Otto Zimmermann GmbH is phasing in a redesigned carton for its brake pads that places the part number and EAN code on both the box lid and the side panel. The Sinsheim-Dühren-based friction supplier says the new packaging design is being introduced gradually, with existing cardboard stock used up first, so both the previous and current cartons will circulate in the aftermarket during the changeover. The company’s low-dust rd:z brake pads are moving to the refreshed cartons alongside the standard pad range.
Highlights
- Part number and EAN code now appear on the carton lid as well as the side panel
- Existing packaging stock is being used up first, putting both designs in the market during the transition
- Products and their technical characteristics are unchanged, according to Otto Zimmermann
- rd:z low-dust pads are included in the packaging changeover
What Changes on the Carton
The labeling revision is the operational substance of the change. Moving both the part number and the EAN code to a clearly visible position on the lid, in addition to the side, gives workshops, dealers, and logistics partners a second read point on a stacked or shelved box.
Otto Zimmermann says the change is intended to speed identification and handling in day-to-day operations, simplifying inventory management, order picking, and goods receiving. The company describes the redesign as delivering a clearly structured product presentation that aligns with current market expectations and strengthens brand recognition in retail and workshop settings.
Why Will Two Packaging Designs Be in the Market?
The switch is being carried out gradually rather than as a single cutover. Otto Zimmermann says existing cardboard packaging stocks are being used up first for sustainability reasons, which means customers may receive product in either the previous or the new design during the transition phase.
The company states there are no changes to the products themselves or their technical characteristics — a point that matters for distributors matching stock across the two carton generations.
Specification and Approval Unchanged
Otto Zimmermann says OE standards remain the benchmark for both development and production of its brake pads, and that ECE-R90 compliance, pedal feel, and wear characteristics are validated from the earliest development stages. ECE-R90 is the United Nations type-approval standard governing replacement brake lining assemblies sold in the European Union, extended by later amendment to replacement discs and drums.
The rd:z line is positioned on reduced brake dust generation and driving comfort while meeting the quality standards of modern braking systems, according to the company.
Automechanika Positioning
The packaging rollout precedes Automechanika in Frankfurt, where Otto Zimmermann will show developments in hard-metal coatings and address the requirements of Euro 7 under the motto “The Quality Leader in Braking.” Euro 7 introduces the European Union’s first limits on particulate emissions from brake wear.
The company expects visitors from more than 70 countries across the five-day trade fair and says it will use the event for international dialogue with customers and partners.
Otto Zimmermann distributes over 4,000 brake components to more than 70 countries and supplies both vehicle manufacturers and the independent aftermarket, and is listed as a TecDoc “Premium Data Supplier.”
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