Nextpower (formerly Nextracker) is planning to acquire a European solar racking manufacturer. Zimmermann PV-Steel Group of southern Germany produces fixed-tilt, floating and agrivoltaic racking for the European solar market.
Credit: Nextpower
This is the latest intent to purchase another company in a string of acquisitions from Nextpower in the last few years. After making its name as a single-axis solar tracker manufacturer, Nextpower has originated or mostly acquired technologies to enter the solar foundations, inverter, energy storage, electrical balance of systems, PV steel module frames and other related markets. These transactions mirror an unprecedented expansion of Nextpower’s domestic manufacturing presence as well, opening and expanding new factories for solar tracker torque tube production with contract manufacturers across the United States.
Nextpower intends to purchase Zimmermann in a cash and stock transaction valued at $378 million, which is scheduled to close in the latter half of 2027, according to a press relase.
“This transaction represents the next chapter for Nextpower internationally,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextpower. “With Zimmermann, we will significantly expand our product platform and add complementary market presence and supply chain capability in Europe and beyond. Zimmermann’s structural solutions, including fixed tilt, carports, high-density trackers, innovative agriPV solutions and floating PV will expand our European portfolio to support a broader range of land-use, permitting requirements, and regional use cases. We see a clear opportunity to combine Zimmermann’s strong product engineering and execution capabilities with Nextpower’s bankability and complete product platform to better meet the needs of customers in Europe and accelerate profitable international growth.”
Nextpower recently debuted its NX Gemini two-in-portrait, single-axis solar tracker in Europe, and when this acquisition closes, will mark its entry into the fixed and floating racking market.
“Zimmermann has built its business by staying customer-focused and delivering high-quality engineered solutions for specific project needs,” said Robert Zimmermann, owner and CEO, Zimmermann. “In Nextpower, we see a partner with highly complementary technologies, geographic footprint, and customer focus. They bring scale and complementary solutions and capabilities that will help us serve our customers more broadly while preserving the local relationships and engineering focus that have defined our business. We see this as an exciting next chapter for our company and employees, as well as for our customers, suppliers, and partners across Europe.”
Earlier this month, Nextracker sued global solar tracker competitor GameChange Solar for alleged patent infringement on “self powered” solar tracker components.
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