SMK Helmets has achieved a major milestone in helmet safety with its popular full-face Typhoon helmet receiving a 4-Star rating from the UK’s Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP). The achievement makes SMK the first Indian helmet manufacturer to receive a four-star SHARP rating.
SHARP is an independent helmet safety assessment programme operated by the UK Department for Transport. Since its launch in 2007, the programme has provided riders with safety information beyond the basic pass-or-fail requirements of regulatory certifications.
Unlike standard certification testing, SHARP purchases helmets directly from retailers in the UK before conducting its assessments. Each helmet model undergoes 32 impact tests using seven helmets of different sizes. Tests are conducted across five areas of the head at three different impact speeds of 6, 7.5 and 8.5 metres per second. The results are used to award a safety rating of up to five stars. The four-star result for the SMK Typhoon places the helmet among products assessed under the same independent testing process used for established international helmet brands.
“SMK has engineered helmets around top protection for years. The SHARP rating is independent validation of that approach,” said Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director and CEO, SMK. “The Typhoon’s score reflects our focus on materials, construction and design built to perform. Indian riders deserve helmets tested against the same benchmarks as leading international brands, and this achievement is an important step in that direction.”
The SMK Typhoon features an Energy-Impact-Resistant Thermoplastic shell and weighs approximately 1.6 kg. Its features include a quick-release buckle, drop-down sun visor, Pinlock 30 lens, anti-scratch visor coating and multi-point ventilation. The helmet meets the ECE 22.06 safety standard established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXXL.
In India, the Typhoon is sold through SMK’s authorised dealer network and online channels, with prices starting at ₹5,200 MRP. The SHARP recognition comes as SMK continues to expand its international presence. The company has also entered international motorsport as technical helmet sponsor of the Moto4 Latin Cup.
SMK helmets are currently sold in more than 40 countries. The company said the latest safety rating strengthens its efforts to position Indian helmet engineering alongside established global manufacturers. SMK is the premium helmet brand of Studds Accessories Limited and has nearly five decades of manufacturing experience. Its manufacturing facilities have a combined annualised production capacity of 9.04 million helmets.
