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TRW Launches Its Next Generation Seat Belt Pretensioner

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW), the global leader in active and passive safety, is now delivering its next generation SPR4 (Snake Pretensioner Retractor) seat belt assembly for its worldwide customers and is launching the product in North America, Europe and China.

The SPR4 uses a plastic piston instead of conventional metal components to transfer tensioning torque, resulting in a simpler and lighter weight design as well as more compact packaging.

Norbert Kagerer, vice president Occupant Safety Systems engineering, TRW, said: “The design offers vehicle manufacturers a number of distinct advantages, which has led to strong interest globally.

“The lighter weight, plastic material allows the tensioning force to be generated more quickly than with conventional systems. Secondly, the damping behavior of the plastic snake allows the initial peak force, when impacting the pinion, to be significantly lower compared to conventional systems where two rigid steel elements impact on each other.”

When vehicle sensors trigger the seat belt system, a pyrotechnical gas generator is ignited releasing a ‘green gas’ which expands and builds up pressure in the guiding tube. This pressure acts on the snake-like plastic piston which is forcefully propelled into a pinion instead of the usual steel balls. The pinion then transmits a significant torque to the belt retractor spool to pre-tension the seat belt. The whole process takes just ten milliseconds.

The SPR4 will launch on a range of vehicles from small A-Segment cars up to Sport Utility Vehicles.

About TRW

With 2012 sales of $16.4 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world’s leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 25 countries and employs approximately 65,000 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.