November 18, 1905 Hirotake Arai, the founder of Arai Helmet, Limited was born in Tokyo as the eldest son of Yuichiroh Arai who manufactured the hats for government office and authorities. |  | |
1937 Hirotake Arai established the factory in the city of Ohmiya, Saitama and started manufacturing business for headgears. | ||
July 22, 1938 Current president, Michio Arai was born as the eldest son in Tokyo. |
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1948 Arai Sewing Company was established to manufacture T-shirts and blouses for export. | ||
1949 Manufacturing headgear started with the construction of workers’ helmets. | ||
1950 Hirotake Arai developed manufacturing helmet shells by heat forming with resins. | ||
| October, 1950 Arai Hirotake Shoten, Co., Limited was established in Ohmiya, Saitama. | |
1952 Hirotake Arai began manufacturing first FRP (“Fibre Reinforced Plastics”) helmets in Japan. | ||
July 7, 1952 Arai Hirotake Shoten, Co., Limited became licensee of Japan Industrial Standards (JIS) for construction workers’ helmets as the first manufacturer in the helmet industries. | ||
October, 1952 Arai Hirotake Shoten, Co., Limited started supply of headgears to professional off-road motorcycle racers as the first Japanese “motorcycle helmets”. | ||
1956 Arai Hirotake Shoten, Co., Limited started production with the new trademark “HA” (HA came form the initials of the president’s name Hirotake Arai). | ||
1958 HA started production of motorcycle helmets consisting of FRP outer shell and EPS inner shell that is still common standard for helmet construction today. | 1959 Hirotake Arai established “bag moulding” for manufacturing FRP shell with 2-piece, open-close, metal moulds, and the first open face helmet was designed and made with this manufacturing method. |
| 1962 Michio Arai came back from the United States and joined Arai Hirotake Shoten, Co. helping his father’s business in the export division. | January, 1963 HA produced the first Snell certified Japanese helmet. | April, 1963 HA started export business for the United States’ market through USA distributors. | August 14, 1964 HA became licensee of Japan Industrial Standards (JIS) for motorcycle helmets. | March, 1967 Model R-6M was certified to Snell 1968 standard. First Japanese made full face model was introduced. |
| October, 1971 New trademark, “Arai” was designed and registered. | 1972 Introduction of the movable chin piece. | 1973 “Arai Hirotake Shoten, Co. Limited” changed to “Arai Hirotake, Co., Limited”. | November 16, 1973 Akihito Arai, son of current president Michio Arai, is born. | 1977 Arai started motorcycle-racing support with a few Japanese professional motorcycle racers. | December, 1977 Arai Helmet (USA), Limited was established. | 1978 Japanese emperor conferred decoration upon Hirotake Arai. | 1979 First helmet model for exclusive off-road riding was introduced. | 1980 One-touch, open-close face shield mechanism was developed and introduced on the market. Basic construction of this machanism became common in helmet industries later. |
| February 28, 1983 Arai Helmet (Europe) B.V. is established at Hoevelaken, The Netherlands. | 1983 Freddie Spencer won the World GP 500cc Road Race Championship as the first World Champion with Arai. Arai Racing Service introduced. |
| 1984 Arai starts sponsorship of Formula One drivers (Keke Rosberg). | 1985 Introduction of the eyebrow ventilation in the visor. |
| June 14, 1986 Company founder Hirotake Arai passes away and Michio Arai takes over his father’s company as the President of Arai. | December 1, 1986 Current company organisation was established, and its name was changed from “Arai Hirotake, Limited” to “Arai Helmet, Limited”. | 1986/1987 season 26 out of the 28 Formula One drivers wear Arai. | October, 1988 Arai introduces AdSis (Advanced Shield Instalation System) at the German Cologne show, being the first to offer visor change without the need for tools. |
| 1990 First, of annual recurring, Arai Importers Meeting. | June, 1990 Patented Super AdSis (SAL visor system) was applied as further developed version of AdSis. | 1993 As the first helmet manufacturer Arai introduced a full 5-Year Limited Warranty. | 1995 New premises of Arai Europe opened. | 1996 Introduction of the RX-7 model. First model with the Diffuser ventilation system. This model set a new benchmark in motorcycle helmets. |
| 1998 Arai Paintshop established. | 1999 Arai ranks highest in the first J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study. | 2003 Introduction of the limited edition Chikara model honouring 20-Years anniversary of Arai Helmet (Europe) B.V.. Introduction of the Removal Assist Hood. |
| 2005 Carbon fibre helmets mandatory in Formula One. Arai introduces its first carbon fibre helmet at Magny Cours: the GP-5 RacingCarbon (only available for Formula One drivers). |
| 2006 Opening of the Arai Inspiration Centre (AIC), Hoevelaken, The Netherlands. | 2006 Patented PB-SNC® Construction developed for the special Formula One helmets. | 2006 I ntroduction of the VX-3 off-road helmet. First helmet with the Emergency Release System. | February 2008 25 Years Anniversary of Arai Helmet (Europe) B.V.. Akihito Arai and Ingmar Stroeven appointed as managing directors of Arai Helmet (Europe) B.V.. |
| 2008 Introduction of Arai’s first carbon fibre car helmet model for commercial use: GP-6 RacingCarbon. | 2008 Introduction of the new benchmark helmet model in motorcycling: RX-7 GP. First motorcycle model with the wide view SAI visor and the Patented PB-SNC® Construction. | 2009 As first manufacturer Arai introduced the Max Vision visor on the market. | 2010 More than 50% of the Formula One grid and 30% of the MotoGP riders use Arai. | 2010 Introduction of Arai’s first carbon fibre motorcycle helmet model for commercial use: RX-7 RacingCarbon. |
| May, 2011 For the 13th consecutive year Arai ranks number 1 in the J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study. | 2011 Arai introduces the Quantum with factory fitted SAI Max Vision visor with brow vents. |
all arai helmets are hand made and receive a free yearly service courtesy of arai:more info here
