Unlike earlier generations, the L80 coating remains stable in ambient air, opening the door to monolithic and secondary glazing systems that don't require sealed units. This development gives manufacturers the flexibility to use lightweight substrates in applications where glass was previously the only viable option for energy efficiency.
Industries such as transportation and commercial refrigeration, where reducing weight can improve performance or cut operating costs, stand to benefit. For example, commercial fridge doors can now maintain thermal efficiency while shedding bulk, and transportation designers can explore lighter window configurations to help meet regulatory goals on fuel economy.
Triple-glazed systems can now incorporate thinner polymer panes without compromising performance, making retrofits easier and more structurally compatible.
Lisa Green, Director of Product Management at NxLite highlights the product's versatility: “When manufacturers need see-through products with advanced energy efficiency, they can now choose the right substrate for their application—whether that's glass, thin glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, or a combination.”
NxLite’s development of L80 coincides with its recent $9-million investment in an Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing Center in Canton, Michigan, aimed at enabling full-scale production. This signals a clear move toward industrial supply, offering options across various substrate formats—from thin glass sheets to multi-millimeter polymer variants.
Performance specs shared by NxLite indicate the L80 coating offers favorable U-values and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients when compared to pyrolytic and ITO-based coatings. These improvements could prove essential for manufacturers working under tighter building energy codes and stricter efficiency targets.
A key advantage of L80 is its rare-earth-free composition, relying on more accessible materials that support sustainable procurement and ESG compliance. That could help mitigate supply chain volatility and improve procurement resilience for OEMs concerned with ESG compliance.
For manufacturers, L80 may streamline certain production steps, especially since its air-stable design removes the need for immediate encapsulation. Still, integrating polymer substrates into existing production lines may call for adjustments to handling and quality assurance processes.
