Since the end of July 2025, a new landmark has been shaping the area in front of the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen: the headframe at Schalke. Standing around six metres tall and shining in unmistakable blue, it honours the club's roots, the mining history of the Ruhr region and the members of the Auf Schalke eG cooperative, whose names are immortalised in the base. The project was also realised thanks to the commitment and cooperation of several companies that provided their services free of charge to the development cooperative – including ZINQ.

For ZINQ, the tower is a true labour of love. The steel framework was first hot-dip galvanised at the family-run company and then powder-coated. The so-called duplex system offers a particularly long service life and makes the tower a striking eye-catcher.

The headframe also represents a long-standing partnership between FC Schalke 04 and ZINQ. ZINQ was already involved in surface finishing during the construction of the arena and the multi-storey car park at the VELTINS-Arena.

„As a company from Gelsenkirchen with deep roots in the Ruhr region, we feel a strong connection to the mining heritage, the area – and of course Schalke 04,“ says Lars Baumgürtel, managing partner of ZINQ. „The new headframe is more than just a monument: it connects history with the future and stands for values that also shape our actions: responsibility, solidarity and sustainability.“

The ceremonial inauguration of the tower as part of the Schalke Day was a moving moment for everyone involved. Schalke board chairman Matthias Tillmann spoke of a „goosebumps moment“ and thanked the many stakeholders who jointly made the project possible.

A film showing the creation of the tower is now available: from hot-dip galvanising at ZINQ to the ceremonial inauguration at Schalke-Tach.