AeroShield launches aerogel insulation factory

AeroShield launches aerogel insulation factory

 AeroShield Materials, an MIT spin out developing cutting-edge technology for energy efficiency applications in the built environment has opened a new manufacturing facility in Waltham, Massachusetts and secured $5M in additional funding with participation from existing investors Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and MassVentures as well as new investor MassMutual Ventures. The funding will support AeroShield in scaling its business by enabling the company to expand its team to more than 30 employees in the 12,000 square-foot facility where it plans to manufacture full-sized products, including double pane windows.

 AeroShield’s breakthrough transparent silica aerogel sheets are some of the most insulating materials ever created and can be added inside double-pane windows and doors to improve energy performance by up to 65%. The facility in Waltham significantly expands the company's capabilities with cutting-edge aerogel R&D labs, manufacturing equipment, assembly lines, and testing equipment.

“This facility represents an inflection point in AeroShield’s journey. This is where we will turn our scientific breakthrough into the first certified transparent aerogel windows and begin saving residents billions in heating and cooling costs,” said AeroShield CEO Dr Elise Strobach. “Our pilot facility will supply window and door manufacturers as we launch our first products and also serve as our R&D headquarters as we develop the next generation of energy-efficient products using transparent aerogels.”

According to the US Department of Energy, window inefficiencies are responsible for up to 30% of a homeowners’ heating and cooling bills, and Americans lose $40 billion per year of energy through their windows. High performance windows like those produced by AeroShield can save homeowners money, reduce carbon emissions, and improve resiliency during extreme temperature events. Just 4 mm of AeroShield’s clear material inside a standard double pane window outperforms triple pane windows at double pane thickness and weight, reducing the cost of high-performance windows while still allowing consumers to choose from existing window designs.