In the fire service, trust isn’t given — it’s earned. When you’re on the line, your gear has to have your back every time. For nearly 50 years, Mercedes Textiles has built hose with that in mind.
So what sets us apart? Why do departments continue to trust Mercedes Textiles?
It’s simple: we stand on our values.
Standards Matter: We Prove It
Standards keep firefighters safe — and they keep manufacturers accountable. At Mercedes, standards aren’t a sales pitch; they’re our foundation.
Every hose we engineer is put through rigorous in-house testing to ensure top performance. We refuse to build anything that doesn’t live up to your expectations–or ours.
Furthermore, we submit nearly all our hose brands to Underwriters Laboratory (UL) for third-party testing and certification. Not just for your peace of mind, but because we care to verify our claims.
To that end, we believe firefighters deserve full transparency. That’s why we publish every technical spec, pressure rating, and test result openly here on KnowYourHose.com.
No smoke and mirrors. Just proof.
Quality Matters: Built In-House
When you build every hose in-house — jacket to coupling — you control the outcome.
No outsourcing. No mystery materials. No cutting corners.
In fact, we’re the only hose brand that also manufactures couplings, allowing us to innovate for better flow and added features like our WAYOUT arrows.
We prioritize quality to give you innovative tools to do the job safely & effectively. And our warranty guarantees that quality.
Our approach is simple: build it right, or don’t build it at all.
Performance Matters: Because Fire Doesn’t Wait
On the fireground, seconds count. From packability to flow, our hose outperforms when it matters most.
We engineer for superior all-around performance: faster deployment, maximized flow, better handling, and extreme durability. Legendary Performance isn’t a brag; it’s a promise.
We don’t build in a vacuum. We work directly with the fire service to figure out solutions to real-world problems–and that’s exactly how we want it.
As our president Bob Richardson says:
“At Mercedes Textiles, we believe performance is defined by those who rely on it in the field. The insights we receive from firefighters directly influence our engineering decisions and product development. The KrakenEXO SUPER II™ is a direct result of that feedback—built not just to meet industry expectations, but to address the real challenges faced on today’s firegrounds.”
– Bob Richardson, President
People Matter: From Factory Floor to Fireground
People are the core of the fire service. And everything we do is for YOU, so you can do the job for THEM.
This company is owned and run by the people who work here — not foreign investors. We rely on local union labor, a tight-knit sales team, and on-the-ground demo crew. Our firefighter consultants have a passion for the craft (not commissions) and believe in our products.
Together, we push to advance the line. (Seriously – that is our marketing director flowing water in the banner image! We are all in for you.)
And our commitment extends beyond equipment: we sponsor training, support frontline mental health, and advocate for cancer awareness.
Because people matter — in our factory, in our firehouses, and in our communities.
Values Matter: Nearly 50 Years, Still Family-Owned
Standards. Quality. Performance. People. Those aren’t taglines — they’re the values that have guided us since day one.
Mercedes Textiles has been family-owned for almost half a century. That means no outside investors, no shareholders, and no corporate boardrooms telling us how to cut corners to boost margins.
We’ve never been about gimmicks or shortcuts. Just integrity, innovation, and doing the right thing, every time.
Our president Bob is known to say, “I still get excited over just one length of hose, especially if it’s a new department.” And he really does.
You’re On the Line. That Matters to Us.
Departments around the world choose Mercedes because they trust our lines to have their back, to do the job. They trust our commitment to the fire service.
We don’t take that trust for granted. We don’t chase the cheapest way to manufacture. We build gear worthy of the job — and the lives — you protect.
Because you're on the line, and that will always matter to us.