nLIGHT, Inc. has added 50,000 sq ft of leased manufacturing and office space to its Longmont, Colorado facility, more than doubling the company’s existing footprint. The expansion is designed to scale the production of beam‑combined high‑energy lasers (HEL) for the U.S. Department of War and other federal agencies.
The new space will allow nLIGHT to accelerate the ramp‑up of HEL manufacturing, a key component of its directed‑energy portfolio that has driven recent revenue growth and margin expansion. By expanding U.S. capacity, the company aims to meet growing demand for directed‑energy systems while maintaining supply‑chain security for defense customers.
nLIGHT’s strategic shift from a commodity industrial laser business to a high‑margin defense technology supplier is reflected in its Q3 2025 results, which showed a 19% year‑over‑year revenue increase and a record 41% gross margin, largely driven by the Aerospace & Defense segment. The expansion supports this trajectory by providing the scale needed to fulfill large‑value defense contracts and to deliver the 50 kW‑class HEL prototype already delivered to the U.S. Army Stryker vehicle.
Investors and analysts have responded positively to the expansion, citing the company’s strong margin profile, robust contract pipeline, and commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The move is seen as a tangible step toward capturing additional defense contracts and reinforcing nLIGHT’s competitive position in the rapidly growing directed‑energy market.
CEO Scott Keeney emphasized the company’s dedication to U.S. manufacturing, stating that the investment “represents nLIGHT’s commitment to support our nation’s efforts to field directed‑energy laser weapons with expanded U.S. manufacturing.” He added that the expanded footprint is an “important next step” to increase U.S. HEL capacity and meet growing demand.
The expansion positions nLIGHT to accelerate HEL production, secure supply‑chain resilience, and capture new defense contracts, reinforcing the company’s high‑margin growth strategy and strengthening its foothold in the expanding directed‑energy market.
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