The high-performance microZINQ® technology has won the MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award in the „Surface & Technology“ category. microZINQ® received the „Best of Award“ and thus the highest distinction. The award ceremony took place on 15th October 2013 at the start of MATERIALICA, the International Trade Fair for Material Applications, Surfaces and Product Engineering, in Munich.

From numerous applications, a six-member expert jury nominated the 27 most interesting and innovative submissions for technologies that impressed through intelligent material selection, manufacturing processes used, design quality, and degree of innovation.

The microZINQ® project was submitted by Voigt & Schweitzer and its sister company, Fontaine Technologie. Fontaine Technologie develops innovative activities for piece galvanising applications and grants licences.

„The award honours our long-term commitment to the development of innovative piece-galvanising technologies and new, resource-efficient zinc coatings. The award will be a further incentive for our design and engineering expertise,“ says Lars Baumgürtel, Managing Director of Voigt & Schweitzer, upon receiving the award.

By using aluminium in addition, microZINQ® achieves significantly thinner zinc coatings with less zinc usage, offering more powerful corrosion protection for steel. Visually, it also has improved, „shiny“ properties compared to classic hot-dip galvanising to ISO 1461. microZINQ® can be processed further without problems, including formability, coatability, bondability, and weldability. The microZINQ® technology therefore provides excellent answers to the diverse requirements for components in classic galvanising markets and in new application segments, such as the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors.