TRW launches lighter weight airbag inflators

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. unveiled its latest inflator technology at the Airbag 2012 exhibition in Europe. The DI10.1G45 inflator, a further improvement of the DI10 family, is TRW’s lightest and smallest inflator to date. It has been specially developed for “micro” airbag modules and is due to start production early 2014 at its facility in Aschau, Germany, in support of a major European business award.

Dr. Achim Hofmann, senior manager core engineering, Inflators, said: “As the industry continues to place increasing focus on the environment, the importance of reducing vehicle weight is paramount. The DI10.1G45 product offers a weight reduction of approximately 25 percent over previous generation technology, as well as overall smaller dimensions.

TRW’s DI10.1G45 airbag inflator is a non-azide, single pyro inflator that uses an efficient propellant formulation. The inflator output can be adapted according to restraint system requirements using individual performance steps and an adjustable gas mass onset. Although it uses standard grade materials for the housing and weld joint technology, package size has been further reduced.

Hofmann added: “As a leader in the airbag field, TRW has been able to help satisfy stringent customer and industry regulatory requirements while halving the weight of its airbag modules in recent years – now among the lightest on the market – in addition to minimizing product size and packaging. The integration of the inflator into the cushion, combined with new inflation technologies; bag & housing concepts; and materials, have enabled us to achieve this significant weight reduction over the previous few years.”

TRW has been developing and manufacturing airbag modules for over 30 years with several leading innovations such as its roof airbag system; adaptive frontal airbag technology; first to market compact low mounted knee airbag module; and a head protection system for convertible vehicles.

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