As we welcome a new year, we’re thrilled to celebrate a monumental milestone: the 15th anniversary of the KrakenEXO®, our premium fire hose product line. Since its launch, KrakenEXO has been synonymous with exceptional performance, reliability, and innovation, earning the trust of firefighters across the globe. This year, we’re embracing the campaign “15 Years Legendary” to honor the impact this product has made on the fire service and to recommit to our mission of delivering continuous innovation.
A Hose That HELPED DEFINE Standards
When we introduced the KrakenEXO 15 years ago, our goal was ambitious yet simple: create a fire hose that exceeds industry standards with superior, all-around performance under the most demanding conditions. We wanted a hose that addressed the most common challenges on the job – packability, weight, flexibility, flow, durability and heat resistance.
Beyond that, we wanted to ensure it not only met, but exceeded the NFPA standards, which is why we prioritize third-party testing & UL listing. We also worked with the NFPA and UL to help develop a test to measure radiant heat resistance.
Thanks to the unwavering support of firefighters and departments who put their trust in our products, the KrakenEXO has proven itself time and again as a legendary tool for those on the frontlines.
A Legendary Collaboration: Lt. Ray McCormack Goes Behind the Lines
To kickstart this milestone year, we're diving into what makes the KrakenEXO (and all our products) so legendary, starting with how it's made. We had the honor of hosting a real firefighting legend – Lt. Ray McCormack (FDNY, retired) – to tour our Montreal facilities and get his first-ever look at how the hose and its couplings are made. Lt. McCormack, who is well-known for building the FDNY’s standpipe pack (which uses our KrakenEXO), experienced first-hand just how much goes into manufacturing our lines from end to end...
Watch the full 10-min interview below (or there's a short version on our socials!)
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 15 years of the KrakenEXO, we’re not just looking back at what we’ve achieved—we’re also looking forward to what’s next. Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do, and our commitment to the fire service remains as strong as ever. Whether it’s enhancing the performance of our hoses, improving firefighter safety, or developing new tools that meet the evolving challenges of the job, we’re driven to keep delivering excellence.
Even with its tested & proven performance, we continued innovation in 2022 releasing the KrakenEXO SUPER II as a 2.25" hybrid size, allowing for maximum flow with minimum weight – addressing the real challenges of the 2.5" line. Currently, we have multiple R&D projects working to enhance the KrakenEXO and continue to meet the needs of the modern fireground. Looking forward to seeing where that takes us.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey with us. Your trust and feedback inspire us to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Here’s to the next 15 years of being legendary—together.
Join the Celebration
We’d love to hear your stories about using the KrakenEXO in the field – and see your lines in action. We also want to hear what you think makes something or someone "legendary" – we'll have more to come on that discussion with some of our good friends in the brotherhood.
Share your experiences on social media using #15YearsLegendary / #BeLegendary and don’t forget to tag us @MercedesTextiles. Let’s celebrate the legacy we’ve built together!
Cheers to 15 legendary years and counting!