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Hövding CEO Fredrik Carling interviewed live on CNBC

Hövding CEO, Fredrik Carling, discusses the technology behind the world's first airbag for cyclists in an interview broadcast live on US Channel CNBC.

“For centuries we’ve understood that the best way to protect your head is by wearing something on your head. And here we come, challenging that old truth”, Frederik opens the interview with. Worn around the neck, Hövding uses multiple sensors to read cyclist's body movements and in an event of an accident fully inflates in 0.1 seconds protecting both the head and neck and provides eight times better shock absorption than a standard helmet.

Launched in 2012, the Swedish company turned the concept of the traditional cycle helmet on its head by using a compact collar-mounted airbag and in a few short years has made great progress, with over 35,000 units sold in Northern Europe to date. The technology behind this cutting-edge technology was borrowed from the widely used airbag technology in cars.

In his interview with CNBC, Fredrik continued: "Sensors read your body movement over 200 times a second and basically make a decision 200 times per second whether to inflate or not. Once it's certain that this cyclist is on his way to an accident the airbag comes out."

A recent Stanford University study of bicycle helmet design found that the Hövding cycling airbag is ‘near perfect’ in terms of protecting against head injuries caused by road cycling accidents. Stanford concluded that there is an eight-fold reduction in the risk of concussion with the Hövding airbag compared to traditional helmets.

The interview:

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000588024

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Hövding - Airbag for cyclists

Hövding started out in 2005 as a master’s thesis by the two founders Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin, who, at the time, were studying Industrial Design at the University of Lund.

The project resulted in the concept of an airbag helmet, which won Innovationsbron’s Ideas Grant. This kick-started the process of developing Hövding into a real product. In 2006 Hövding won the Venture Cup, after which Hövding Sweden AB was founded.

Over the years Hövding has grown from just two people with a great idea, to a NASDAQ-listed company that handle everything from development and production to marketing and sales. Today Hövding consists of a team of around 30 people, all triggered by the word impossible, and Hövding’s airbag for cyclists is available in 16 markets across Europe.

The headquarters are located in an old chocolate factory in Malmö – the sixth greatest cycling city in the world. Final assembly of Hövding is carried out in association with the Japanese Company Nihon Plast.

Hövding
Monbijougatan 17C
211 53 Malmö
Sweden
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