Schuberth Top hats

Things pass as a blur at the breakneck speeds that are legally permitted on Germany’s Autobahns, but heading towards the city of Magdeburg on the 2 Autobahn a building looms large on your left. Emblazoned in giant orange letters is the word Schuberth, which is now one of the few remaining motorcycle helmet manufacturers who continue to make their product in Europe, rather than Asia.

The company began back in 1922 primarily to produce beer crates for the brewing industry, which is not surprising given that founder Fritz Schuberth was a director of the National Jürgens Brewery. Seven years later the first helmets appeared, not for motorcyclists but for the military – a market still actively pursued by the company. Industrial safety helmets followed post-war, as well as safety headwear for police and security forces, fire fighters, and, in 1954, motorcyclists. By 1968 the company had developed a police helmet based around a thermoplastic shell, and in 1976, their first full-face motorcycle helmet. Schuberth pioneered the use of the in-house wind tunnel for research and construction of the motorcycle helmet range and made great strides, including the first flip-front helmet that was launched at Intermot in Munich.

While defence and security force contracts supplied bulk sales, Schuberth pushed ahead with expanded presence in motor racing, outfitting Michael Schumacher when he won the 2001 Formula 1

World Championship. MotoGP was a natural extension, and in 2015 was the exclusive supplier for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, followed by Moto2 with selected riders the following year. The carbon technology developed for World F1 Champion Nico Rosberg’s helmet has now reached the road rider via Schuberth’s new C4 Pro Carbon, the latest version of the flip-front helmet with a carbon outer shell and an integrated communication system.

I was fortunate to be given an escorted tour of the impressive Schuberth factory in October 2019, shown through the various sections of the plant by International Sales Manager Matthias Habig. According to the season, production can run around the clock, and it was certainly buzzing when I visited. New models and colours were being prepared for the forthcoming EICMA Show, and production allocated for the busy period that precedes the European summer. More than 370 people are employed at the factory, with the products exported to 55 countries.

MAIN The modern Schuberth factory at Magdeburg. ABOVE Huge poster of F1 driver Felipe Massa hangs in the factory. His Schuberth helmet is credited with saving his life after he was struck in the head by a shock absorber spring at 280 km/h in the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix. LEFT Inside the factory. Busy and spotless. RIGHT The C4 Pro Carbon.

Carbon shells for the new C4 Pro Carbon. Prepping the shells for the final coats. Linings being fitted. Testing at the in-house wind tunnel. A section of the motorcycle helmet production area in the factory. ABOVE C4 Pro shells after painting. RIGHT Painted chin guard sections. LEFT The production line has a very hands-on approach. BELOW The C4 Pro Carbon shells are checked and marked for any paint defects.