INTERSCHUTZ 2026: China is making massive investments in its own disaster and civil protection.
2026-1-12
Hannover, Germany. When international experts in fire protection, rescue services and civil protection gather at INTERSCHUTZ from 1 to 6 June 2026 in Hanover, the focus will not only be on cutting-edge technology and global innovation, but also on current challenges in Europe and worldwide under the headline “Turning point in civil protection”. In this context, China is also facing major tasks, given increasing natural disasters, growing urbanisation, an active construction sector, new industrial plants and increasingly strict fire safety and building regulations.
INTERSCHUTZ acts as a provider of solutions: the program features practical live demonstrations, international specialist conferences – including the first FEU Leadership Conference of the Federation of European Fire Officers – a variety of networking events for emergency services and decision-makers from around the world, and a diverse supporting program. In addition to the exhibitor stands, these elements highlight the breadth, capabilities and knowledge transfer of the entire sector – and thus its orientation toward solutions for a safer tomorrow.
“In addition to the established themes of firefighting and rescue services, INTERSCHUTZ 2026 places the much-cited ‘turning point in civil protection’ at its center – a topic that is occupying Europe intensively,” says Hendrik Rawe, Director INTERSCHUTZ, LIGNA, parts2clean and SurfaceTechnology GERMANY at Deutsche Messe AG. “All actors in this field face challenges that – beyond the deployment of state-of-the-art technology – require new interdisciplinary and cross-border cooperation, shared strategies and a common understanding and approach. As the leading trade fair, INTERSCHUTZ is the ideal platform to bring together decision-makers from all disciplines and to shape the future in the spirit of the INTERSCHUTZ motto ‘Safeguarding tomorrow’.”
Chinese exhibitors benefit from INTERSCHUTZ’s international scope
Chinese companies and organizations in the fields of firefighting, police, and rescue technology are benefiting from the strong internationality of INTERSCHUTZ (1–6 June 2026). This was already evident in 2022, when 57 exhibitors from China participated in Hannover. Currently, 183 Chinese companies are registered for INTERSCHUTZ 2026, including exhibitors such as JIEDA, ZOOMLION, ZHENXIANG Vehicle, Zhejiang Winner, LSJ Technology, ODE Technology, Shenlong Fire, Shanxi Hongan, U.PROTEC, Ningbo Kaixuan, Ningbo Fuhua, Zhejiang ORIENTX, Power Saints, ZYFIRE HOSE and Jinan Meide.
The Chinese market for firefighting, police, and rescue technology, as well as related security sectors, is currently experiencing solid growth, driven in no small part by massive government investments in disaster and civil protection. According to recent surveys by the consultancy Grand View Research, fire protection systems in China generated a market volume of USD 5.7 billion in 2024, expected to grow to nearly USD 10 billion by 2033 at an average annual growth rate of approximately 9.7%.
The Chinese market for firefighting and rescue vehicles is estimated by analysts at Global Market Insights at USD 8.2 billion for 2024, with an expected annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% through 2034. In particular, the segment “airport/airfield firefighting vehicles (ARFF)” is gaining in significance. For ambulance and emergency vehicles, the global market is valued at approximately USD 15.96 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach around USD 22.96 billion by 2035 (CAGR ~3.4%).
Trends and Growth Drivers in China
The market volume for firefighting, rescue, and civil protection vehicles in China is influenced by several key factors. Rapid urbanization in increasingly dense cities is driving demand for well-equipped fire departments, rapid rescue services, and specialized vehicles, particularly for high-rise buildings and industrial facilities. At the same time, infrastructure expansion – in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, as well as at airports – is boosting demand for standard firefighting vehicles, tankers, specialized vehicles, and ARFF units.
Additionally, the trend toward modernization and specialization continues: modular units, multifunctional vehicles, and the integration of advanced technologies such as electric drivetrains and improved communication and control systems allow for greater operational flexibility and increase vehicle market value. For rescue and ambulance vehicles, demographic changes, rising healthcare expenditures, growing awareness of emergency response, and the expansion of healthcare services are further drivers – particularly for ambulance services, which are expected to see strong growth beyond mere vehicle sales.
Premiere of FEU leadership conference at INTERSCHUTZ 2026
With the first FEU Leadership Conference during INTERSCHUTZ 2026 in Hanover, the Federation of European Fire Officers aims to bring together European fire chiefs in a premiere conference format on 3 and 4 June 2026. According to the organisation, more than 300 leaders from fire and civil protection agencies across Europe, as well as from international partner countries, are expected to attend. Like INTERSCHUTZ itself, the event will be held under the theme “Safeguarding Tomorrow” and aims to create a leading European strategic platform for those shaping the future of European fire services and civil protection.
In light of a convergence of pressures – including hybrid threats, geopolitical instability, digital vulnerabilities, extreme climate events, and rising expectations from citizens – the need for clear-headed, future-oriented leadership has never been greater.
Over the two conference days, the FEU will bring together senior representatives from the European Commission, NATO, national fire and civil protection agencies, and international fire service leaders from the United States, Australia, Singapore, and other partner countries to explore how European emergency services must evolve to remain capable, resilient, and strategically aligned in an increasingly disruptive world.
For more information as well as tickets for the FEU leadership conference, please check the website: https://www.interschutz.de/en/side-events/conferences/feu-leadership-conference/
About INTERSCHUTZ
INTERSCHUTZ is the world's leading trade fair for firefighting, rescue, and civil protection. Taking place in 2026 in Hanover under the motto “Safeguarding Tomorrow”, INTERSCHUTZ showcases a comprehensive range of products and services in the fields of firefighting, preventive fire protection, rescue services, civil protection, communication and control center technology, as well as protective equipment. All information about the trade fair and supporting program is available at www.interschutz.de and is updated on an ongoing basis.
The INTERSCHUTZ portfolio also includes international events such as AFAC Australia (https://www.afacconference.com.au/), REAS Italy (https://www.reasonline.it/) and the China International Emergency Management Exhibition (CIEME: https://www.cieme.net/en).
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