Innovation made by ZINQ

The ZINQ Futurium at the Gelsenkirchen site is ZINQ's central research and development centre. The ZINQ Futurium concept includes a unique research and development centre spanning over 1300 m² of usable space, including batch galvanising pilot lines and an automation and robotics centre. ZINQ operates the most modern laboratory in the batch galvanising industry on 180 m².

With the opening of the ZINQ Futurium in 2021, ZINQ has deliberately created a space that goes beyond traditional research: a platform for knowledge transfer and collaboration. Here, ZINQ collaborates with partners from industry, academia, and institutions to address key challenges facing energy-intensive industries. These include, among others, the circular economy, the use of hydrogen in industrial process heating, and digital approaches for assessing and documenting circular quality.

An interdisciplinary team comprising researchers, developers, and practitioners works continuously at the Futurium to optimize the batch galvanizing process. The focus is particularly on resource efficiency, energy use, and the further development of circular product solutions.

The work at Futurium is characterized by a clear philosophy: established practices are not taken for granted, but are continuously questioned and refined. New perspectives, critical thinking, and a willingness to learn drive development forward. Thus, concrete observations and targeted analyses give rise to solutions that are directly integrated into the plants and strengthen our circular business model, Planet ZINQ.

Alloy on demand

The development of innovative ZINQ surfaces is a collaborative effort, ideally involving open communication between suppliers, surface technicians, and end customers (OEMs). In addition to the development of new, innovative hot-dip galvanized surfaces, this also includes systems and services for integrated process development—for example, in the areas of logistics and component marking—as well as process digitization and automation along the entire supply chain, and post-treatment and finishing of hot-dip galvanized components.

In state-of-the-art laboratory and upscaling lines, our highly qualified and interdisciplinary team develops new processes and applications related to the core process of piece galvanising.

This is how differentiated surface solutions are created, meeting both technical and ecological requirements and contributing to the advancement of sustainable applications.