officer. "Coupled with our ceramic capability—including carbides for industrial, energy and defense markets—and elastomer platforms for medical and industrial applications, we can address programs that conventional methods can't touch on speed and part complexity."

"AI is a force multiplier," adds Jonah Myerberg, chief innovation officer. "With high-fidelity process data, digital twins, and simulation-led tools, we'll continuously optimize chemistries, geometries, and sintering profiles to maximize performance and economics."

Key Programs and Applications

Arc Impact will build on high-impact government and commercial initiatives already underway, such as:

• A $7.9 million collaborative program with the U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center, administered by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, to qualify aluminum binder jet additive manufacturing (BJAM) for defense vehicle components.
• Several U.S. Department of Defense projects to develop silicon carbide (SiC) components and SiC 3D printing techniques to improve missile defense system performance that includes a collaboration with Northrop Grumman to 3D print SiC optics for high-energy laser systems. 
• A $2 million program with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to manufacture FreeFoam parts, including patient cushioning devices, using digital light processing technology.

The transaction was approved through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court as part of the Desktop Metal Chapter 11 restructuring process.

Customer Support

Current customers with questions about ongoing projects, orders, or service support may contact the organization at [email protected]. A team is in place to ensure continuity, maintain product quality, and support customers.

About Arc Impact Acquisition Corp.

Arc Impact Acquisition Corporation is an investment group focused on restoring U.S. industrial capacity through autonomous systems and AI-enabled materials innovation. Arc Impact partners with government, academia, and industry to accelerate the commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies.   

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.