Patrick Allinger, Product Manager at WEBER RESCUE SYSTEMS, talks about some of the key features of the company’s newest extrication solutions.
Technical rescue equipment has always been judged primarily by what happens at the point of contact. For a cutter, that means its ability to deal safely and effectively with the increasingly demanding materials rescuers encounter during vehicle extrication.
WEBER RESCUE SYSTEMS combines the cutting performance of its CUTTER RSC 200 with SMART FORCE OS, bringing equipment data, training, service and security into one connected rescue platform.
The solutions which were officially unveiled at Interschutz 2026 combine mechanical capability with a growing digital infrastructure. The CUTTER RSC 200 pairs high performance cutting technology with the SMART FORCE platform, while the newly introduced SMART FORCE OS extends connectivity across operations, training, maintenance and equipment management.
The CUTTER RSC 200 has an opening width of 202mm and uses WEBER RESCUE SYSTEMS’ SMOOTH CUT technology, developed to provide smooth, low stress and safe cutting behaviour. The cutter also incorporates forged blades and replaceable blade inserts designed particularly for cutting modern vehicles containing high strength materials.
The significance of those inserts is both operational and financial. According to WEBER RESCUE SYSTEMS, damaged inserts can be replaced within two minutes, including at the scene, rather than requiring replacement of the complete blade.
The forged construction is intended to provide additional confidence when a cutter rolls or encounters difficult material. The inserts provide the hard cutting surface required for modern vehicle steels, while allowing a damaged component to be replaced independently.
For firefighters, this approach addresses a practical reality of contemporary extrication. Cutting tools must deliver sufficient power, but that performance also needs to be controlled and predictable when crews are operating close to casualties, other responders and unstable vehicle structures.
How Smart FORCE OS enhances digital connectivity
That operational focus now extends into SMART FORCE OS. The platform connects rescue equipment with a control app, location services and device management software. It allows equipment status, pressure readings and battery levels to be monitored, while training exercises and operations can be documented digitally.
The concept is about effectively placing mobile computing capability inside the battery driven SMART FORCE equipment. This enables information from the tool to support not only firefighters, but also technicians responsible for keeping equipment operational.
One application is theft protection. SMART FORCE OS incorporates location technology and can deactivate equipment when tampering or unusual behaviour is detected. When theft mode is activated, the system can transmit its location at intervals for up to ten days, using an internal backup battery and localisation through GPS, Wi-Fi and LTE.
Patrick Allinger, Product Manager at WEBER RESCUE SYSTEMS, points to Berlin’s fire brigade as an example of customer adoption, stating that the brigade replaced its fleet following problems with equipment theft and highlighting the anti theft functionality as a significant factor.