A coupler seal with RFID technology enables digital hose management for fire departments

Oberhaching, August 2026

JMW Fire is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of firefighting fittings and Storz couplings - building on a family tradition of over 100 years in the production of fire protection solutions. The company supplies fire departments, municipalities, critical infrastructure, and industrial customers in more than 50 countries worldwide. Building on this long-standing expertise, JMW Fire has teamed up with RFID specialist smart-TEC to develop a solution that simplifies the digital identification and management of fire hoses and fittings: the Storz seal with integrated RFID technology.

Digitalization is increasingly finding its way into fire departments. With the RFID coupling seal, another solution is now available that enables the unique identification and digital management of fire hoses and fittings on a permanent basis. What makes it unique: The RFID chip is located directly inside the coupling seal, providing reliable protection against external influences.

Traditional labeling methods are reaching their limits

Fire hoses must be inspected and maintained regularly. To ensure traceable documentation, each individual hose must be uniquely identified. Until now, barcodes or QR codes have frequently been used for this purpose. However, these markings can be damaged by dirt, water, heat, or abrasion and may become illegible over time.

The RFID Storz seal takes a new approach. The RFID transponder is integrated directly into the seal of the Storz coupling and is thus located in a protected position within the connection system. Identification is performed using a standard UHF RFID reader through the open side of the coupling. The currently achievable read range is several centimeters.

Easy retrofitting for hoses and fittings

In addition to fire hoses, the RFID Storz seal is also suitable for identifying fittings such as turbo nozzles or other firefighting equipment. This allows not only hoses but also other pieces of equipment to be digitally tracked and inventoried.

A key advantage of the solution is its ease of retrofitting. Existing systems can be digitized without extensive modifications by replacing the existing seal with an RFID-equipped Storzdichtung.

Pilot projects already in use

The RFID coupler seal is available for coupling systems compliant with DIN 14333, DIN 14334, and DIN 14335 and can be manufactured from various elastomer materials depending on requirements. Its service life is equivalent to that of a conventional coupler seal.

The RFID flange gasket provides fire departments with a robust and future-proof solution for digitally tracking maintenance and inspection processes, simplifying inventory management, and transparently documenting the operational readiness of their equipment over the long term.