FDIC 2026 previews gear

FDIC International 2026 is shaping up as a product-launch week, with truck builders and protective-gear makers using the Indianapolis show to roll out new equipment. (fdic.com) The conference runs April 20-25 in Indianapolis, with the main exhibition April 23-25 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. The official schedule says the opening ceremony will mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, with Frank Siller of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation as keynote speaker. (fdic.com) Pierce Manufacturing said April 13 that it will use Booth 4131 to show a Volterra electric pumper, an Enforcer pumper with TAK-4 suspension, and a Velocity pumper built around its Ultimate Configuration pump system. The company also said that Velocity truck will feature a redesigned pump-panel area aimed at improving access and operator workflow. (piercemfg.com) Lakeland Fire + Safety said April 14 that its new FireFlex Elite L-100 structural firefighting boot has achieved National Fire Protection Association 1970:2025 certification and is open for pre-orders ahead of the show. Lakeland said production is starting now to fill those orders, with a second certified boot planned for mid- to late fall 2026 and a third within about a year. (stocktitan.net) That certification matters because National Fire Protection Association 1970 is the standard that governs whether structural firefighting gear meets current safety requirements. Fire Engineering’s report on Lakeland’s launch said the 2025 version consolidates requirements for firefighting boots and calls for third-party certification, minimum height, melt-resistant soles, flame-resistant components, and puncture protection. (fireengineering.com) FDIC has long been the place where departments compare trucks, tools, and protective clothing in person before making purchases that can lock in budgets for years. The 2026 registration page is already pitching group plans for departments starting at three attendees, underscoring the show’s role as a buying trip as much as a training conference. (fdic.com) The conference is also tying product traffic to memorial and fundraising events. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation said it will host “A Night of Honor” on April 23 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom and the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on April 24 at Lucas Oil Stadium. (firehero.org) The foundation said the stair climb benefits the Fire Department of New York Counseling Services Unit and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation programs for families of fallen firefighters. It is also maintaining booth space at the show floor during FDIC week. (firehero.org) By the time exhibitors open on April 23, FDIC 2026 will be carrying two parallel tracks: a sales floor packed with new apparatus and protective equipment, and a conference program built around remembrance 25 years after September 11. (fdic.com)