Ballyclare brings collaborative fire kit solutions to The Emergency Services Show

Ballyclare, UK designer and manufacturer of firefighter PPE, will be showcasing its latest range of innovative protective clothing and highlighting its collaborative approach to customer solutions at The Emergency Services Show on 17-18 September 2025.  

In a special Supplier Session, Philip Tasker, Global Sales Lead for Fire & Security, will share how the company works closely with fire and rescue services (FRSs) across the UK and Europe, designing and supplying quality PPE to meet the needs of more than 38,000 firefighters.

He will be joined by Edward Shepherd, Supply Chain Lead, to discuss the benefits of in-house manufacturing for ensuring rigorous quality control and timely delivery, as well as the provision of professional managed services for ongoing aftercare. The session will focus on evolving firefighter expectations, the balance between innovation and durability, and how Ballyclare helps FRSs achieve value when faced with budget pressures.   

At the Ballyclare stand, visitors will be able to view the latest innovations in its role-specific Xenon range, tailored to meet the particular needs and preferences of each customer. This includes full structural kit, currently worn by All Wales, All Yorkshire and North West FRSs and popular across the Netherlands and Germany; its multi-function rescue jacket for non-fire related operations, favoured by All Yorkshire and Gloucestershire FRSs; and its Xenon Terra wildland kit popular across Europe, with a bespoke version developed in collaboration with the Polish Government.

“At Ballyclare, we recognise that every fire and rescue service has unique operational requirements and preferences. That’s why we work in close partnership with our customers, listening to their needs, trialling solutions and continuously refining our designs. 

“Our recent North West contract award is a strong endorsement of this approach and the trust services place in us. This collaborative model ensures our PPE delivers innovation, durability and value, giving firefighters protection and performance they can rely on.”

Philip Tasker, Global Sales Lead for Fire & Security, Ballyclare.

Also on display will be the brand-new Xenon technical rescue kit recently selected for a major new North West contract with FRSs from Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, together representing more than 5,800 firefighters.

Ballyclare was chosen as the preferred supplier following a rigorous tender process involving practical user trials, with its Xenon technical rescue kit hitting the mark for quality, comfort and best value. This particular version of the Xenon kit was enhanced to suit the specific requirements of the tender, including the selection of a bright yellow outer fabric for heightened visibility at road traffic incidents.

The ESS Supplier Session ‘How customer collaboration is shaping the future of fire kit’ will take place at The Emergency Services Show at Birmingham’s NEC at 12.30pm on Wednesday 17th September. Ballyclare’s stand is in Hall 5, stand number G226.

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