Three engineering graduates from the city have devised a solution to help industrial workers keep their cool.
The team has come up with an ‘air-conditioned’ helmet, which was showcased at the first anniversary celebrations of the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH), on Saturday.
Named ‘Jarsh’, the headgear, according to one of the founders Kausthub Kaundinya, is built on proprietary cooling technology. The helmets, meant for use in industrial establishments, come in two variants with the difference being the battery capacity – 2 hours and 8 hours – and in the design. Besides thermal protection, it promises eye and impact protection.
“We are getting into (commercial) manufacturing. It finds resonance in Make in Telangana, with 86% of the components made in the State,” Mr. Kaundinya said. Earlier, at the event, IT and Industries Minister had a word of appreciation for the initiative as well as the decision of the start-up to gift 20 helmets to traffic police personnel.
On the journey, Mr. Kaundinya said the idea of an air-conditioned helmet stemmed from the arduous ride on two-wheeler he undertook daily, covering 60 kms, while pursuing engineering in a college on the outskirts of the city.
It took the group of friends to explore the market for air-conditioned helmet.
Finding that no such product was available, they decided to get into manufacturing of such a product. While the plan for a safety, air-conditioned helmet could not immediately make headway, it made the team of Kausthub, D. Anand and K. Srikanth evolve a product for use in industries.
Search for demand
“We spoke to industries and found there was a need. We also found mentors... and started developing the product in September 2016.
By March end (we) had a product that could be deployed in a controlled manner,” Mr. Kaundinya said, adding Indian Navy and Tata Motors were among the customers.
The commercial manufacturing facility of the start-up is taking shape in Medchal, with a capacity to make 1,000 helmets a month, which entails an investment of ₹40 lakh.
“We are getting into production by March,” he said. The helmet cost ₹5000-5,500. Going forward, he added, the start-up plans to produce helmets for use by two-wheeler riders.
