When we first met at Intersolar Europe in Munich, one of the world’s largest photovoltaic trade shows, we couldn’t predict how big this partnership would become. Today, SOPAGO, a German specialist in solar carports, trusts AXINAR to supply the steel mounting structures for its projects across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). In this article we share the four reasons SOPAGO keeps choosing AXINAR.
Who is SOPAGO
SOPAGO specializes in Photovoltaik-Parkplatzüberdachungen, that is, solar carports for companies, commercial properties, and municipalities. With 52+ completed projects and years of field experience, they deliver turnkey solutions: planning, structural engineering, grid-connection requests, building permits, foundations, assembly, and commissioning.
Their flagship reference is the installation at NaturTherme Templin near Berlin, one of Germany’s largest solar parking projects. SOPAGO uses screw foundations and timber structural elements to minimize CO₂ emissions starting at the construction phase.
“We got to know AXINAR at the Intersolar trade fair and have had a business relationship ever since. We are very happy with how the work has gone.”
SOPAGO representative
The four pillars SOPAGO values
The interview surfaced four concrete reasons why SOPAGO keeps coming back to AXINAR for new projects:
1. Advisory support and quality assurance
“We get excellent advice. There’s always someone who answers our questions, and for quality assurance there’s always someone who helps us out.” For export work, where the next link in the chain may be 2,000 kilometers away, direct communication is the difference between a project that hits deadlines and one that misses them.
2. Build quality
“We are satisfied with AXINAR and with the quality.” The components we supply to SOPAGO come off our fiber laser cutting lines (up to 12 kW), our CNC press brake, and panel bending, with hot-dip galvanizing or powder coating depending on the application.
3. Export-grade packaging
“We are very satisfied with AXINAR’s products, the packaging, and the quality. A lot of attention is paid to making sure the packaging arrives in excellent condition.” Shipping across the DACH region demands packaging that survives kilometers of loading, sorting, and reloading, and AXINAR has built dedicated processes for exactly that.
4. Price-to-quality ratio
“We will definitely continue working with AXINAR, because we are very happy with the quality and the price.” For a German company that could choose suppliers from all of Europe and Asia, that is perhaps the most meaningful endorsement of all.
“A lot of attention is paid to making sure the packaging arrives in excellent condition. We are very satisfied with AXINAR’s products, the packaging, and the quality of what’s delivered.”
SOPAGO representative
Solar carports: the dual value for the end customer
Why do companies and municipalities across the DACH region invest in solar carports rather than classic rooftop or ground-mount PV? The answer SOPAGO gave in the interview is clear: dual value on the same surface.
- Vehicle protection from rain, snow, hail, and direct sun
- Energy production on surfaces already “used” (parking lots), no new land required
- On-site self-consumption, the electricity is consumed right next to where it’s produced
- EV charging straight off the carport, electric vehicles charge with the electricity generated overhead
“Solar carports are good for the customer because they get used twice. On the one hand, cars park underneath them and are protected, on the other hand it’s a solar installation that produces inexpensive energy that can be consumed right next door. Even the electric cars can use this energy directly.”
SOPAGO representative
Made in Thessaloniki, installed across DE / AT / CH
The steel mounting structures we supply to SOPAGO are manufactured entirely at our facility in the Oreokastro Industrial Park, Thessaloniki, Greece. The fact that a specialized German manufacturer chooses Greek production for projects in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland speaks for itself about the maturity of the Greek metal-fabrication industry.
Our long-term collaboration with SOPAGO has built up real expertise in exporting to the DACH region: packaging that survives long hauls, documentation aligned with German standards, and response times that respect the manufacturer’s site-installation schedule.
What AXINAR builds for photovoltaics
AXINAR’s PV mounting portfolio covers the full application range:
- Solar carports for commercial, municipal, and corporate parking
- Rooftop mounts (Axisol Roolf) for industrial and commercial roofs
- Ground-mount systems (Terrasol 1V / 2V) for utility-scale solar farms
- East-West agrivoltaics combining crop cultivation with energy production
- OEM fabrication to customer drawings, for export and specialist projects
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is SOPAGO and who do they serve?
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SOPAGO is a German company specializing in Photovoltaik-Parkplatzüberdachungen (solar carports) for businesses, commercial properties, municipalities, and private clients. They deliver turnkey solutions across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) with 52+ completed projects.
Do you take on OEM fabrication for export to Germany and Central Europe?
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Yes, actively. The SOPAGO partnership is the most mature example. We take on OEM fabrication based on customer drawings, with documentation aligned to German standards and export-grade packaging for the DACH region.
Why a solar carport instead of classic rooftop or ground-mount PV?
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Because it offers dual value on the same footprint, vehicles are protected and energy is produced from parking already in use. No new land or roof space is needed, and the electricity is consumed on site or used to charge electric vehicles right underneath.
What documentation format do you provide for export shipments?
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Each shipment is accompanied by technical specifications, packing list, certificate of origin, and material certificates (mill certificates) where required. For DACH shipments we use reinforced pallets with surface protection that survives multiple reloads.
What surface treatment do you use for solar carports?
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Typically hot-dip galvanizing to EN ISO 1461 (Magnelis ZM430/ZM620 for specific applications), or powder coating in a RAL color over proper surface preparation. The choice depends on the installation environment (coastal, urban, agricultural) and the customer’s specifications.
What’s the lead time for a solar carport batch?
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It depends on batch size and customization. Standardized series typically ship in 4-8 weeks from order, while custom OEM drawings are scoped during engineering review. For hard deadlines (e.g. ahead of a site installation), contact us early so we can schedule priority on the line.
REQUEST A QUOTE
Solar carports or OEM PV mounting? We bring export know-how.
From solar carports for commercial parking and municipal sites to OEM steel structures for PV manufacturers, send us your drawings or technical requirements and we’ll respond with a detailed proposal.
or email sales@axinar.com
