Occupant protection technology honored for its active and passive safety
systems integration
LIVONIA, Mich., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- TRW Automotive's Active Control
Retractor (ACR) technology was recently honored with a Premier Automotive
Suppliers' & OEMs Contributions to Excellence award for original equipment
suppliers. The company received the prestigious award in the product - Europe
category, which recognizes new innovations that have significant market impact
and were first commercialized in Europe.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010824/TRWLOGO )
"We are honored to be a recipient of the 2004 PACE Award, which is held in
such high-regard within the automotive industry," said Peter J. Lake, vice
president, sales and business development for TRW Automotive. "This award
helps to solidify our position as a leading supplier of world-class safety
systems and confirms our ability to successfully integrate passive and active
safety technologies."
Introduced on the 2003 Mercedes S-Class, TRW Automotive's ACR is the first
active seat belt system on the market. The ACR was designed to use braking
and stability control sensor information to pre-tension the seatbelt should it
sense a potential loss of vehicle control. The system accordingly removes the
seatbelt slack to help better position the occupant in relation to the
vehicle's airbag supplemental restraint system. The ACR's electronic drive
unit, which is integrated into the seatbelt system, acts as part of the
Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe system and resets itself if the critical event is
avoided.
The ACR technology was developed in close cooperation by the core
engineering team at TRW Automotive's state-of-the-art occupant safety system
facility in Alfdorf, Germany and their engineering counterparts at Mercedes-
Benz. TRW is currently advancing development processes for its second
generation ACR system.
The ACR has also been honored with the gold trophy for original equipment
for vehicles in the International Grand Prize for Technology Innovation at the
Equip Auto show in Paris, Spain's Motortec Galeria de Innovacion (Gallery of
Innovation) 2003 award and was recognized by the World Traffic Symposium.
This is the 10th year that Automotive News has honored innovative
automotive suppliers through the PACE Awards, which are co-sponsored by Cap
Gemini Ernst & Young and the Transportation Research Center, Inc.
The program recognizes automotive industry participants -- suppliers and
OEMS -- that have embraced innovation or adapted and reinvented themselves to
keep abreast of the constantly rising performance bar of the OEM/customer.
The prestigious program sets the standard for innovation and excellence and
has become a significant industry credential.
About TRW
With 2003 pro forma sales of $11.3 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the
world's top 10 automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA,
the Company, through its subsidiaries, employs approximately 61,000 people in
22 countries. Its 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.
TRW Automotive news is available on the Internet at http://www.trwauto.com .
SOURCE TRW Automotive
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.trwauto.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010824/TRWLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Manley Ford, +1-734-266-2616, or John
Wilkerson, +1-734-266-3864, both of TRW; or Lynette Jackson of
TRW Europe, +44.121.506.5315
|
