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Partnering September, 2018
PVA and KIRSH Partner to Protect Riders from Brain Injury
By Emma Goldman, KIRSH Helmets A
ccording to the most recent sta- tistics from the National Insur- ance Information Institute, an
average of 5,200 deaths in the U.S. every year are caused by motorcycle accidents. The cause of death in these accidents is frequently brain injury upon impact. KIRSH Helmets of Sch- enectady, New York, has partnered with Precision Valve & Automation (PVA) to develop a system for produc- ing uniform safety helmets for people across many verticals, protecting brains and saving lives. KIRSH Hel- mets is developing a product that pro- vides more for riders across all cate- gories from safety to style.
Patented Silicone Liner What makes the KIRSH helmet
different is its patented FDL™ liner,
filled with a special silicone gel de- signed to keep the rider cool and comfortable and also to reduce angu- lar rotation of the head in the event of a crash. This silicone is mixed and deposited into the liner by PVA ma- chinery, providing repeatable results across the entire manufacturing process. The engineers at PVA specialize
in automation, so while working with KIRSH to find the best solution, the two companies spent many months brainstorming and refining the de- velopment process. Once the final de- cision was reached, both teams were on the same page, with the exact re- sults they were looking for. For a company like KIRSH Hel-
mets, this kind of refinement time is vital. Allowing the design to evolve
and change as more is discovered about technology is a necessity in this ever-changing industry. Making small changes with big impacts, without jeopardizing production quality allows for optimization at every step. The partnership has resulted in
much growth for both companies. When KIRSH star ted out, the com- pany mixed its formulas in a home kitchen, batch by batch. Working with PVA has allowed it to expand on its original process- es and develop far more consis- tency with each new element. PVA’s automated software
For all your workbench needs.
enables the machinery that per- forms the construction to store the information needed to make each helmet lining identical, re- gardless of where it is being made. This also allows for minor alterations throughout the process to be made, without the risk of damaging or altering the product unintentionally. KIRSH creates its products in the U.S. and final assembly is performed by American veterans and those with disabilities.
Further Applications This technology also as-
sists KIRSH Helmets when working with the U.S. Department of Trans- portation (DOT) for safety testing. Impact testing with the DOT is one of the most essential steps in the process for the company. Given the
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KIRSH motorcycle helmet with impact-absorbing silicone liner.
rates for head injury across the board. This is one of the driving factors that the company has the capacity to change. The NFL has found that near- ly 300 football players per year end up with concussions, some even leading to early death. Most of the concus- sions, 67.7 percent, are a result of the impact a player’s helmet makes in con- tact with the head of the player. Personal safety is a never-end-
ing concern for those who put them- selves in danger, whether it be on the football field, or in public service, such as firefighters. KIRSH Helmets are built to serve a range of markets and change the way we think about personal safety. The partnership between PVA
and KIRSH Helmets has the poten- tial to change the rate of injury for the future and keep roads and homes safer along the way. Contact: KIRSH Helmets, 251 State Street, Suite 201, Schenectady, New York, 12305 % 1-855-504-4774 E-mail:
customerservice@kirshhelmets.com Web:
www.kirshhelmets.com and Precision Valve & Automation (PVA), 1 Mustang Drive, Cohoes, NY 12047 % 518-371-2684 E-mail:
kjakiela@pva.net Web:
www.pva.net r
requirements for testing helmets, maintaining consistency in each one is a necessity and something that PVA’s machinery ensures. Beyond motorcycle headgear,
KIRSH is planning to share the hel- met technology with other select in- dustries as well. Professional sports participants have some of the highest
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