TRW Announces Value Line Active Seat Belt Retractor System

TRW Automotive GmbH, a subsidiary of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. unveiled its ‘ACR2 Basic’ seat belt technology (Active Control Retractor 2 Basic). This new addition to TRW’s active seat belt retractor portfolio has been designed to enhance driver comfort and safety while offering cost benefits over its production ACR2 system.

Uwe Class, manager of reversible systems for TRW’s Occupant Safety Systems, said: “TRW has successfully launched its proven ACR technology on a number of key vehicles including the recent Hyundai Equus and the Mercedes S Class where it remains a standard feature. Ensuring that such advanced safety systems are available for broader vehicle segments and customer markets is vital – we have developed a more affordable active seat belt retractor solution with our ACR2 Basic technology.”

Like TRW’s production ACR2 system, ACR2 Basic is a perfect example of how TRW is able to link active and passive safety. The technology is designed to use braking and stability control sensor information to recognize critical events such as panic braking or skidding. It then reacts by removing seat belt slack so that the occupant position on the seat is improved in advance of a crash. If the critical situation ends without an accident, the system automatically resets itself via a reversible actuator.

Class continued: “With ACR2 Basic, we are able to provide a more affordable product due to, among other things, simplified electronics. For example, our new product has a smaller Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the algorithm is implemented within another ECU depending on vehicle manufacturer requirements (this could be within the airbag control unit, for example). The different architecture allows us to reduce packaging, integration effort and ultimately cost for the customer.

“We are experiencing growing vehicle manufacturer interest in our ACR2 Basic product and are working closely with our customers to make this innovative safety system more readily available across all vehicle markets.”

TRW was first to supply an active seat belt system when it launched on the Mercedes S Class in 2002. TRW has continued to work to integrate its ACR technology with other advanced comfort and safety systems including drowsy driver warning functions and interaction with radar enabled emergency brake assist technology.

About TRW

With 2008 sales of $15.0 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world’s leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 26 countries and employs approximately 64,000 people worldwide. TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services. All references to “TRW Automotive”, “TRW” or the “Company” in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated. TRW Automotive news is available on the internet at www.trw.com.