Voigt & Schweitzer

Voigt & Schweitzer is a German industrial group specializing in hot-dip galvanizing and surface coating of steel, today operating under the umbrella brand ZINQ. The company traces its roots to a galvanizing works founded in Gelsenkirchen in 1889, which Robert Voigt took over in 1960 and developed into the Voigt & Schweitzer enterprise. Over the following decades the group expanded through acquisitions and new plants across western, southern and eastern Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, building a network of galvanizing and coating facilities. ZINQ describes itself as Europe's number one in surface technology and a market leader in hot-dip galvanizing. Its registered product brands — duroZINQ, ecoZINQ, microZINQ, colorZINQ and verticalZINQ — cover different zinc-based surface qualities distinguished by protection performance, function and appearance. These are complemented by services such as ZINQ 360 and technology development through ZINQ Technologie. Typical applications span steel construction, automotive, mechanical engineering, metalworking and agricultural machinery. In 2010 the group's activities were consolidated under Fontaine Holdings NV, and in 2021 all Voigt & Schweitzer works were rebranded as ZINQ. The company is headquartered in Gelsenkirchen and, according to its German Wikipedia entry, employed around 1,700 people plus 80 apprentices at 45 locations in five countries as of 2021. It remains a family-influenced, medium-sized group now in its fourth generation of tradition, with managing directors Lars Baumgürtel and Birgitt Bendiek receiving the German Federal Environmental Foundation's environmental prize in 2025.

The history of Voigt & Schweitzer, today ZINQ, begins with a galvanizing works founded in Gelsenkirchen in 1889 by Gebr. Wirtz. Robert Voigt, one of the pioneers of modern piece galvanizing, took over the Gelsenkirchen works in 1960 and founded Voigt & Schweitzer, convinced that hot-dip galvanizing was the most important method of protecting steel from corrosion with zinc. His vision was to make hot-dip galvanizing a professional industrial service grounded in craftsmanship and quality. In 1967 a large galvanizing plant was newly built at the Gelsenkirchen site, followed in 1970 by the acquisition and expansion of galvanizing operations in western Germany. In 1972 a small-parts facility using the high-temperature process (deltaZINQ) was established. The 1980s brought further expansion: acquisitions and expansion of galvanizing operations in southern Germany in 1980, the takeover of the Henssler Group in southern Germany in 1985, and the construction of the first powder coating facility (colorZINQ) in 1989. In 1990 the company acquired its first galvanizing plant in the new federal states of eastern Germany, and in 1993 began building its first large galvanizing plant there. A first stake in the Netherlands followed in 1980, with a first stake in Belgium in 1995. The company founder Robert Voigt died in 1998. The 1990s and 2000s saw the group build integrated surface centers combining galvanizing and powder coating: the first in Bruchsal in 1999, the second in Leipzig in 2001, the third in Emmen (Netherlands) in 2003, and the fourth in Castrop in 2008. In 2000 the first galvanizing plant in Poland was established, followed in 2001 by a stake in a Dutch galvanizing group. The first microZINQ facility started operation in Hagen in 2004, and the first duroZINQ license was granted in 2005. In 2006 the logistics service provider SENiT was established. In 2010 all activities were brought together under the roof of Fontaine Holdings NV. In 2021 all Voigt & Schweitzer works were rebranded under the unified ZINQ name. According to its German Wikipedia entry, ZINQ employed around 1,700 people and 80 apprentices at 45 locations in five countries as of 2021. In 2025 the managing directors Lars Baumgürtel and Birgitt Bendiek were honored with the German Federal Environmental Foundation's environmental prize as an inspiring example of raw material and energy efficiency in a resource-intensive industry.

• 2025

  Managing directors Lars Baumgürtel and Birgitt Bendiek awarded the German Federal Environmental Foundation prize

• 2021

  All Voigt & Schweitzer works rebranded as ZINQ

• 2010

  All activities consolidated under Fontaine Holdings NV

• 2008

  Fourth surface center established in Castrop

• 2006

  Logistics service provider SENiT established

• 2005

  First duroZINQ license granted

• 2004

  First microZINQ facility started in Hagen

• 2003

  Third surface center established in Emmen (Netherlands)

• 2002

  Takeover of Galva Power

• 2001

  Second surface center established in Leipzig; stake in a Dutch galvanizing group

• 2000

  First galvanizing plant established in Poland

• 1999

  First surface center established in Bruchsal (galvanizing + powder)

• 1998

  Death of company founder Robert Voigt

• 1995

  First stake in Belgium

• 1993

  Start of construction of the first large galvanizing plant in eastern Germany

• 1990

  Acquisition of the first galvanizing plant in the new federal states of eastern Germany

• 1989

  Construction of the first powder coating facility (colorZINQ)

• 1985

  Takeover of the Henssler Group in southern Germany

• 1980

  Acquisition and expansion of galvanizing operations in southern Germany; first stake in the Netherlands

• 1972

  Establishment of a small-parts facility using the high-temperature process (deltaZINQ)

• 1970

  Acquisition and expansion of galvanizing operations in western Germany

• 1967

  New large galvanizing plant built at Gelsenkirchen

• 1960

  Robert Voigt takes over the Gelsenkirchen works and founds Voigt & Schweitzer

• 1889

  Founding of the parent works in Gelsenkirchen by Gebr. Wirtz

Europe's No. 1 for surface technology; market leader in hot-dip galvanizing with a promise of highest quality, innovative solutions and circular surface technology.

• duroZINQ

  Registered product brand for a zinc-based surface quality

• ecoZINQ

  Registered product brand for a zinc-based surface quality

• microZINQ

  Registered product brand for a zinc-based surface quality

• colorZINQ

  Registered product brand for a zinc-based surface quality

• verticalZINQ

  Registered product brand for a zinc-based surface quality

• deltaZINQ

  High-temperature small-parts galvanizing process

• ZINQ 360

  Holistic service offering

• ZINQ Technologie

  Technology development unit

1. 1ZINQ official websitezinq.com
2. 2ZINQ Geschichtezinq.com
3. 3Voigt & Schweitzer on Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4ZINQ on German Wikipediade.wikipedia.org