04.11.2024
“It’s strange, they’re at war, and they came to the exhibition! Is Ukraine ready for fire-fighting innovations now?” – this phrase Alex Kim, our partner from svt Products GmbH, and I heard in one of the pavilions of the Security Essen exhibition. It was said by the director of a large European company specializing in protection systems for large facilities. We had just talked to him about his products. I could go back and tell you why I think it’s necessary to look for and bring modern fire-fighting and civil protection systems to Ukraine right now, but I decided not to waste my time. Especially since I found many like-minded people at the exhibition who understand our needs.
The “Secure your business” exhibition in the city of Essen has been gathering companies specializing in civil protection for 50 years. This is a global event in the field of security, where special systems, equipment, and means are presented, including for the police and special services. This year it was held in eight pavilions, one of which was entirely dedicated to fire protection.
War and changing trends: focus on anti-drone protection
Did the war in Ukraine affect the global security market? Yes, and significantly. This was noticeable in the means and products presented by the exhibition participants.
For example, if we talk about fire safety, then there has been a significant increase in wireless remote control systems. Leading companies from Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Turkey, and Slovenia presented addressable automatic fire alarm and notification systems, aspiration sensors, and gas detection sensors.
Special equipment in explosion-proof enclosures, modular addressable alarm systems, and gas extinguishing control systems deserved special attention.
As for security measures in general, all companies working with the military industry pay great attention to drones and anti-drone protection. A small drone, which costs one and a half thousand euros, can destroy a tank worth several million, or a building, cause a collapse at a large enterprise.
One of the German companies, which actively cooperates with Israel, Scandinavian countries, presented a very powerful project: a system that literally hacks the “brain” of a drone and controls it, providing a dome of protection 6 km up and 6 km around the perimeter. Tests have already been carried out on all types of drones, except those carrying explosives.
A company from the UK has developed an automatic fence system with video surveillance. It is mounted as quickly as possible, like a designer, and is located around the perimeter of large facilities: airports, enterprises.
All these systems would be useful for strengthening the security of Ukrainian industrial and energy facilities right now. Would it be expensive to protect our energy facilities? I would say that this is a good price and this price is justified taking into account the realities.
Fire protection: a course for autonomy
Since the main focus of “Spetszahyst” is fire protection equipment and systems, I was interested in innovations in this area. In particular, among autonomous fire extinguishing equipment.
Two European companies introduced us to their developments, which, in my opinion, Ukraine needs. These are autonomous systems that can extinguish fires in electrical cabinets! mobile communication stations! trains, airplanes, cars, agricultural machinery.
And also – passive protection systems for control panels at large energy facilities, including nuclear power plants.
In Ukraine, this can be used on all electrical equipment of various types. It is important that these systems have the ability to work even during blackouts and perform high-quality autonomous extinguishing, which is very important in our realities.
Fire detection systems are also needed at the early stages. At the exhibition, my partners and I saw the latest developments equipped with spectral autonomous and wireless sensors. They are capable of detecting all fire spectra, even those specific to chemical fires, when the flame is blue or almost transparent.
It is important that all this equipment is already certified in Europe and the world and currently there are no obstacles to using it here – the Ukrainian regulatory framework in this area is maximally adapted to European standards.
Finally, I would like to note: most of the representatives of the companies that I met during the exhibition understand that Ukraine is serious about fire safety in general and at strategic enterprises in particular.
And at least 40% of the companies that we spoke with are already ready to come to Ukraine and participate in work to improve the safety of industrial facilities and critical infrastructure.
