A New Era Has Begun: Holík Unveils Complete Firefighter Protection at Interschutz 2026

Interschutz 2026 marked Holík’s first public appearance in its new visual identity. The decision to adopt a bold green color paid off, as the stand was instantly recognizable in Hannover’s packed halls and naturally drew attention. The rebranding received very positive feedback from partners and long-time customers who know the brand well.

A powerful moment at the trade fair was also experienced by the company’s founder and owner, Ivo Holík. He first attended Interschutz in 2005 with a small table and fourteen glove models. Twenty-one years later, he stood at the center of his own 137 m² booth, where the company showcased almost complete firefighter protection system from gloves and footwear to its own turnout gear.

“I am incredibly proud – not only of how the stand looked, but above all of the entire team. Every detail, every meeting, every interaction with visitors showed how far we have come over the years. Seeing Holík at this level among the world’s top players was a deeply personal moment for me,” said Ivo Holík, founder and owner of the company.

Distributors from all over the world stopped by the stand, including visitors from Europe as well as Australia, Venezuela, Chile, Canada, and Taiwan. The sales team barely had a moment to pause, with the number of business leads climbing to nearly four hundred. Visitors showed strong interest in the facelifted line of leather gloves as well as the new advanced Marble glove. In the footwear segment, the Firra model with cut protection and the new low-cut firefighting boot Verra stood out. The newest addition to Holík’s portfolio – protective clothing – also attracted significant attention.

“We were also very pleased by the strong interest from our domestic market. Every Czech firefighter at the stand wanted to see the Czech turnout gear,” said Sales Director Petr Ovčáček.

This was further confirmed by a viral trade fair video featuring Holík Czech ambassador @hasicka_simca, which was viewed by nearly 80,000 people. The booth also included a media corner with a photo booth and instant photo printing. Simple idea that became one of the stand’s biggest attractions. A strong role was also played by active social media engagement: the team shared real-time updates, reaching over 300,000 cumulative views of content from the Holík stand.

Collaborating German influencers @firecross_ and @sophia_firefighter created such engaging content that German firefighting celebrity Anike Ekina, followed by 2 million people, also visited the stand and tried on the Vespid gloves. Cooperation with key industry media, such as Feuerwehr Magazine and the International Fire and Safety Journal, ensured professional coverage that will continue long after the trade fair. Another highlight was the company’s appearance at an expert forum focused on wildfire issues.

“Speaking at the Interschutz Wildfire Forum was one of the most important moments of the trade fair for me. It confirmed that our approach—being a partner to firefighters through dialogue—truly makes sense,” added Holík CEO Tomáš Pekař.

Not only in terms of numbers but also from a product perspective, the trade fair was historic for the company. Holík International presented its first collection of firefighter turnout gear, becoming one of the few manufacturers in the world with in-house development of gloves, footwear, and protective clothing under one roof.

“The positive response to our new products exceeded our expectations,” said Sales Director Ovčáček.

Besides the turnout clothing, visitors showed the greatest interest in the Firra footwear with the long-awaited Level 2 cut protection and the technologically advanced Marble leather gloves.

Photogallery:

Stand Interschutz Wildfire Forum International Fire and Safety Journal Holík history at Interschutz Influencers and media

Holík International at Interschutz:

2005 First participation – shared stand with Dönges. A small table, 14 glove models.
2010 First own stand, approx. 20 m².
2015 Firefighting footwear introduced alongside gloves for the first time.
2022 New rescue glove collection, plus a footwear try-on area.
2026 Record stand size of 137 m². Complete gear range, new visual identity, first collection of turnout gear.