For some time now, KlimaExpo.NRW has been bringing together a diverse range of companies, ideas, and projects to advance climate protection. Now, Voigt & Schweitzer is also saying: „We're in!“ Because on 9th February, the hot-dip galvanizing specialist from Gelsenkirchen received the „Pioneer Found“ award – for its innovative and hitherto unique brand surface microZINQ®, which was developed together with its licensor ZINQ® Technologie.

Instead of the 60 to 200 µm coating thickness usually found in conventional piece galvanising, microZINQ® requires just 10 µm of zinc – a saving of 80 % on average. However, a thin coating and low weight combined with the best possible corrosion protection are not the only benefits this surface has to offer. It also combines high cost-efficiency with performance and environmental friendliness, and has already won numerous awards in the past. For instance, the product has already received the German Raw Materials Efficiency Award from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as an outstanding practical example of the optimal use of raw materials and resources, as well as the Materialica Best-Of Award in the Surface Technology category.

And when it comes to sustainability, microZINQ® truly „shines“ in the truest sense of the word: whilst conventional galvanising processes require a zinc melt temperature of 450°C, this innovative thin-film technology manages with just 420°C. Furthermore, all its processes and procedures are 100 % recyclable and can be reused indefinitely. This is resource efficiency and effectiveness, ZINQ-style.

And this is also well received at KlimaExpo.NRW. The new initiative by the NRW state government has set itself the task of implementing the energy transition and achieving climate protection goals – with binding intentions. The initiative, which is intended to help with this, is called „1,000 Steps into the Future“. Until 2022, KlimaExpo.NRW will make successful projects accessible and tangible to a broad audience, thereby promoting additional commitment to climate protection.

As a special example and pioneer in energy and resource efficiency, microZINQ® can now also be found as one of these projects and is step number 42 towards a better future.

Further information can be found here.