IEE Automotive Press Release: Airbag Technology and Child Safety

08/07/96

IEE AUTOMOTIVE AIRBAG TECHNOLOGY ADDRESSES NEED
FOR CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY Company's Revolutionary
Sensor is Now Available in the United States


FAIRFIELD, Ohio, Aug. 5 -- Yesterday's proposed National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ruling regarding airbag
safety for children and infants, places O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt
Armoring Company's U.S. division in the forefront of a hot battle
concerning child passenger deaths caused by airbags.

The world's largest manufacturer of protective cars opened IEE
Automotive USA earlier this year in Fairfield, OH. It is the only
company in the world producing a new airbag technology that eliminates
danger to children by detecting the presence of a small passenger or
child seat and adjusts deployment action accordingly. IEE's patented
Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) has been used since 1994 by European car
manufacturers, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The company is
currently in negotiations with several leading automotive
manufacturers to provide this new airbag technology for 1998 model
automobiles.

"The core of our company's technology centers around providing
highly-engineered safety systems which have been used to protect every
president since Harry Truman. Our gameplan is to extend that
protection to America's children," said IEE Director of Sales John
Abraham.

Industry, government and independent organizations are demanding
immediate action to prevent unsafe deployment of airbags when young
children or infant car seats are placed on the passenger side of
vehicles.  Yet while many companies develop possible solutions, IEE
already has the answer to both problems. The company is marketing a
Passenger Presence Detection sensor that disengages the airbag when a
passenger-side occupant is under a specified weight. Also, IEE, in
conjunction with Siemens Automotive, has developed an infant seat
sensor (the Child-Seat Presence and Orientation Detector) which sends
a signal to the on-board computer preventing the airbag from
triggering in a collision.