STUDSON Introduces SHK-2 Safety Helmet With Full KOROYD Interior

STUDSON has introduced the SHK-2, a new industrial safety helmet that replaces the EPS-based interior of its previous SHK-1 design with a fully integrated KOROYD structure. The helmet was unveiled at the 2026 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Indianapolis and is designed for applications including construction, utilities, electrical work, roofing and oil and gas.

Full KOROYD Interior

According to STUDSON, the SHK-2 is its first industrial safety helmet to use KOROYD material throughout the interior beneath the shell. The system uses precision-welded tubes that form a crumple zone designed to absorb impact energy. At the same time, the structure creates airflow pathways intended to help dissipate heat around the wearer's head.

Unlike active cooling solutions, the SHK-2 does not use bolt-on fans or battery packs for cooling.

Designed for Type II Protection

STUDSON states that the SHK-2 has been designed and built to comply with the ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 Type II+ standard, addressing both top and lateral impacts. The company also says the helmet underwent third-party laboratory testing covering penetration, environmental resistance and high-velocity impact, together with field testing involving working crews.

The Type II+ designation is particularly relevant to the updated 2026 standard, which includes additional testing related to chin-strap retention, roll-off and off-center force transmission.

Standard Brim and Full Brim Models

STUDSON plans to launch the Standard Brim and Full Brim versions together, with first shipments expected in Q4 2026. A CSA-certified version is targeted for summer 2027, according to the company.

Why It Matters

The SHK-2 highlights a broader direction in industrial head protection: integrating impact management, ventilation and wearer comfort into the helmet's core construction rather than treating them as separate features.

For workers who wear safety helmets throughout long shifts, thermal comfort can be an important part of PPE usability. The SHK-2 takes a passive approach by combining impact-absorbing material with airflow pathways in the same internal structure.

The product also illustrates how technologies originally developed for other protective-equipment applications are increasingly being adapted for industrial PPE.