STUDSON Announces European Market Entry with Strategic Commitment to New EN 397:2025 Safety Standard

Industrial Safety Innovator Appoints Fabio Berardi to Lead European Expansion from Rome, Italy

North American safety helmet innovator STUDSON today announced its strategic entry into the European market under the leadership of its newly appointed European Business Development Director, Fabio Berardi. Operating from Rome, Italy, Berardi will spearhead STUDSON’s expansion across the continent as the company pursues certification to the groundbreaking new EN 397:2025 standard for industrial safety helmets.

The expansion positions STUDSON as a pioneer in linear multi-directional industrial head safety protection for top of crown, front, side, and rear impacts, bringing its proven ANSI Type II safety helmet engineering expertise to European markets at a pivotal moment in the evolution of workplace safety standards.

Under Berardi’s leadership, STUDSON will focus on building strategic partnerships with distributors, safety managers, and industry leaders across the European Union and beyond, who recognize the value of advanced, head protection for the workforce. Berardi will report to STUDSON Chief Revenue Officer Adam Bookwalter, who oversees global strategy and its entry into the European market.

“STUDSON has built its reputation on reimagining industrial head protection for the modern workforce—professionals who demand advanced protection, performance, and comfort on par with premium sports and outdoor equipment,” said Ryan Barnes, founder and CEO of STUDSON. “We’re thrilled to pursue achieving the new EN 397:2025 standard and becoming one of the first companies to offer a next-generation industrial safety helmet with a full brim in the EU market.”

Aligning Innovation with Europe’s New Safety Standard

The EN 397:2025, which supersedes the previous EN 397:2012 standard, represents the most significant European advancement in industrial head protection requirements in more than a decade. The new standard mandates protection against both on-crown and off-crown impacts, calling for linear multi-directional protection that aligns directly with STUDSON’s existing safety philosophy of providing 360-degree head protection.

STUDSON’s innovative approach to head safety utilizes KOROYD welded polymer tubes that crumples on impact to absorb maximum energy. Meanwhile, the embedded Twiceme near-field communication (NFC) chip stores emergency contacts and critical medical information for first responders during emergencies, along with data for occupational health and safety managers to better track and manage safety helmet inventory and worker certifications for regulatory compliance.

“The new EN 397:2025 standard represents a fundamental shift in how Europe approaches industrial head protection,” said Berardi. “For years, STUDSON has championed multi-directional impact protection through our ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 (2019) Type II certified SHK-1 helmets in North America. I’m incredibly excited to lead our expansion into Europe and bring STUDSON’s innovation, advanced engineering, and commitment to the industrial athlete to a market embracing a higher standard of head safety.”

STUDSON is currently undergoing the CE conformity assessment process for EN 397:2025, with certification expected in Q1 2026. The company will showcase its European-bound helmet at A+A 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for safety, security, and health at work, taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, November 4-7, 2025.

For more information about STUDSON’s EU launch and to sign up for Q1 2026 updates, visitwww.STUDSON.com.