Dr. Günter Schweitzer, Chief Operations Officer at Schmitz Cargobull AG, and Lars Baumgürtel, Managing Partner at ZINQ GmbH & Co. KG, are further expanding their partnership, which has been in place for almost 25 years, with this cooperation.

 

An important step towards a circular economy in industry: the hot-dip galvanizing specialist and Europe’s leading trailer manufacturer have entered into a strategic partnership to promote the circular economy. Schmitz Cargobull plans to gradually convert its products to circular quality and to document this in a traceable manner. The cooperation between the two companies begins with the development and implementation of a digital circular product passport (DCPP) for hot-dip galvanized steel chassis for trailers, which was originally developed by ZINQ as a prototype for metallic surfaces.

The partnership between Schmitz Cargobull AG and the ZINQ Group, which has existed for almost 25 years, has been expanded to include an important and forward-looking facet: Dr. Günter Schweitzer, Chief Operations Officer of Schmitz Cargobull, and Lars Baumgürtel, Managing Sole Shareholder of ZINQ, have entered into a cooperation agreement in the spirit of the circular economy: The overarching goal of the partnership is to develop a common understanding of the relevance of transparent environmental data, its collection within their own companies, and its transfer to downstream companies in the value chain. As a first step, the two partners will now launch a digital circular product passport (DCPP) in the field of vehicle construction.

EU sets the framework

A product passport makes it possible to measure and evaluate the circular quality of a product, as specified by the EU Ecodesign Regulation for sustainable products (EU-ESPR). The aim of the regulation is to improve traceability, the circular economy, energy efficiency, and overall environmental sustainability. A digital product passport (DPP) will be mandatory for certain product groups on the EU market as early as 2026. As a digital twin, the DPP records all relevant data on a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire product cycle and across the entire value chain. The EU intends to gradually make the circular quality of all products placed on the internal market measurable and assessable using DPPs, thereby ensuring greater transparency. “The development of a cross-industry bottom-up standard for product passports in medium-sized industrial companies is a cornerstone for the implementation of the three goals of the EU Green Deal,” emphasizes Lars Baumgürtel, managing partner of ZINQ GmbH & Co. KG. This triple goal, also known as Triple Zero, encompasses the ambitions of zero waste, zero CO2 emissions, and zero pollution – all at the same time.

ZINQ on the way to a digital circular product passport

With the DCPP, ZINQ has developed a product passport approach based on existing, generally accepted standards and presented the prototype to the public at the end of 2023. The Digital Circular Product Passport supplements the product life cycle with reliable information on the hot-dip galvanized surface. “The DCPP is intended to be applicable across industries. It is being developed with a multi-stakeholder network for universal application in all conceivable manufacturing industries,” says Lars Baumgürtel. “In order to advance the DCPP prototype, it is necessary to involve as many players as possible in the supply chain of hot-dip galvanized steel products. With Schmitz Cargobull AG, we have gained a committed partner in this future-oriented field, with whom we can jointly shape the circular transformation and implement the goals of the EU Green Deal.”

Advantages of circular products recognized early on

Europe’s leading trailer manufacturer recognized the advantages of circular hot-dip galvanized surfaces such as ecoZINQ® or microZINQ® at a very early stage and implemented them as industry standards in the context of product innovations. For years, the results have been impressive not only in terms of functionality and durability, but also in terms of ecological quality. At the end of a trailer’s life, galvanized steel chassis can be returned to the complete recycling cycle. „With the development and implementation of a digital circular product passport for trailers based on the DCPP prototype in the value chain of galvanized steel products, we are setting a benchmark for a circular economy, which is our declared goal. We are delighted to be taking this groundbreaking step together with our long-standing partner ZINQ,“ emphasizes Dr. Günter Schweitzer, Chief Operations Officer at Schmitz Cargobull.

Participation in funding projects

The DCPP is being implemented through the collaboration between Schmitz Cargobull and ZINQ in the DCPP network and through direct or indirect participation in funding projects. “The partnership will significantly advance the development of circular products and surfaces in vehicle construction,” Lars Baumgürtel is convinced. “Since implementation always affects all companies in the DCPP value chain, the race for triple zero in vehicle construction is on. This will not only enhance the functional benefits of products such as trailers, but also their ecological benefits through product innovations.”

Years of partnership as the basis for future success

In 2001, ZINQ implemented hot-dip galvanizing of trailers in series production for Schmitz Cargobull for the first time as an alternative to painting, the common but environmentally harmful method of coating in vehicle construction. Since then, almost one million tons of steel have been galvanized as part of this partnership. Hundreds of thousands of trailers worldwide are in use with ZINQ surfaces that protect the steel from corrosion for decades. And thanks to their long service life and optimal recycling properties, they have a positive CO2 balance and are “materially healthy” – i.e., free of secondary microplastics.

“Our close cooperation over the past decades and the new strategic partnership are the ideal basis for further success in the future,” emphasizes Lars Baumgürtel – and he is striving for further cooperation in the spirit of the circular economy.

“Our goal is to create a network of customers, suppliers, stakeholders, and political actors who work together to make the circular quality of products from all industries traceable along the entire value chain.”