Zinq, a specialist in hot-dip galvanizing, and trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull 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.
Recording data on environmental impact
The overarching aim of the partnership is to achieve a shared understanding of the relevance of transparent environmental data, its collection within the company and its dissemination. As a first step, the two partners will now launch a digital circular product passport (DCPP) in the field of vehicle construction. As a digital twin, the DPP records all relevant data on the environmental impact of a product over the entire product cycle and across the entire value chain.
Product passport with information on hot-dip galvanized surfaces
With the DCPP, Zinq has developed a product passport approach based on existing, generally applicable standards and presented the prototype to the public at the end of 2023. The Digital Circular Product Passport adds information on the hot-dip galvanized surface to the product life cycle. "The DCPP is intended to be applicable across all industries," says Lars Baumgürtel, sole managing partner of Zinq. "In order to drive the DCPP prototype forward, the participation of as many players as possible in the supply chain of hot-dip galvanized steel products is necessary. With Schmitz Cargobull AG, we have gained a committed partner in this future-oriented field."
Advantages of circular products recognized early on
Schmitz-Cargobull has been relying on circular batch galvanizing surfaces such as ecoZinq or microZinq for a long time. At the end of a trailer's life, galvanized steel chassis can be returned to the complete material cycle in this way.In 2001, Zinq implemented hot-dip galvanizing of trailers for Schmitz Cargobull for the first time in series production as an alternative to painting, a common but environmentally harmful method of coating in vehicle construction.