When Ahlstrom’s Wisconsin mills began reevaluating head protection after a series of near-misses, they weren’t looking for a minor upgrade. They needed a solution built for fast-moving environments – one that delivered advanced protection without sacrificing comfort or long-term wearability.

What began as a reevaluation of head protection evolved into a full head safety program across Ahlstrom’s Wisconsin operations – resulting in more than 1,000 Ceros® XP450A helmets with Mips® being introduced to workers.

The challenge: Helmets falling off workers’ heads

Across Ahlstrom’s Wisconsin mills, teams were experiencing head-related near misses and recordables with risks related to slips, trips, or falls. While it wasn’t a widespread issue, one pattern was clear: during these incidents, helmets were slipping off.

Most employees wore traditional MSA V-Gard helmets without chin straps. When someone loses footing, helmets could possibly dislodge or fall off, potentially leaving workers unprotected in the moment of an impact. Slips, trips, and falls remain one of the leading causes of workplace head injuries, making secure head protection critical.

When Ahlstrom began exploring new options, they started with a recommendation for another product. It checked a few boxes, but local teams found it uncomfortable and difficult to drive consistent adoption across crews.

Their non-negotiables for a new helmet became clear:

• A secure fit with a reliable chin strap
• A high-visibility shell with reflective elements
• A comfortable solution workers would actually wear
• Compatibility with existing attachments and accessories

And with a goal of getting every mill in the U.S. transitioned to new helmets, they needed a scalable answer that met their challenges head-on.

The solution: Helmets that offered additional head protection

Through our distribution partner, Ahlstrom’s safety team learned about HexArmor’s head-protection lineup and became interested in the protection offered by the Mips® safety system. They wanted protection against rotational forces, without compromising on comfort or long-term wearability.

The Ceros® XP450A with Mips® safety system proved to be the right fit. It aligned with the key criteria their teams were looking for, including a secure fit, high visibility, and all-day comfort, while introducing a higher level of protection their previous helmets lacked.

It was the accessory compatibility that truly sealed the deal. The team loved that most of their existing accessories could still be used with HexArmor’s helmets.

They were also eager to upgrade to HexArmor’s Click-and-Go® magnetic face shields, which snap on and off in seconds. The level of universal adaptability made the transition easy.

The result: A major step forward in head protection standardization

Ahlstrom’s adoption of the XP450A with Mips® represented a win in their effort for head protection across U.S. operations with helmets that stay on, adapt to the work environment, and deliver protection.

With over 1,000 Ceros® XP450A helmets ordered, Ahlstrom gained:

• A helmet that stays in place during slips, trips, and falls
• High-visibility shells and reflective elements for worker awareness
• Rotational impact protection through the Mips® safety system
• Improved comfort compared to competitive models
• Faster task transitions using Click-and-Go® magnetic accessories
• A scalable solution aligned with their goal to complete the U.S. rollout

For Ahlstrom, the decision wasn’t about choosing a different helmet; it was about choosing head protection that workers trust, safety teams support, and operations can standardize with confidence.