MIPS Safety for Helmets - Fewer Fatalities Could Be Possible!

The employee turnover rate at Mips is very low - this speaks for the company and is significantly related to the products that Mips creates. It's about saving lives, and this noble idea alone ensures that all employees I met and spoke with at Mips in Sweden are enthusiastic and eager in their jobs. It is not surprising that Mips now, after almost 30 years, offers an extensive portfolio of safety systems for helmets of all applications. Although motorcycle helmets represent only a small percentage compared to the main players, bicycle and ski helmets, Mips CEO Max Strandwitz explains in the following interview that this is expected to change in the near future.

Max Strandwitz: Mips stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It's a protective system that comes into play during all types of impacts involving the helmet, utilizing sophisticated technology that works with all impact directions—whether the collision is frontal, rear, or lateral. The primary goal is to compensate for the rotation that occurs in almost all impact scenarios, thereby cushioning the initial jolt. This occurs within 5 to 10 milliseconds—an eye blink takes about 100 milliseconds! The Mips allows for a movement of 10 to 15 millimeters, which is sufficient to demonstrably prevent severe injuries. Not all helmet manufacturers incorporate this consideration of rotation, and even the current ECE 22.06 standard does not address it to the extent that we achieve with our technology!

Founded by neurosurgeon Hans von Holst, Mips was established after he repeatedly encountered brain injuries from accidents that he believed could have been prevented with better safety systems. A long process began in 1995, searching for investors until Mips AB was founded in 2001. By 2015, Mips was profitable for the first time, and since then, fortunately and in my opinion deservedly, Mips has been on a steep upward trajectory. The work on computers is becoming increasingly important; using the Finite Element Method, we can derive plausible insights from computer simulations even before real tests. This saves an enormous amount of time and effort. Currently, Mips employs around 110 people, including 60 engineers. We have 24 people permanently stationed in China who collaborate with helmet manufacturers producing there.

The share of Mips motorcycle helmets in the overall market is rapidly increasing; we are already collaborating with more than 20 helmet manufacturers, which naturally pleases us. This means that customers are increasingly understanding how important our system is for protecting their health and lives. However, within the Mips range, it currently accounts for only about 5 percent, with the majority being motocross and enduro helmets. This initially sounds quite logical because off-road riding assumes a higher likelihood of falls—anyone who has ridden off-road will likely have experienced at least one, if not several, falls. Therefore, off-road riders generally wear extensive protective gear and are more aware of the increased safety provided by Mips. The street motorcyclist, on the other hand, is very different to a large extent—it's about freedom and speed. The only contact points, exaggeratedly speaking, are the two wheels and the engine.

Certainly, Mips is suitable for every rider! Because any impact with even a hint of rotation can have severe consequences. Therefore, it is illogical to believe that you need less protection on the road. On the road, you can just as easily fall or be involved in an accident - and you must be prepared for that! Especially on the road, the likelihood of colliding with other road users is much higher than, for example, in open off-road terrain. The highest likelihood of colliding with other objects is in the city - I don't accept the argument that speeds in this area aren't that high. We conduct our impact tests largely at speeds below 30 km/h and observe significant skull and brain injuries in helmets without our Mips.

Yes, definitely. Helmet development takes an average of three years, and we are already collaborating with other racers. Consequently, there will logically be an even greater selection of motorcycle helmets with integrated Mips available for every helmet buyer in the future. Aleix, by the way, uses the Mips Integra TX, a system very well integrated into the helmet that also meets the particularly strict requirements of the FIM (Note: The various Mips used in motorcycle helmets are described following the interview). Moreover, Mips is not only available for expensive helmets but also for models in the lower price range.

This varies depending on the helmet category. Currently, you have to expect to pay around 20 to 60 euros more.

In bicycle helmets, we install systems weighing only 7 grams - so it truly doesn't significantly impact the weight. But even the heaviest variant for ski and riding helmets weighs barely more than 50 grams. The systems for motorcycle helmets fall in between.

Well, I can't go into too much detail, but we are currently building another test lab here at our headquarters in Sweden. There, we will be able to test and subsequently build even better Mips. By the way, we have also developed our own helmet, which we could theoretically bring to market at any time. However, we currently find it better to collaborate with renowned helmet brands - we integrate our product into other products to make them even better, and more than 12 new models will be added next year. But if the demand for helmets fully produced by Mips arises - we are ready!

Many thanks to Max Strandwitz for this insightful interview!

When a helmet impacts at an angle, it can cause sudden and severe rotational movements of the head, often leading to concussions and brain injuries. The Mips Integra system is designed to allow movement within the helmet, helping to reduce rotational movements of the head in certain angled impact scenarios, thereby decreasing the risk of such injuries.

Based on the different requirements for motorcycle helmets (full-face helmets obviously differ from motocross helmets), Mips offers three different systems for motorcycle helmets with Integra Fuse, Integra Split, and Integra TX. The Mips Integra Split system is integrated into the energy-absorbing shell. By dividing the shell into three separate parts and adding an additional low-friction layer between the movable layers, the system allows for movement and is designed to reduce rotational movements. The design enables integrated ventilation for helmets with generous EPS coverage. The Mips Integra TX consists of a thin, low-friction shell integrated between the fabric and foam of the helmet padding, allowing for movement in all directions inside the helmet. Finally, the Mips Integra Fuse system includes a fully integrated, low-friction shell that is fitted into the inside of the energy-absorbing shell using the in-mold process, providing a comfortable, robust premium solution without adding extra padding thickness to the helmet.