What Madison Fire & Rescue does

Madison Fire & Rescue is a privately held, multi-brand industrial platform that designs, manufactures, and distributes fire suppression equipment, rescue tools, SCBA systems, and wildland firefighting equipment. The company's portfolio includes Holmatro (high-pressure hydraulic rescue tools, headquartered in the Netherlands), AMKUS Rescue Systems (life-saving rescue tools for first responders and motorsports), Task Force Tips (firefighting nozzles and monitors, manufactured in Valparaiso, Indiana), Fire Fighting Systems (large-scale marine and land firefighting systems), WATERAX (North America's leading wildland firefighting equipment producer, headquartered in Montreal), and—following the March 2026 transaction—Scott Safety (SCBA and personal protective equipment, in continuous production since 1945). Products are engineered for mission-critical life-safety applications and include notable differentiated technology such as the Holmatro T1 Forcible Entry Tool, the Task Force Tips Flex firefighting monitor, the WATERAX MARK-3 pump (the only wildland solution approved by the USDA Forest Service), and the Scott Safety Air-Pak SCBA. The portfolio collectively holds more than 50 patents and is backed by 8 manufacturing facilities spanning over 675,000 square feet across 5 countries.

Madison Fire & Rescue generates revenue through hardware sales to fire departments, rescue teams, municipalities, aircraft manufacturers, oil refineries, chemical plants, industrial facilities, motorsports organizations, and government agencies worldwide. The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining brand-specific direct enterprise sales teams with established global dealer networks, reaching customers in over 150 countries. Pricing is quote-based for enterprise and government buyers and not publicly disclosed. The company was built through a roll-up strategy under Madison Industries, which acquired WATERAX in 2022, and was subsequently sold in March 2026 to a joint venture of 3M (50.1%) and Bain Capital (49.9%) for $1.95 billion, with 3M contributing its Scott Safety business and receiving $700 million in cash at closing.

Following the transaction, Madison Fire & Rescue operates as a combined entity under continuing leadership from CEO Kristofer Howard, merging fire suppression and rescue brands with Scott Safety's SCBA solutions to create a scaled fire and safety platform serving first responders globally. The company is headquartered at 1 Tower Lane, Oak Brook, Illinois, employs over 700 people, and continues to operate under the Madison Fire & Rescue brand.

Name

Madison Fire & Rescue

Legal name

Madison Fire & Rescue

Website

https://madisonfire.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Madison Fire & Rescue is a multi-brand industrial platform that designs, manufactures, and distributes fire suppression equipment, hydraulic rescue tools, SCBA systems, and wildland firefighting equipment through brands including Holmatro, AMKUS, Task Force Tips, WATERAX, and Scott Safety, serving fire departments, municipalities, industrial facilities, and government agencies in over 150 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire and Rescue Equipment

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Integration (BPAKAGAF), Fire Protection Systems Contracting (Sprinklers, Alarms, Suppression) (IMAFALAD)

Keywords

• Fire rescue equipment
• Hydraulic rescue tools
• Fire suppression systems
• SCBA breathing apparatus
• Wildland firefighting pumps

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Brook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fire and Rescue Equipment Sales: Madison Fire & Rescue generates revenue through the sale of fire suppression equipment, rescue tools, SCBA systems, firefighting monitors, pumps, and related safety products to first responders, fire departments, municipalities, and industrial facilities worldwide. Products are sold under portfolio brands including Holmatro, AMKUS, Task Force Tips, Waterax, Fire Fighting Systems, and Scott Safety.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Madison Fire & Rescue manufactures and sells a portfolio of fire suppression and rescue equipment under brands including Holmatro (hydraulic rescue tools), AMKUS (rescue tools for first responders), Task Force Tips (firefighting nozzles and monitors), Fire Fighting Systems (large-scale marine and land firefighting systems), WATERAX (wildland firefighting pumps), and Scott Safety (SCBA and personal protective equipment). The company serves fire departments, rescue teams, municipalities, and industrial customers globally with products sold in more than 150 countries.

Product overview

Madison Fire & Rescue is a portfolio company comprising multiple industry-leading fire and rescue brands that collectively serve firefighters, first responders, and industrial workers globally. The company brings together complementary product lines including AMKUS for rescue tools, Fire Fighting Systems for large-scale firefighting systems, Holmatro for hydraulic rescue and industrial solutions, Scott Safety for SCBA and personal protective equipment, Task Force Tips for nozzles and monitors, and WATERAX for wildland firefighting pumps. This multi-brand ecosystem allows the company to serve fire departments, rescue teams, municipalities, aircraft manufacturers, racing teams, oil refineries, chemical plants, and industrial facilities in 150 countries with a comprehensive range of life-saving and property-protecting equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Holmatro: Global leader in high-pressure hydraulic rescue tools and industrial solutions for life-saving rescue, special tactics, and industrial applications. Based in the Netherlands with facilities in the US and China, products sold in over 160 countries.
• AMKUS Rescue Systems
• Task Force Tips (TFT)
• Fire Fighting Systems (FFS)
• WATERAX
• Scott Safety

