Axor helmets is the premium model from Belagavi-based motorbike helmet large Vega. In existence because the early Eighties, Vega is certainly one of India’s greatest motorbike helmet producers at the moment, with an annual capability of 9 million helmets a 12 months throughout six manufacturing amenities.
That interprets to 25,000 models a day, and we acquired a way of what an operation of this scale can seem like by visiting one of many firm’s manufacturing amenities in Belagavi, Karnataka. The ability we visited was certainly one of Vega’s older models, which defined why most of the processes have been extra labour-intensive than I’d anticipated. What additionally got here as a shock was simply how a lot of the manufacturing course of is now in-house.
The whole lot from the plastic parts for the vents to the EPS internal liner and even the polycarbonate visors is made by Vega. The corporate manufactures its personal shells too, and the pace with which an ABS plastic shell may be made is what enormously contributes to having the ability to produce so many helmets in a day. It takes simply 90 seconds for a bunch of plastic pellets to be melted and injection-moulded right into a shell. The moulding posts are then minimize off, and the shell slowly will get remodeled right into a helmet because it passes by means of numerous phases within the manufacturing facility.
As soon as the ABS shell is processed, it’s prepped for portray. The portray course of on this plant was principally handbook, however there was an automatic machine making use of a transparent coat. A separate UV chamber cures the clear-coated helmets (instantly for clear lacquer and about half an hour for matt lacquer). Whereas some helmets cease with stable colors, lots of them have complicated water-transfer graphics which might be utilized to the helmet.
There are actually 1000’s of painted shells stacked on racks throughout the manufacturing facility flooring, ready for meeting. We noticed helmets with KTM, TVS racing, Royal Enfield and Ather branding, which was a reminder of what number of of India’s high producers supply their helmets from Vega.
With the portray course of full, parts like vents, chin straps, EPS liner and luxury liner are all put in earlier than the helmets are boxed and able to ship. Watching all of it come collectively was fairly fascinating, however the actually fascinating half lay forward after we have been taken to the highest flooring of the manufacturing facility.
That is the place Vega makes its fibreglass and carbon-fibre shells. Fibreglass helmets are nonetheless made at the moment for worldwide shoppers, and the corporate additionally has a protracted historical past of constructing carbon-fibre helmets as properly. This goes all the best way again to 1999, when it made its first pudding-bowl type carbon-fibre helmet for the American market below the Daytona Helmets model.
Vega makes use of balloon moulding know-how to make its carbon-fibre shells, and it’s based mostly on the identical course of used for the fibreglass helmets. A tri-composite construction of carbon fibre, aramid and fibreglass allows the vital stability between lightness and affect absorption. The corporate used handy minimize out the visor aperture and vent holes within the CF shells post-moulding, however has now invested in a CNC water jet machine for the job. This permits a lot tighter tolerances and can assist tackle buyer complaints with extreme wind noise in present Axor carbon-fibre helmets.
The most recent MX Carbon helmet makes use of new supplies, which have raised the value to Rs 20,000, in comparison with its predecessor. The corporate says one more reason behind the excessive value is the longer manufacturing time, with the corporate having the ability to at present produce as much as 8 CF helmets a day.
With India’s premium two-wheeler market quickly evolving, Vega is assured that there will probably be rising demand for such helmets, and has plans to deliver out extra fashions quickly, together with an ADV-style helmet. The corporate says it’s even engaged on making FIM-homologated and Snell-approved efficiency helmets, however that this might take a few years.
Having moderately priced, totally domestically manufactured carbon-fibre helmets isn’t one thing that many Indian motorbike fans would have anticipated to be attainable, however Vega Helmets is making that occur.
Experiencing the MX Carbon helmet
The Axor MX Carbon is licensed to DOT, ISI and ECE 22 06 requirements. It’s obtainable in three totally different shell sizes and weighs simply 1,040g, plus or minus 50g, based mostly on the shell measurement. We acquired to briefly attempt the helmet out on the Monitor 1 off-road facility in Belagavi on plenty of automobiles, together with an ATV, a buggy and a KTM 890 Journey R.
After all, the dearth of weight was extremely appreciated, however the helmet additionally felt properly balanced. The internal liner materials was additionally softer and extra comfy than anticipated. I normally put on a measurement S helmet, and that applies right here as properly. The match was principally excellent, with none uncommon or uncomfortable strain factors, however I did discover that the guidelines of my ears made contact with the internal liner.
The double D-ring closure system was straightforward to make use of, however the snap button to safe the strap may have had a extra constructive suggestions when engaged. Total high quality isn’t unhealthy for the value, however the ending the place the carbon-fibre panels be a part of alongside the centre of the helmet was inconsistent throughout totally different models.