NxLite raises $9.2M to scale window and transparent-surface coatings

Michigan-based materials company NxLite, which develops low-emissivity coatings for glass and polymer substrates, recently closed a $9.2 million Series A funding round with the goal of expanding manufacturing capacity and accelerating commercialization.

The round was led by Chicago investor Crabtree Lane Alt, LLC, and included participation from manufacturers in the door and window sector and VC firms including Earth Foundry, MUUS, New Climate Ventures and ACT Venture Partners of the Netherlands. NxLite said the proceeds will be used to increase production at its Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Center, grow its commercial operations in Michigan and speed its go-to-market efforts.

NxLite makes what it calls air‑stable, energy‑control coatings that can be applied to single‑pane and multi‑pane glass as well as acrylic and polycarbonate. The company positions the technology as a lighter-weight alternative to conventional insulated glass and says the coatings can be used in residential and commercial windows, refrigeration display doors, retrofit window inserts and transportation applications where reduced weight and improved climate control are desirable.

The company also said it signed joint development agreements and offtake purchase orders with manufacturers in the window, plastics and food-and-beverage industries. "We are very impressed with NxLite's energy-coated substrates. We are seeing significant interest with our customers in the vending, beverage cooler, automotive, and transportation industries" said Vice President of DALB Inc., Bobby Weatherholz.

Windows are widely recognized as a major source of heat loss and gain in buildings. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that up to 30% of building heating and cooling energy can be lost through windows.

Interest in energy-efficient building technologies have increased in recent years as regulators across the world tighten efficiency standards and building owners look to lower operating costs. For companies trying to retrofit existing building stock, lightweight, easily applied coatings or inserts might offer a less disruptive alternative to full window replacement — provided they meet performance and longevity expectations.

NxLite says its coatings are permanently deposited and suitable for both glass and polymer substrates; it is now aiming to move from pilot and early commercial projects to broader market deployment thanks to this new financing.