Actnano

Actnano provides surface protection technologies for electronics within the automotive, consumer, and industrial sectors. The company was founded in 2012 by Taymur Ahmad, who currently serves as the CEO. Ahmad's background includes approximately two decades of manufacturing management experience at Fortune 500 companies like Alcoa and Philips Electronics, which gave him deep insights into the problems with existing methods for making printed circuit boards (PCBs) water-resistant. This experience was foundational to the company's creation, which began with Ahmad experimenting with coatings in his own kitchen before establishing the company.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary nanocoating technology, Advanced nanoGUARD™ (ANG). This is a gel-based, hydrophobic nanocoating designed to protect electronics from water, condensation, humidity, and salt. Unlike traditional conformal coatings, ANG can be applied to the entire printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), including connectors, antennas, LEDs, and high-heat generating components, offering comprehensive 3-D protection. A key differentiator is that the coating is fluorine-free, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly, addressing the safety and sustainability concerns associated with conventional coatings. Furthermore, it is an ambient-cure coating, meaning it cures at room temperature without requiring UV light, which can streamline the manufacturing process for its clients. The technology is designed to seamlessly integrate into existing manufacturing lines.

Actnano's business model is centered on selling its ANG coatings and providing turnkey solutions to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-1 suppliers. Its client base includes major players in the global automotive and consumer electronics markets. The technology is already in use in millions of production vehicles, including a significant portion of EVs in North America, as well as in leading consumer electronics. The company has secured substantial funding to support its growth, raising a total of $82.2 million over seven rounds, with the latest being a $40 million investment in March 2024. This capital is being used to expand its technical sales, service footprint, and production capabilities to meet global demand.

Keywords: nanocoating, surface protection, electronics waterproofing, conformal coating alternative, PCBA protection, automotive electronics, consumer electronics protection, Advanced nanoGUARD, hydrophobic coating, fluorine-free coatings, environmental-resistant coatings, electronics manufacturing, printed circuit board coating, ADAS protection, EV components, gel-based coating, water-resistant technology, sustainable coatings, electronics reliability, industrial electronics protection