Hannover, Germany. With two years still left to go before the next INTERSCHUTZ, it is already evident that the world's leading trade fair for the fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security is right on track. Numerous companies have already signed up to take part in 2020, such that just over half of the available space has already been booked. Significantly, one in two of the registered exhibitors comes from outside the host nation Germany. The space allocation process for the exhibition halls and pavilions has now commenced. Several new developments are in the pipeline, including changes to the site layout and plans for diverse special events. The next INTERSCHUTZ takes place from 15 to 20 June 2020 in Hannover.

"The anticipation within our team is growing day by day", says Martin Folkerts, Project Manager of INTERSCHUTZ for the show's organizer, Deutsche Messe. "Our plans for the 2020 site have been enthusiastically received, and many large and influential companies in the sector have already booked stand space." These include 3M, Albert Ziegler, Bristol, Bronto Skylift, Bullard, Eurofunk, GSF Sonderfahrzeugbau, Haix, Holmatro, LANCO, MAN Truck & Bus, Minimax, Paratech, Task Force Tips, Texport, Weber-Hydraulik and Wietmarscher Ambulanz und Sonderfahrzeug GmbH. These companies and others will be exhibiting in the eight halls and on the open-air site allocated to the event in June of 2020 (in Hannover, Germany). A new feature at INTERSCHUTZ 2020 compared with the 2015 event is that the central row of halls – i.e. halls 14–17 – will be used completely. This means that visitors can now reach the halls directly from both the North and East entrances, and that the entire event will be located closer to the Convention Center complex, thus substantially reducing walking distances to seminars and conferences. Changes will also be made with regard to the distribution of themes across the exhibition halls.

"In our planning efforts, we are not just focused on arranging the show's themes in logical and easy-to-navigate way; we also strive to create even closer interplay between exhibiting firms and participating aid organizations", explained Folkerts. "For example, manufacturers, suppliers and users will now be closer together." Another innovation is that Hall 16/17 will now house a display which bundles equipment and systems covering every aspect of civil protection, including technical aids and equipment such as emergency shelters and tents, power supplies, hygiene and sanitary equipment, mobile clinics and equipment for use in flood relief and flood protection. For the first time ever, INTERSCHUTZ will also feature a joint Finish pavilion.

The lead theme of the next INTERSCHUTZ is "Teams, Tactics, Technology – Connected for Protection and Rescue", thus focusing on two key aspects that are increasingly impacting the sector: digit technology and collaboration between the individual rescue and emergency services. This is exemplified by geoinformation technology. Every second counts in firefighting and fire management, rescue operations and shipping accidents, and geoinformation systems (GIS) play a crucial role in the planning, control and evaluation of operations. Geospatial data such as access routes, the location of hydrants and gas pipelines can be called up quickly and accurately using GIS. This kind of technology will be arrayed in the information and communication technology display (halls 15 and 16).

Alongside the business activities at the stands and on the open-air site, the next INTERSCHUTZ will feature numerous special events. This program of supporting events includes a meeting focusing on rescue and civil protection services, as well as a conference comparing rescue and emergency services in Europe. The meeting on fire prevention and protection will be aimed at planning experts and fire risk assessors, manufacturers of fire protection products and fire prevention officers, as well as professional and voluntary fire services. Once again, the Holmatro Extrication Challenge will provide action and excitement as 30 teams from across the world compete on the open-air site to see who can most quickly extricate a victim from a vehicle involved in a simulated road traffic accident. In 2020, on the Saturday of INTERSCHUTZ, fifteen German high-altitude rescue teams will be taking part in a contest to demonstrate their skills and capabilities. This competition is being organized by the Hannover fire service. Another highlight of INTERSCHUTZ will be a parallel event, the traditional German Firefighters' Conference.

About INTERSCHUTZ

INTERSCHUTZ is the world's leading trade fair for the fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security. The next INTERSCHUTZ will be held from 15 to 20 June 2020 in Hannover. The fair covers the full range of products and services for the disaster relief, fire and rescue services, civil protection, and safety and security sectors. Exhibits include technical support equipment and disaster relief solutions, equipment for fire stations, technical fire and building protection systems, fire extinguishing technology and agents, vehicles and vehicle equipment, information and organization technology, medical apparatus, first-aid supplies, control-center technology and personal protective equipment. INTERSCHUTZ is in a class of its own internationally when it comes to the quality and number of visitors and exhibitors it attracts. It brings together key German industry associations, such as the DFV, GFPA and VDMA, commercial exhibitors, non-commercial exhibitors, such as fire and rescue service organizations and disaster relief organizations, and many visitors from the professional and volunteer fire services, plant fire services, rescue services and the disaster relief sector. The last INTERSCHUTZ – held in 2015 – attracted over 150,000 visitors and around 1,500 exhibitors from around the world. The Italian REAS and the Australian AFAC shows both run under the "powered by INTERSCHUTZ" banner, thereby creating an international tradeshow network that further strengthens the INTERSCHUTZ brand.