HURST Jaws of Life

What HURST Jaws of Life does

HURST Jaws of Life is a Shelby, North Carolina-based manufacturer of emergency rescue and extrication tools serving fire departments, law enforcement, and military customers globally. Founded in 1974 by George Hurst — the original inventor of the "Jaws of Life" rescue tool — the company has operated for over 50 years and functions as a wholly-owned business unit within IDEX Corporation's IDEX Fire & Safety Group, alongside brands such as Akron Brass, Hale Products, LUKAS, Vetter, Weldon, Class1, Godiva, and SAM. HURST is the DHS #1-ranked extrication tool brand in the U.S. and a category-defining name in the fire-rescue market.

The company sells a portfolio of hydraulic and battery-powered rescue equipment — cutters, spreaders, rams, combi tools, and the StrongArm tactical breaching tool — backed by NFPA 1960 2024 compliance and a 10-year warranty in the U.S./Canada. Its E3 CONNECT line represents the industry's first cloud-connected extrication tools, transmitting tool-use, alert, and battery telemetry via Wi-Fi into the proprietary Captium connected operations platform. Captium IQ, launching May 2026, adds an AI Technician module that performs anomaly detection and predictive analytics over this telemetry to deliver guided service workflows and reduce downtime. FireLink extends the connected ecosystem into vehicle health monitoring for fire apparatus.

HURST operates a hybrid revenue model: one-time hardware sales through authorized dealers, OEM partners, and direct website purchasing, plus an emerging Captium subscription layer and a Trade-In/Trade-Up program offering up to $6,000 toward E3 CONNECT upgrades. Go-to-market relies on a global authorized dealer network, the FDIC International trade show, content marketing, and the Green Cross first-responder recognition program. End customers are predominantly government entities — municipal and volunteer fire departments, SWAT/tactical units, and military — making the business sensitive to government procurement cycles and standards, but with no meaningful single-customer concentration.

Name

HURST Jaws of Life

Legal name

Hurst Jaws of Life, Inc.

Website

https://jawsoflife.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

HURST Jaws of Life manufactures hydraulic and battery-powered extrication rescue tools — cutters, spreaders, rams, combi tools — and the cloud-connected Captium platform for fire departments, law enforcement, and military customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Rescue Equipment / Fire & Rescue Tools

NAICS

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Lifting Systems (Hydraulic Gantries, Strand Jacks, Jacking Systems) (IMAHAJAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Hydraulic rescue tools
• Extrication equipment
• Battery-powered cutters
• Connected fire rescue platform
• Tactical breaching tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Shelby

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Rescue Tool Hardware Sales: Sale of high-performance rescue tools including cutters, spreaders, rams, and combi tools. Products available in various configurations with optional battery packages and extensions.
2. Captium Subscription Services: Cloud-connected platform subscription for equipment monitoring, diagnostics, and data insights. Mobile app available to Captium subscribers with future integrations for connected equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HURST Jaws of Life manufactures and sells hydraulic and battery-powered emergency rescue extrication tools — cutters, spreaders, rams, combi tools, and tactical breaching tools — for fire departments, law enforcement, and military first responders worldwide. Its hardware portfolio (E3 CONNECT, E3, E2, Tactical product families) is paired with the Captium cloud-connected operations platform and the Captium IQ AI Technician that provide equipment health monitoring, predictive diagnostics, and automated maintenance workflows.

Product overview

HURST Jaws of Life offers a comprehensive portfolio of rescue tools and connected technology solutions. The core product lines include E3 CONNECT (the industry's first cloud-connected extrication tools), E3, and E2 battery-operated rescue tool families, encompassing Cutters, Spreaders, Rams, Combi Tools, and Tactical breaching tools. These hardware products are complemented by the Captium connected operations platform, which provides critical data insights for vehicle and tool monitoring. The Captium platform includes an AI-powered module called Captium IQ that delivers real-time diagnostics and guided service workflows. Additional offerings include the SAM Advanced Waterflow system for pump operations, FireLink vehicle monitoring, Vetter lifting bags, and proprietary batteries and accessories. The portfolio also features a trade-in program offering up to $6,000 toward E3 CONNECT upgrades. A 10-year warranty (US/Canada) and 2-year international warranty support the product line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• E3 CONNECT: Industry's first cloud-connected extrication tool line with Wi-Fi data transmission and Captium integration
• E3
• E2
• Tactical
• Captium
• Captium IQ
• StrongArm
• The Green Cross
• SAM (Smart Assistant for Maintenance/Waterflow)

