Style and safety go hand in hand in KBC’s products at an affordable rate.
This global presence has made KBC highly desirable among the riders. Korea to handle distribution throughout South East Asia. With Head Office in CA, USA KBC has an office in UK for European coverage and another office located in S. KBC is a leading global player distributing helmets to all the continents through their offices in different countries. Besides all KBC products go beyond industry safety benchmark and legislation standard.
Our experienced R&D team, manufacturing experts, stylish engineering technologists and test lab technicians work together on one focus that is no other helmet looks or even feels like a KBC.Įvery KBC helmet is engineered precisely that ensures outstanding fit, utmost safety, supreme comfort and unrivaled performance. KBC has a deep pool of multi-talented professionals who worked as a seamless and integrated team with shared and clear focus. “This year productivity has gone up by 80 percent.Over the past two decades KBC has become the fastest growing helmet manufacturers throughout the world and shaking the motorcycle apparel industry with top quality helmets. “We struggled a lot when we first launched in China in 2003 because productivity was low,” Mr. KBC transferred all of its production lines to China, where all its helmets are hand assembled. In May KBC closed its factory in Incheon because local currency recently has appreciated against the greenback, and labor costs have increased as well. Including sales of motorcycle outfits and other accessories, KBC saw revenue reach 50 billion won ($52 million) last year with an operating profit of 3 billion won. “When we told buyers that KBC is a Korean company, they did not doubt the quality or safety of the helmets.” “We have benefited from efforts made by Hongjin Crown, which pioneered the global market in the 1970s,” said Mr. In 2000 KBC sold just 200,000 helmets, but that number swelled to more than 1 million last year. The company later took over a plant in Incheon and started to build its own brand. The company exported products through an original equipment manufacturer system. “At first we met buyers with design ideas and had no production plants,” Mr. In 1993 he co-founded KBC after a partner proposed the idea.Īt the time, Korean helmets were getting good reviews in the U.S. After graduating from a California state university, he became an accountant. Cho immigrated to the United States when he was in high school. And in 2000 KBC began sponsoring motorcycle racing. According to a company marketing official, major Hollywood celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt wear KBC helmets. The Korean helmet company has more than 50 designers from around the world. “The secret to rapid success is that we supply flawless products from a design concept provided by the client that will later purchase the helmets,” said Cho Won-hyuk, president of KBC Helmet. The remaining 40 percent of helmets are supplied to major motorcycle manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha through the original equipment manufacturer system. The company’s own brand accounts for 60 percent of total production. Production plants are in China and Indonesia. The company’s overseas sales operations are in the United States and Britain. By number of units, KBC ranks fourth in the world.Īt company headquarters in Seoul, about 100 designers and developers work. The company has annual sales of more than 1 million helmets in 40 regions, including North America, Europe and South America. KBC sells helmets in the United States and Europe that cost between $200 and $300. KBC Helmet is competing with Hongjin Crown, another Korean firm and the world leader, for leadership in the global helmet market. On the inside of each helmet is a label that reads “Manufactured by KBC.” And two out of three Harley-Davidson helmets are products of KBC Helmet. That maker would be Harley-Davidson, a true American icon. People of all ages, education levels and incomes long to own a Harley, to hear that sound and feel that vibration. When it comes to selling motorcycle helmets, it’s a huge advantage to be linked to a world famous American brand known for crafting motorcycle road hogs that emit a legendary deep rumble from their exhaust pipes.