Arai’s September factory feature highlights a step that is easy to overlook in a finished helmet: drilling holes for vents and interior fittings. Volume Seven of the Factory Tour series focuses on drill speed, applied force and accurate positioning. A small hole belongs to a larger assembly sequence: its location must match the components fitted later.
The August instalment shows an earlier finishing stage: correcting paint imperfections, applying clear coat, polishing and inspecting the surface. Work continues after the final coat of colour. The shell passes through several craftspeople’s hands, with checks at different stages.
Across the wider production process, handwork extends from the shell to painting and the interior liner. Arai describes a combination of modern technology and experienced workers’ skills. The factory series makes that normally hidden labour visible: behind the finished graphics and gloss lies a sequence of individual operations and inspections before a helmet leaves production.