Nextpower, a California-based company, has agreed to purchase Germany's Zimmermann PV-Steel Group, which will expand its portfolio of steel-producing solar structures in Europe and strengthen its position in the solar energy support market.
The acquisition focuses on the production of steel structures for solar panels, not just power electronics. Nextpower says the deal adds four product lines, expands its reach to 15 more countries, and opens a business with a capacity of more than 20 GW, Callanish learns from Nextpower's statement.
Founded in 1950, Zimmermann develops photovoltaic structures to support solar panels. The company has implemented more than 2,500 projects in 58 countries.
It is important for the steel market to expand the range of ready-made installation and auxiliary systems used in large solar power plants. Nextpower CEO Dan Sugar notes that this acquisition "will significantly expand our manufacturing platform" and expand supply chain capabilities in Europe.
"Zimmermann's design solutions, including fixed canopies, carports, high-density trackers, innovative agriPV solutions and floating photovoltaic systems, will expand our European portfolio," adds Sugar. According to the company, fixed tilt accounts for about half of the European market for general-purpose photovoltaic systems, especially in Germany, France and Poland. Combined with the recent launch of the NX Gemini tracker, this acquisition is expected to more than double Nextpower's solar energy capabilities in Europe.
The deal is valued at 330 million euros ($377 million) in cash and shares. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of fiscal year 2027 after receiving regulatory approval.
The deal with Zimmermann was concluded as a result of several steps that highlight Nextpower's growing influence on steel consumption in solar panel production.
In February 2026, Nextpower announced that it had signed a multi-year contract to supply more than 1 GW of American-made steel modular frames to Jinko Solar US Industries, which built a plant in Jacksonville, Florida, with the possibility of expanding to 3 GW over three years. In December 2025, Nextpower opened an expanded center in Nashville, Tennessee, and announced that partner MSS Steel Tubes USA in Memphis will double production capacity for solar sensor systems. This expansion was particularly important for the steel industry, as it directly linked the regional growth of solar energy with new domestic processing facilities, jobs, and localized supplies.