Products and services

• AMKUS Rescue Systems Life-saving rescue tools for first responders, manufactured and assembled in the United States. AMKUS has supplied rescue tools to NASCAR, NHRA, and World of Outlaws racing organizations for over 40 years to equip track safety teams.
• Fire Fighting Systems (FFS) Global leader in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of large firefighting systems for both marine and land applications. Offers pumps with drivers, gearboxes, firewater monitors, foam proportioners, deluge systems, and remote control systems.
• Holmatro Mission-critical, innovative high-pressure hydraulic solutions for life-saving rescue, special tactics, and industrial applications. Products are sold in over 160 countries through facilities in the Netherlands, US, and China, including the T1 Forcible Entry Tool that combines breach, cut, and lift capabilities.
• Scott Safety Trusted name in personal protective equipment since 1945, beginning with the first Air-Pak SCBA for firefighting. Products include SCBA, thermal imagers, voice communication devices, and firefighter accountability systems serving fire, industrial, and military professionals worldwide.
• Task Force Tips (TFT) Designs and manufactures innovative firefighting nozzles, monitors, and related equipment in Valparaiso, Indiana. TFT's nozzles self-adjust to varying hose line pressures to maintain correct nozzle pressure, including the Flex™ Master Stream Firefighting Monitor with low-friction-loss design.
• WATERAX North America's leading producer of wildland firefighting equipment, with the flagship MARK-3® pump being the only solution approved by the USDA Forest Service for wildland firefighting. The company exports to over 50 countries worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Amkus has supplied rescue tools to NASCAR for 40 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• 3M (Scott Safety)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 20263M contributed its Scott Safety business to the new joint venture and received $700 million in cash proceeds. Scott Safety SCBA solutions are being merged with Madison Fire & Rescue's fire suppression and rescue brands including Holmatro, AMKUS, and Task Force Tips to create a scaled fire and safety business serving first responders globally.
• NASCARcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAMKUS Rescue Systems, a Madison Fire & Rescue brand, has partnered with NASCAR for over 40 years to equip safety teams across the track with versatile rescue tools - keeping fans, drivers, first responders, and communities safe.
• NHRAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAMKUS Rescue Systems partners with NHRA to equip safety teams with versatile rescue tools for motorsport racing events.
• World of OutlawscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAMKUS Rescue Systems partners with World of Outlaws to equip safety teams with versatile rescue tools for racing events.
• USDA Forest ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWATERAX's MARK-3® pump is the only wildland firefighting solution approved by the USDA Forest Service, establishing it as the #1 in wildland firefighting globally.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• REV Group: US-listed manufacturer of fire trucks and emergency vehicles, including E-ONE, KME, and Hale Products (pumps). Comparable as a portfolio of fire and rescue equipment brands serving municipal fire departments and industrial customers.
• MSA Safety: Manufacturer of SCBA, thermal imaging, gas detection, and firefighter PPE. Closely comparable in the SCBA and personal protective equipment categories that overlap with Scott Safety and Madison Fire & Rescue's product lines.
• Dräger: German manufacturer of safety equipment including SCBA, gas detection, and firefighter rescue equipment. Comparable in core life-safety product categories for first responders and industrial safety.
• Rosenbauer International: Global manufacturer of firefighting vehicles, pumps, monitors, and rescue equipment. Directly comparable as a multi-brand, multi-geography fire safety equipment manufacturer serving the same municipal, industrial, and airport firefighting end markets.
• Pierce Manufacturing (Oshkosh): Leading US manufacturer of custom fire trucks and fire apparatus serving municipal and industrial customers. Comparable in fire-rescue equipment, particularly integrated pump and monitor systems sold to fire departments.
• Elkhart Brass: Manufacturer of firefighting monitors, nozzles, and valves for municipal and industrial fire protection. Comparable as a specialty supplier of fire water delivery equipment, overlapping with Task Force Tips and FFS product lines.
• Akron Brass: Manufacturer of firefighting nozzles, monitors, valves, and electronic waterflow equipment. Closely comparable in the nozzles and firefighting monitor categories that overlap with Task Force Tips.
• W.S. Darley & Co. US-based distributor and manufacturer of firefighting, EMS, and rescue equipment serving municipal and federal customers. Comparable as a fire and rescue equipment provider to the same first-responder customer base.

Broad incumbents

• IDEX Corporation: Diversified manufacturer of fluidics, pumps, and fire/dust suppression systems. Comparable through its fire suppression and specialty pump businesses, though it operates much more broadly across industrial and medical markets.
• Honeywell Safety: Diversified industrial conglomerate with a broad safety portfolio (PPE, gas detection, hearing protection). Competes in adjacent categories but at much larger scale and across many non-fire safety verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 records

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 Madison Fire & Rescue