Schuberth is the only helmet manufacturer to design, develop and test its helmets in a wind tunnel. The company has taken its commitment to design one step further with the opening of the Schuberth Air and Acoustics Lab in Magdeburg, Germany, which includes both a wind tunnel and a climate testing facility.
Schuberth has relocated its wind tunnel to its manufacturing facility in Madgeburg, Germany.
Schuberth was the world’s first helmet manufacturer to use its own wind tunnel for the development of motorcycle helmets. The original research and development facility in Braunshweig has been upgraded over the past three decades, but the relocation to the Madgeburg plant marks a significant advancement in the technology available to Schuberth’s designers.
During the formal dedication ceremony on July 8, 2015, Schuberth CEO Jan-Christian Becker said, “It is only logical to integrate our wind tunnel into the state-of-the-art Magdeburg plant. In the spirit of keeping distances short and communication flowing, development and production belong under one and the same roof.”
By having its own wind tunnel, Schuberth is able to produce some of the most aerodynamic and aeroacoustic helmets on the market. The Schuberth wind tunnel is 12 meters long, with 120 kW of engine power and a 1.6-meter axial flow fan that generates wind speeds of up to 190 km/h (118mph). The measuring section can be extended from 1.5 to 3.9 meters, allowing motorcycles to be included in the testing to create real-world scenarios.
The new climate testing facility will be a valuable tool in addition to the wind tunnel. “We have, of course, already done some research into the influence of the air temperature and humidity on the climate within the helmet in the past, and gained useful insights,” explained Dr. Thomas Hagemeier, head of the new Schuberth Air & Acoustics Lab. “But the new climate testing facility allows us to conduct systematic and simultaneous research and development of all criteria relevant to the comfort and active safety of our helmets.”
For more information SchuberthNorthAmerica.com.
