Lots of networking, presentations, and of course plenty of vehicles to get hands-on with—at the beginning of September, ZOELLER-KIPPER was once again a guest at North Rhine-Westphalia’s largest outdoor trade exhibition. A successful and varied event—even if for the first time, dark clouds loomed this year.

Where usually brakes on wet roads, cornering, and controlled skidding are practised, the municipal sector gathered for the tenth time on the 4th and 5th of September. A small anniversary for the networking event organised by WFZ Ruhr, the Business Development Centre Ruhr, a consortium of private and municipal waste disposal companies in the region. However, the industry event is now well known beyond the region, with over 1,000 trade visitors in September 2024, and 87 exhibitors showcasing everything the industry needs: from clothing and software to commercial vehicles of all weight classes, both alternative and conventionally powered.

From ZOELLER-KIPPER, the showcase included: a current MINI with an Omega 359 on a Mercedes Benz Atego – the specialist for narrow streets, dense development, and parked cars – nicknamed the “the agile city runabout.” Also featured was a MAGNUM XXL with skip loading as well as fresh from the factory, a current MEDIUM X4 on Designwerk, based on the Mercedes Benz Econic, with a Delta 2322. A “loan” from AVEA. For the waste disposal company from Leverkusen, this vehicle marks a premiere: the first fully electric refuse collection vehicle in their fleet, essentially meant to dispose of waste, which will later be used to generate energy—also for its batteries.

Heavenly Contribution to the Discussion
Overall, it was once again a very successful event, says Dirk Müller, a sales representative for the West branch. “We were on site with four to six people in changing shifts, had loads of good conversations… But if I were to sum it up succinctly, I’d say ‘between wellies and sandals.’ For the first time since we’ve been participating, it rained. And what rain! The first day saw torrential downpours. The next day was then bright sunshine.”
One might almost think that the weather gods wanted to contribute to the panel discussion, which focused on technologies for the mobility transition—alternative drives, hydrogen, bio-CNG, and e-mobility.