Press release
November 01, 2023
“When Magnus first came to us with the RECCO system, we found it interesting that it could locate an avalanche victim very quickly and precisely,” explained Beat Perren, who founded the helicopter rescue company Air Zermatt in 1968.
During this early development phase, the handheld RECCO detector with its associated backpack was heavy — not like the lightweight detectors search-and-rescue teams use today. Despite the weight, the technology sparked interest in both Perren and Jelk. Perren and Jelk’s early investment in the RECCO system started a chain of events in the search-and-rescue world that has led to over 900 partnerships in 32 countries, making the RECCO system a household name.
“I was impressed that the user did not need to carry any active unit with batteries or any similar source of power,” said Perren. At the time, there was nothing like the RECCO system on the market.
In addition to its rescue service, Air Zermatt wanted to improve the whole rescue process in the area. Jelk thought from the start that it would be ideal if people were inherently searchable through their clothing, without the need to carry additional equipment on their person. This sparked the company’s push into integrating reflectors into ski clothing and equipment, with early brand partners putting RECCO reflectors into jackets, pants, and ski boots.
In 2015, Air Zermatt played an important role once again when RECCO debuted the next evolution of its system: the RECCO SAR Helicopter Detector. The helicopter detector allows search-and-rescue teams to search for missing people year-round during all outdoor activities, no matter the season or terrain.
“I was convinced that the possibilities to search would improve significantly with the new helicopter-carried detector,” Perren said. “This was confirmed during tests on the South Face of Monte Rosa where missing victims who weren’t able to be located previously could now be found.”
“There are people that go missing during summer who cannot be located,” Jelk added. “The chances of finding them would improve significantly if they were equipped with reflectors.”
Perren concludes: “RECCO has over the years constantly driven the development forward, which has been very important. Although, the biggest value is that recreationists are equipped with reflectors, which simplifies the search process monumentally.”
RECCO® advanced rescue technology makes outdoor enthusiasts searchable to rescuers in case of an avalanche accident or when lost in the outdoors. The technology builds on a two-part radar system. Rescuers carry RECCO® detectors that send out search signals which are echoed by RECCO® reflectors, carried by the user. RECCO® detectors are used worldwide at more than 900 ski resorts and mountain rescue organizations in 32 countries. RECCO® reflectors are integrated into select apparel, helmets, protection gear and boots manufactured by more than 150 leading outdoor brands. RECCO AB was founded in 1983 in Sweden and is owned by its founder Magnus Granhed and the publicly traded investment company Traction AB (listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm). More info at recco.com
