The Future of
Fire Protection
Rosenbauer sees numerous opportunities for growth in preventive fire protection and is set to substantially expand this business unit.
Robotized prefabrication of sprinkler pipes
Stationary fire protection
According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute, 230,000 metric tons of used batteries from electric cars Europe-wide will need recycling come 2030. Many of the facilities needed for this have yet to be built and must be equipped with appropriate means of fire protection – a future market that opens up whole new opportunities for Rosenbauer.
Politicians and society as a whole are showing a growing awareness of the need to reuse raw materials. The recycling industry is set to benefit from this. To reduce the carbon footprint of electric vehicles, for example, battery recycling is essential. A precondition for this is effective fire prevention throughout the entire process chain from storage to processing, because the high-voltage batteries used in modern electric cars pose a considerable fire risk.
Turret assembly at the Leonding location
Upgraded products
In recent years, Rosenbauer has focused intensively on the problem of battery fires and developed a mobile extinguishing system for fire departments. But the technology can also be modified for stationary fire protection, too, an area where Rosenbauer has enjoyed success in the past thanks to its turret extinguishing systems. The turret technology, which was originally developed for use on vehicles, was additionally equipped with an infrared and laser-based early fire detection system to create a fully automatic fire protection solution. This technology has already been implemented by waste disposal companies and waste recyclers as well as in power plants, tank farms and aircraft hangars.
Early fire detection is keeping Rosenbauer busy in a whole range of areas – including forest fires – and is currently among the focal points of the Group’s research and development activities. In particular, new sensor and connectivity technologies are ideal for augmenting and upgrading existing fire protection solutions to create smart building solutions.
We are already a major player on the German market, enjoy full market access as a VdS-approved company and have everything we need to continue growing.”
Ralf Freitag, Managing Director, Rosenbauer Brandschutz Deutschland
Synergies in the offering
Harnessing the strength of the Group is one of the primary lines of attack in the growth strategy of Rosenbauer Brandschutz. For example, a range of synergies can also be potentially leveraged in the transfer of know-how between the two Brandschutz subsidiaries in Austria and Germany. In particular, and in a first step, the German subsidiary’s know-how in water-based firefighting systems (sprinkler, water spray and water mist extinguisher systems) is being transferred to Austria. Sprinkler systems are a fundamental technology and by far the most common stationary fire protection solution, which is why their inclusion in the Austrian service portfolio should trigger the rapid development of the business. Conversely, as the circular economy grows (even trading companies are now planning to have their own recycling facilities), the Austria-based know-how in turret and foam firefighting systems is increasingly attractive to the German market, which is why a technology transfer is planned in this area, too.
Further potential synergies can additionally be leveraged in the organization of the two Brandschutz subsidiaries with regard to, for example, IT systems, purchasing and engineering as well as quotation and order processing. A common assembly pool and identical tools are planned in order to ensure the flexible deployment of personnel.
Sprinkler systems will enable us to access the highest-volume market segment and, together with other measures, put us on track for continued growth.”
Bernd Prutsch, Managing Director, Rosenbauer Brandschutz Österreich
Sprinkler systems will enable us to access the highest-volume market segment and, together with other measures, put us on track for continued growth.
Sprinkler heads for water-based extinguishing systems
Expansion of the business
The plan is for Preventive Fire Protection to grow both organically and through acquisitions – and this especially in Germany, where the stated aim is to become among the top five companies in the industry. With around 140 employees and revenues of around € 20 million, Rosenbauer already enjoys an extremely solid foundation for growth. It also already has four locations, with more planned in the future to improve customer proximity. And with its own, robot-assisted hose prefabrication facility for water extinguishing systems, the company enjoys a clear competitive advantage.
The German subsidiary is run by a management team that was newly formed last year and is headed by two highly experienced managers who together have not only boosted earnings but also sparked enthusiasm among the employees for the company’s growth trajectory. And in Austria, a new management team has also been in place since the end of 2021. The Austrian team is keen to start cultivating the sprinkler market in the very near future, its first goal being to achieve the turnaround.