Since 2002 Beaver Protection Systems develops and markets mobile storm and flood protection. The company, based in Grosswangen/LU, Switzerland, is today the market leader in the areas of storm and flood protection as well as training/education/instruction in preparation for disaster protection.
Beaver Protection Systems is an owner-managed company with sales partners and agents in countries worldwide. They still have lots of space for new cooperations. The company is replacing sandbags and their systems are working with water against water.
Interview with Philipp Wolff, CEO of Beaver Protection Systems AG.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Philipp Wolff: The products of Beaver Protection Systems AG are manufactured by various companies with many years of experience in storm and flood protection. When it comes to the safety of our customers, we make no compromises. Accordingly, we work very closely with our producers and count on Swiss and EU-Quality works.
The orange Beaver hose dam is by far the best-selling mobile, location-independent storm and flood protection system. In over a thousand emergency operations, the protective hoses have already prevented or reduced hundreds of millions of euros in damage. Over 1500,000 linear meters sold protect our customers from disasters and prevent and reduce immense financial losses.
What’s the news about new products/services?
P.W: climate more and more the heavy rain falls and flash floods will be the future. These events occur without prewarning time, unplanned and immediately. For this moment new technologies are needed. Our LENOIR Barrier are the fastest barriers. You roll it out and it works.
What are the ranges of products/services?
P.W: We are developing and producing flood, heavy rain falls and flash flood protection systems. We advise on-site, technical, tactical and concerning logistics. We work as consultants and show possible solutions. We also manage entire projects from the initial consultation, training, education, procurement of all resources and clarification regarding risks.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
P.W: Our main customers are fire departments, civil protection and municipalities. The decision-making process is sometimes lengthy, especially when household budgets are tight. The market will change as global warming increases. In the future, insurance companies will withdraw and transfer responsibility to owners. We can only explain the background, provide training, show solutions and offer support. However, everyone has to take precautions themselves.
More and more private people or companies need to take care about themselves and their belongings, as the government will not have enough capacities and the insurances will not any longer cover all damages.
What can you tell us about market trends?
P.W: Preparing for environmental disasters will become essential in the future. Even after the summer of 2024, I maintain that Europe has been spared compared to other continents and countries. We must learn to deal with it, live with it and prepare for it as best we can. One can also ask why these events are constantly increasing and becoming more severe.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
P.W: That’s difficult to say. There are already many systems against flooding, high water, heavy rain and flash flooding in the market. Many factors come together in disaster protection. In order to be able to protect the population and the infrastructure at the exact moment when all factors come together, good planning is required. Various systems must be available in sufficient quantities from stock and people need to be trained. It will be needed that everybody works together.
I think our BEAVER dam is still very innovative. Our system can be easily installed by just a few people without heavy equipment. (100 meters in an hour). Our Beaver dam and our Lenoir barrier can be deployed on uneven ground. Many of the other systems in the market are only constructed for even flat ground, what can become dangerous. During a disaster situation this can be risky, when emergency services deploy such an inflexible system on a wrong underground. Every system has its area of existence in a corresponding situation. However, since you won’t have enough stock of all systems, you have to focus on flexible systems.
What estimations do you have for the beginning of 2025?
P.W: We hope that people learn something from the last events and prepare themselves.