Rheinland-Pfalz – The 21st rescueDAYS, which took place in the Eifel town of Bitburg, came to an end after four eventful days. From 18 to 21 September, more than 800 enthusiastic firefighters, experienced trainers and WEBER employees from more than 40 nations came together to take part in the world’s largest training event for technical rescue services.
At a total of 11 stations, participants received comprehensive training on the use of rescue equipment, including practical tips and tricks for rescue operations.
In addition to the tried-and-tested training content of rescueDAYS ORIGINAL, with rescue scenarios such as rear-end and side collisions, rescue from modern vehicles and freeing people from a car on a barrier, rescueDAYS PLUS was also held again. These stations focused on special scenarios such as truck accidents, accidents involving agricultural vehicles, bus rescue and the safe attachment, pulling and redirection of loads.
The subject of door opening was once again on the agenda. In the one-day seminar, participants learned a wide variety of techniques for tactical door opening.
Realistic rescue from deliberately deformed vehicles
Accidents were prepared in advance for training at the various stations, with around 200 vehicles being deliberately deformed. The WEBER CRASH SYSTEM was used again for this purpose. This system enables vehicles to be purposely crushed using four cylinders that employ different punches. By precisely regulating the pressure, different degrees of damage can be simulated. This allows for extremely realistic re-enactments of accident scenarios without endangering the safety of the operators or relying on the use of construction machinery.
Zero-series vehicles and the latest vehicle technology
Pre-production vehicles from renowned brands BMW and Volkswagen were also used during the training. The use of these brand-new vehicle models was particularly significant as they represent the latest advances in vehicle technology. Due to the high-strength materials used in car bodies and modern safety features, firefighters face completely new challenges when rescuing people from vehicles involved in accidents. This makes it all the more important for emergency services to keep their knowledge up to date.
Working together with the Bitburg-Prüm District Fire Brigade Association
‘Without the active support of our colleagues from the Bitburg-Prüm District Fire Brigade Association and local supporters, a training event of this size would not be possible. We are very grateful for this support,’ said Jens Knospe, project manager of rescueDAYS.
Accompanying trade exhibition
In parallel with the seminars, a number of specialist exhibitors had the opportunity to showcase their extensive range of firefighting equipment products.
Digital highlight
WEBER RESCUE SYSTEMS also presented its broad portfolio at rescueDAYS 2025, with a special focus on digital solutions that support rescue workers in the field and in training. The main focus was on the safety of all those involved.
A key element was our RETTERTAGS, which accompanied first responders throughout the event and enabled them to be quickly identified. These were supplemented by emergency buttons installed at all stations. In an emergency, this meant that an alarm could be triggered within a very short time and help could be provided immediately.
The RETTERAlarm system made it possible to respond quickly and effectively at any time – because in an emergency, every second counts.rescueDAYS 2025 impressively demonstrated how practical training, international exchange and digital solutions can go hand in hand to further increase safety in the field.
For more information please visit: https://www.weber-rescue.com/
About the Author
WEBER-HYDRAULIK GMBH
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM SOLUTIONS
We are a leading international specialist in customized and reliable hydraulic solutions. Reliable and powerful, we have been developing high-quality cylinders, control blocks, steering and suspension systems, valves and power units for mobile machinery, commercial vehicles and machine tools for over 85 years. ️⚙️ As an innovative partner, we realize sophisticated, application-specific system solutions according to customer requirements. An unbeatable performance portfolio for power, movement and dynamics.
