Laser News Digest - April 24, 2026
Published
The biggest laser industry update for April 24, 2026 is Glowforge's restart: co-founders Dan Shapiro and Mark Gosselin acquired the company's assets through the ABC process using personal savings and are operating with approximately 20 employees. OMTech has opened its first US showroom at its Santa Ana headquarters, giving buyers hands-on access to machines before purchasing — a rarity in the desktop laser space.
Glowforge Co-Founders Acquire Assets, Restart Operations with 20-Person Team
Following our previous coverage of Glowforge's Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (ABC) filing on April 14, the restructuring has now reached a resolution. Co-founders Dan Shapiro (CEO) and Mark Gosselin (CTO) negotiated with the assigned entity and purchased Glowforge's trademark, brand, hardware platform, software, and manufacturing rights using their personal savings. When no external bidders materialized, Shapiro and Gosselin stepped in. The company is now operating with approximately 20 former Glowforge employees and generating enough revenue to sustain operations.
This is the best realistic outcome for Glowforge owners. The co-founders who built the product are now running it — not a private equity firm looking to extract value, and not a liquidation that would have killed the cloud servers your machine depends on. The 20-person team is lean but focused: expect hardware and software improvements without the burn rate that got them into trouble. For prospective buyers, this actually makes Glowforge a more interesting proposition than it was six months ago — the cloud dependency risk is lower now that the founders have skin in the game with their own savings.
💡What this means for you
No hardware changes announced yet. The focus is on stabilizing operations and maintaining the cloud infrastructure that all Glowforge machines require for operation. Software updates continue — the team has been pushing improvements to Glowforge Premium, Box Builder, and Smartfit nesting tools.
Market Position: Glowforge now operates as a much smaller, founder-led company rather than a VC-backed startup. This changes the competitive dynamic: they are no longer trying to grow at all costs, which could mean more sustainable pricing and product development. The cloud-dependency concern remains, but founder ownership reduces the risk of a sudden shutdown.
- Will new hardware models be developed or is the focus on software and services?
- What happens to Glowforge Premium pricing — will subscriptions increase to sustain the smaller team?
- Are there plans to offer any offline operation capability to reduce cloud dependency?
⏸️ Wait if: You are risk-averse about cloud-dependent hardware — the fundamental architecture has not changed, You want to see 6 months of stable operations before committing
✅ Buy if: You value the Glowforge user experience and the co-founders' recommitment gives you confidence, You already own a Glowforge and want reassurance that your investment is protected
OMTech Opens First US Showroom at Santa Ana Headquarters — Hands-On Access for Buyers
OMTech has opened its first physical showroom at its Santa Ana, California headquarters. Buyers can now visit to see, touch, and test OMTech laser machines before purchasing. This makes OMTech one of the few desktop laser brands in the US with a dedicated showroom — alongside xTool's periodic demo events. Most competitors, including Gweike and Monport, remain online-only in the US market.
A physical showroom is a significant competitive move in a market dominated by online-only sales. For buyers spending $2,000 to $10,000 on a laser, the ability to see the machine running, test material compatibility, and ask questions face-to-face eliminates the biggest purchase barrier. If you are in Southern California and deciding between brands, this tilts the equation toward OMTech. For competitors, this raises the bar on pre-purchase customer experience.
Global Laser Cutting Market Projected at $7.82 Billion in 2026 — Desktop Segment Driving Growth
The global laser cutting market is projected to reach $7.82 billion in 2026, with the desktop and prosumer segment emerging as a key growth driver. The proliferation of affordable desktop laser cutters from brands like xTool, OMTech, Gweike, and Creality has expanded the addressable market beyond traditional industrial users to include makers, small businesses, and educational institutions.
The $7.82 billion figure validates what we have been seeing on the ground: laser cutting and engraving is no longer a niche industrial technology. Desktop machines under $5,000 now offer capabilities that would have cost $50,000 a decade ago. For makers running laser-based businesses, this market growth means more competition but also more customers who understand and value laser-cut products. The education angle is particularly strong — schools adopting laser cutters create the next generation of buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glowforge still in business in 2026?▼
Yes. After going through an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (ABC) restructuring, Glowforge co-founders Dan Shapiro and Mark Gosselin purchased the company's key assets — including the brand, hardware, software, and manufacturing rights — using personal savings. The company is now operating with approximately 20 employees and continues to update its software and serve customers.
Does OMTech have a physical showroom?▼
Yes. OMTech opened its first physical showroom at its Santa Ana, California headquarters. Buyers can visit to see and test OMTech laser machines in person before purchasing, making OMTech one of the few desktop laser brands with a dedicated US showroom.
How big is the laser cutting market in 2026?▼
The global laser cutting market is projected at $7.82 billion in 2026. The desktop and prosumer segment is a key growth driver, fueled by affordable machines from xTool, OMTech, Gweike, and Creality that bring industrial-grade capabilities to makers, small businesses, and schools.