AeroAggregates of North America

AeroAggregates of North America operates as a vertically-integrated manufacturer of ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate (FGA), serving the infrastructure, construction, and geotechnical engineering sectors. The company was established in 2016 by Archie Filshill, Ph.D., who drew upon his extensive 25-year background in the international geotechnical market to address the need for sustainable, lightweight construction materials. His experience in executive management, engineering, and manufacturing, including running an international contracting company focused on soft soil stabilization and lightweight fill, directly informed the creation of AeroAggregates.

The company's business model centers on creating a circular economy for post-consumer glass, which is often difficult to recycle. AeroAggregates sources glass from municipal recycling facilities (MRFs), providing them with a reliable end-market and revenue stream while diverting millions of bottles from landfills annually. Its primary product, an ultra-lightweight FGA, is produced by crushing recycled glass into a fine powder, mixing it with a foaming agent, and heating it in a kiln at approximately 1,800°F. This process creates a material that is roughly 85-90% lighter than traditional quarried aggregates. The resulting aggregate is non-combustible, insulating, free-draining, and resistant to chemicals and rot.

AeroAggregates targets clients such as contractors and large engineering firms involved in major infrastructure projects. Its FGA is used for applications like constructing on soft soils, reducing loads on structures and underground utilities, building lightweight embankments, and as backfill for retaining walls. The product has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration and various state Departments of Transportation. A notable project involved supplying FGA for the rapid reconstruction of a collapsed section of I-95 in Philadelphia. The company has received at least $52 million in funding from investors including Valterra Partners, Uluwatu Capital, and Closed Loop Partners to support expansion, including the development of new manufacturing facilities.

Keywords: foamed glass aggregate, lightweight construction materials, recycled glass, geotechnical engineering, sustainable building materials, civil engineering solutions, soil stabilization, lightweight fill, infrastructure materials, circular economy, construction aggregates, retaining wall backfill, green construction, load reduction materials, insulating aggregates, recycled building products, brownfield redevelopment, closed-loop recycling, FGA manufacturing, highway construction materials