TRW Launches Its Next Generation Seat Belt Pretensioner

LIVONIA, Mich., May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130530/DE23116 )

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. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  All forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (our "Form 10-K") and our Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 29, 2013, such as: any developments related to antitrust investigations adversely affecting our financial condition, results, cash flows or reputation; economic conditions adversely affecting our business, results or the viability of our supply base; the unsuccessful implementation of our current expansion efforts adversely impacting our business or results; any shortage of supplies causing a production disruption for any customers or us; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including economic and political uncertainty in some regions, adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; any inability to protect our intellectual property rights adversely affecting our business or our competitive position; the loss of any of our largest customers materially adversely affecting us; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; pricing pressures from our customers adversely affecting our profitability; costs of product liability, warranty and recall claims and efforts by customers to adversely alter contract terms and conditions concerning warranty and recall participation; costs  or adverse effects on our business, reputation or results from governmental regulations; costs or liabilities relating to environmental, health and safety regulations adversely affecting our results; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or those in our supply chain adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; any disruption in our information technology systems adversely impacting our business and operations; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any update or revision to any of the forward-looking statements.    

SOURCE TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.