Hannover will become the capital of the blue light scene in a few weeks, despite isolated cancellations by exhibitors from the vehicle technology industry in recent days.
‘We regret the cancellations of companies such as Magirus, Ziegler or Schlingmann, of course. Nevertheless, more than 1,000 companies from 50 countries will present themselves at INTERSCHUTZ – including many market-leading vehicle manufacturers such as Rosenbauer, Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, BMW, Tatra Trucks, Oshkosh, Scania or Volkan and 200 other companies from the firefighting technology sector. So visitors can look forward to an exciting INTERSCHUTZ, because in view of the current challenges, the topics covered at the world’s leading trade fair are more relevant than ever before,’ said Bernd Heinold, INTERSCHUTZ Project Manager at Deutsche Messe AG.
Representatives of exhibiting vehicle manufacturers and equipment suppliers expressed similar sentiments. ‘We can finally present our range of products and services to a large audience again,’ said a delighted Matthias Quickert, sales manager at Binz Automotive, one of the leading companies in special vehicle construction, for example. The company had therefore even booked additional stand space for the demonstration area.
Innovations and new technologies for fire departments and rescue services
According to INTERSCHUTZ project manager Bernd Heinold, one focus of the trade show will be electro mobility. As an example, he cites Rosenbauer’s first electric firefighting and rescue vehicle (eLHF), which is already in test operation at the Berlin Fire Department and will be on show live at INTERSCHUTZ. The project, which is also causing a stir internationally, hints at the future of urban vehicles.
However electro mobility is also making headway in the field of rescue vehicles. One example: Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (VWN). ‘We are delighted to have INTERSCHUTZ at the gates of our plant in Hanover, so to speak,’ says Klaus Stiegler, key account manager responsible for emergency vehicles. Among other things, VWN will be showing a product range from command vehicles and multipurpose vehicles to ELW 1 and ELW 1.5 command vehicles. Various command vehicles will also be part of the exhibition programme at other companies. These include a new type of ELW 3 from BINZ, which can serve as a mobile control centre in the event of major emergencies and disasters. In addition, various hybrid solutions will be presented, as well as current vehicles with combustion engines. A number of spectacular contributions also await visitors to the demonstration area. Among others, a visit of a large airfield firefighting vehicle (GFLF) of the Hanover airport fire department is planned. But powerful vehicles of all sizes on four and more wheels are not the only ones represented: BMW, for example, will be showing two sprinting motorcycles.
International networking more important than ever
‘Rarely before has the need for innovation been so great, especially in the area of hazard prevention,’ says the president of the Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection (vfdb), Dirk Aschenbrenner. ‘Numerous disasters in recent months and, not least, the pandemic and the incipient movement of refugees from Ukraine have demonstrated in many areas the importance of modern crisis management. For example, the heavy rain disaster last summer highlighted the need for off-road and robust vehicle technology. The international exchange of know-how and experience is important.’ INTERSCHUTZ is the best platform for this, he said, as it brings together manufacturers from more than 50 countries, including, for example, Oshkosh from the USA and Scania from Sweden.
Innovation meets tradition
For the final day of INTERSCHUTZ on 25 June, Thomas Russ of the Lower Saxony Fire Brigade Association has organized a vehicle parade from the INTERSCHUTZ grounds through Hanover’s city centre and back. In the convoy consisting of several dozen vehicles, for example, a 60-year-old fire truck as well as a nostalgic ‘Barkas’ ELW from GDR times will be on display. ‘The grand finale will be a meeting with the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club, the world’s largest motorcycle club for firefighters and their families.
About INTERSCHUTZ
The upcoming INTERSCHUTZ – the world’s leading trade fair for fire brigades, rescue services, civil protection and safety/security – will take place from 20 to 25 June 2022 in Hannover, Germany. The event covers the full array of state-of-the-art gear and services needed for firefighting, fire protection, rescue work, civil protection, telecommunications and control centres as well as personal protective equipment. International INTERSCHUTZ events include: CEFE powered by INTERSCHUTZ (11 to 13 May 2022) in Shanghai, China, AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ (23 to 25 August 2022) in Adelaide, Australia and REAS powered by INTERSCHUTZ (7 to 9 October 2022) in Montichiari, Italy.
For more information, go to www.interschutz.de/en