Products and services

• E3 CONNECT Rescue Tools Industry's first cloud-connected extrication tool line. Cordless battery-powered rescue tools with smart sensors that record and transmit tool performance data to the Captium cloud platform via Wi-Fi, enabling early fault detection and automated documentation. Targeted at fire and rescue departments.
• E3 Battery-Powered Rescue Tools Battery-powered rescue tool family with advanced performance features for extrication and rescue operations, including 40-inch spreading distance M40 spreader. Targeted at fire and rescue departments.
• E2 Battery-Operated Rescue Tools Second-generation battery-operated rescue tool series offering cordless power and smart tool feedback for faster deployment on scene. Targeted at fire and rescue departments.
• Captium Connected Operations Platform First connected operations platform explicitly engineered for fire and rescue vehicles and tools. Provides critical data insights to address issues proactively, maximize equipment uptime, and extend tool lifecycle. Available by subscription.
• Captium IQ AI Technician Industry-first AI Technician feature within the Captium platform. Provides real-time diagnostic support, guided service workflows, and data-informed insights to help technicians reduce downtime and extend equipment life. Available to Captium subscribers.
• Rescue Cutters High-performance rescue cutters for cutting through vehicle materials during extrication. Includes S 378, S 789, and S 799 E3 Connect models. Targeted at fire and rescue departments.
• Rescue Spreaders Hydraulic and battery-powered spreaders for creating gaps in vehicle structures during rescue operations. Includes M40 40-inch spreader, SP 333, SP 555, and SP 777 E3 Connect models. Targeted at fire and rescue departments.
• Rescue Rams Hydraulic rams for lifting and spreading vehicle components during extrication. Includes CR 522 and R 521 E3 Connect models, plus R 320 Mini Ram. Targeted at fire and rescue departments.
• Combi Tools Combination rescue tools that perform both cutting and spreading functions. Includes SC 358, SC 258, and SC 758 E3 Connect combi tools. Targeted at fire, rescue, and tactical users.
• StrongArm Tactical Breaching Tool Portable hydraulic breaching tool for law enforcement and military. Features Picatinny accessory rail, four-position handle, IP54 protection rating. Cuts 3/8 inch rebar, Grade 43 chain, and 2x4 wood. Available in blue for fire market and black for law enforcement. Includes two Li-Ion rechargeable batteries and charger. NFPA 1960 2024 Compliant.
• Tactical Tools Compact, lightweight tactical tools offering stealth, control, and power for law enforcement and special operations. Targeted at SWAT and military units.
• HURST Proprietary Batteries Proprietary batteries delivering reliable, high-performance power built for the fireground — rugged, long-lasting, and ready for any rescue. Targeted at fire and rescue departments using HURST tools.
• Vetter Lifting Bags Lifting bags and rescue equipment for heavy lifting operations. Targeted at fire and rescue departments.
• FireLink Vehicle Health Monitoring Vehicle health monitoring system powered by Captium. Provides comprehensive health monitoring of chassis, electrical controllers, multiplexing systems, GPS tracking, and sends instant notifications for trouble codes. Targeted at fire department fleet managers.
• SAM Advanced Waterflow System Integrated Total Water Control System (Smart Assistant for Maintenance/Waterflow) that assists pump operators in managing waterflow, integrating with traditional water pumps to free operators to focus on the fireground. Targeted at fire departments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to $6,000 trade-in credit toward new E3 CONNECT equipment

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• IDEX Fire & Safety GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHURST Jaws of Life is a business unit of IDEX Corporation, operating as part of IDEX Fire & Safety Group alongside other brands including Akron Brass, Hale Products, LUKAS, Vetter, Weldon, and others.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Holmatro: Netherlands-based global leader in hydraulic rescue and industrial tooling. Offers cutters, spreaders, rams, and combi tools to fire and rescue customers worldwide with a comparable product line, warranty structure, and channel-led GTM to HURST.
• Weber Rescue Systems: Germany-based manufacturer of hydraulic rescue equipment for fire departments and technical rescue services. Competes directly with HURST in spreaders, cutters, and combi tools, particularly in European and international tenders.
• LUKAS: German-headquartered manufacturer of hydraulic rescue tools (cutters, spreaders, rams) sold to fire, rescue, and tactical customers worldwide. A direct product and customer overlap with HURST Jaws of Life and, notably, also a business unit of IDEX Fire & Safety Group — making it the closest in-portfolio comparator.
• Amkus: US manufacturer of rescue tools (cutters, spreaders, rams) and industrial air tools, serving fire/rescue, military, and industrial markets. Direct overlap on extrication products and US municipal fire department customers.

Broad incumbents

• Class 1: Manufacturer of electronic controls, multiplexing systems, and displays for fire apparatus; sibling brand within IDEX Fire & Safety Group. Common OEM customer base and complement to HURST's Captium/FireLink connected truck ecosystem.
• Vetter: Manufacturer of lifting bags, pneumatic tools, and rescue equipment sold under the HURST dealer network. Sister brand within IDEX Fire & Safety Group, sharing the parent and overlapping channels with HURST Jaws of Life.
• Akron Brass: Manufacturer of firefighting nozzles, monitors, and electronic controls for fire apparatus; sibling brand within IDEX Fire & Safety Group. Same OEM customer base and Spec-In procurement process as HURST.
• Hale Products: US manufacturer of fire pumps, foam systems, and fire truck components, also part of IDEX Fire & Safety Group. Adjacent customer base (municipal fire departments and OEMs) and shared dealer footprint enable bundled truck-level solutions alongside HURST tools.

Emerging players

• Geotab: Provider of fleet management and telematics hardware/software, including vehicle health and GPS tracking. Functional overlap with Captium/FireLink on the connected-truck and predictive-maintenance dimension that HURST is building with E3 CONNECT.
• Samsara: IoT platform for fleet telematics, asset monitoring, and equipment health. Competes with HURST's Captium platform on connected-vehicle data capture and predictive insights for public-sector fleets, though from a broader commercial-fleet starting point rather than rescue-specific tooling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hurstjawsoflife
• Facebookfacebook.com/hurstjawsoflife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hurst-jaws-of-life
• Instagraminstagram.com/hurstjawsoflife

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HURST Jaws of Life