The new ZM620 grade has a thicker, 620g/m² coating of Magnelis^® to both sides. This results in twice the estimated lifespan of products in its sister ZM310 grade, which has an estimated longevity of between 35 and 90 years, depending on the harshness of the environment it is used in.

Magnelis^® coatings use less zinc than conventional galvanisation, protecting valuable resources for future generations and reducing the environmental impact on soil from zinc runoff. It also significantly outperforms galvanised steel when it comes to corrosion resistance and plays a key role in renewable power generation, as it is an ideal material for solar plants which are often subject to very harsh environmental conditions.

The new ZM620 grade is primarily used for the support structures of ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels, where corrosion requirements are more stringent because the of soil they are mounted in. Magnelis^® ZM310, meanwhile, is the material of choice for the panels themselves. Another application for the new grade will be floating solar farms, where the floating platform onto which PVs are mounted will be made of the new and improved grade of Magnelis®.

ArcelorMittal began shipping Magnelis® ZM620, which is produced in Bremen, Germany, in late 2019. Customers are using the first 1,000 tonnes for trial purposes and orders for full-scale projects in the pipeline indicate that the future is bright for Magnelis® ZM620 and solar farms worldwide.