34 Miles Out to Sea, Nowhere to Hide from the Sun: Tint World® and XPEL Team Up to Protect Historic Frying Pan Shoals Tower

An offshore eco-tourism tower becomes a showcase for XPEL window film performance in extreme, off-grid sun and heat conditions.

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Wilmington, N.C. Franchise Owner Leads One of the Most Unusual Window Film Installations Helping Preserve a Decommissioned Coast Guard Tower Turned Eco-Tourism Landmark

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™ recently completed one of the more unconventional installations in the brand's history: applying protective window film to Frying Pan Shoals Tower, a decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard light station located 34 miles off the North Carolina coast and accessible only by helicopter or boat. The project marks a unique collaboration between Tint World® and XPEL (Nasdaq: XPEL), a global leader in protective films and coatings.

Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™ and XPEL recently applied protective window film to the Frying Pan Shoals Tower, a decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard light station located 34 miles off the North Carolina coast, now operating as a nonprofit eco-tourism destination. The XPEL window film helps the off-grid structure block a significant amount of solar heat to conserve battery and generator power. 

Frying Pan Shoals Tower operates as a nonprofit eco-tourism destination, and the off-grid structure is exposed to constant, unfiltered Atlantic sun. Led by Tint World’s Wilmington franchise owner Robert Harman, the Tint World® crew installed XPEL Dark Neutral 15% Window Film throughout the tower’s windows over several days, transporting equipment by helicopter and working around ocean weather conditions two stories above open water.

"If we can tint this, we can tint anything,” has become something of an unofficial motto for the team since returning from the project.

Why an Offshore Tower Needed Window Film

Frying Pan Shoals Tower runs entirely off-grid, relying on battery and generator power for everything from lighting to climate control. With no shade, no landscaping, and near-constant sun exposure over open water, solar heat gain had become a constant drain on the structure's limited power supply. The newly installed window film blocks a significant amount of solar heat before it enters the building, which helps the tower's HVAC system work less to keep the space livable, and in turn helps conserve battery and generator power. For a facility that cannot simply plug into the grid, that efficiency gain matters.

"When consumers or, in this case, a nonprofit team, are trying to get more life and more value out of a structure they already have, window film is one of the most overlooked tools available," said Charles Bonfiglio, Founder and CEO of Tint World®. "This project is an intense example, but the principle is the same one we bring to every vehicle and building we work on: protect what you already have and make it perform better."

A Job That Tested More Than Skill

Getting the job done required more logistics than most installations Harman's team has tackled. Equipment, film, and crew had to travel by helicopter to reach the tower, and the work hours were squeezed into a narrow window shaped by ocean weather. There was no running to the supply store for a forgotten tool and no shade to escape the sun while working.

"Most people think of window tinting as something you do to a car in an afternoon," said Harman. "This job took days, a helicopter, and a lot of planning. But it is the same skill set and the same film technology, just applied somewhere nobody expects it."

Beyond the Ocean: Everyday Applications

While Frying Pan Shoals Tower is a notable case, the underlying benefits translate directly to homes, vehicles, boats, and businesses dealing with everyday sun exposure.

"Extreme environments are the best proof point for any film we make, and it doesn’t get much more extreme than an offshore tower with no shade for miles," said Lindsay Parks, XPEL’s North American Sales Manager - Architectural. "Our Dark Neutral 15% window film is built to hold up under constant, direct sun while still rejecting a significant amount of heat, which is exactly what a remote, off-grid structure like Frying Pan Shoals Tower needs. Partnerships with networks like Tint World give us a front-row seat to the innovative ways customers are using our films every day."

XPEL window film products are designed to:

• Block 99% of harmful UV rays
• Reduce solar heat gain and ease the load on HVAC and cooling systems
• Protect interiors, electronics, and furnishings from sun damage and fading
• Improve comfort in vehicles, homes, boats, and commercial spaces
• Support long-term preservation of structures and vehicles exposed to harsh conditions.

For more information on Tint World® and its automotive and residential window film services, please visit www.tintworld.com. For more information on XPEL, please visit www.xpel.com.

About Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™

Founded in 1982, Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™ is America's largest and fastest-growing automotive accessories and window tinting international franchise, specializing in window tinting, protective films, vehicle wraps, ceramic coatings, automotive electronics, and vehicle accessories. Tint World® Mobile Services™ includes Residential, Commercial, and Marine window tinting films, solar films, decorative films, safety and security films, and protective ceramic coatings. Tint World® has locations across the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, with master franchise opportunities available worldwide. To find out more, please visit www.TintWorld.com or www.tintworld.com/franchise-opportunities.

About XPEL

XPEL is a leading provider of protective films and coatings, including automotive paint protection film, surface protection film, automotive and architectural window films, and ceramic coatings. With a global footprint, a network of trained installers and proprietary DAP software, XPEL is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations by providing high-quality products, leading customer service, expert technical support and world-class training. XPEL, Inc. is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “XPEL”. To learn more, please visit https://www.xpel.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260910726878/en/

Media:
Tint World
Cole Koretos
ckoretos@franchiseelevator.com

XPEL
Steve Janisse
sjanisse@xpel.com
Alex Bentzlin
abentzlin@xpel.com

Source: XPEL, Inc.

Key Terms

solar heat gain technical

Solar heat gain is the amount of solar energy that enters or is absorbed by a building or device, typically through windows, walls, or roofs, and that raises its interior temperature. It matters to investors because it affects a property’s energy use, cooling costs, tenant comfort, and the value of energy-efficiency upgrades; like sunlight warming a car parked in the sun, more gain can mean higher air-conditioning bills and different capital or operating needs.

hvac technical

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning — the systems that control temperature, airflow and indoor air quality in buildings. Investors care because HVAC drives operating costs, energy use, tenant comfort and regulatory compliance; like the engine and insulation of a building, efficient modern systems can lower bills, reduce repair and replacement spending, and preserve property value, while outdated units can create unexpected expenses and vacancy risk.

off-grid technical

Off-grid describes a property, facility, or system that operates independently of public utility networks, typically generating its own power, water, or waste management on site. Investors care because off-grid setups can reduce ongoing utility costs, increase resilience against outages or regulatory changes, and open markets for specialized products or services, but they also often require higher upfront capital, maintenance expertise, and different risk assessments than grid-connected assets.