2007 Frankfurt Motor Show - TRW Seat Belt Load Limiting Technologies Enhance the Management of Occupant Energy During a Crash

FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 12 -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. , the global leader in active and passive safety systems, is offering an array of seat belt load limiting options that help enhance energy management during a crash.

Helping to distribute the forces placed on the body more evenly during a crash event is an important consideration in the design of the occupant restraint system and for seat belts in particular. Load limiters are designed to help reduce forces on areas such as the chest and pelvis that can be subjected to tremendous forces in severe accidents.

  Among the options TRW can offer are:
  -- Retractor Constant Force (Torsion Bar) Load Limiters
  -- Retractor Declining Load Limiters (DLL)
  -- Retractor Progressive Load Limiters (PLL)
  -- Retractor Switchable Load Limiters (SLL)
  -- Buckle Load Limiters
  -- Anchor Load Limiters

"We have researched a number of options and currently produce load limiting systems that help to address energy management of occupants in a crash in a variety of ways," said Doug P. Campbell, vice president, Engineering, for TRW's Occupant Safety Systems business. "Math modeling allows us to evaluate various types of load limiting systems within the seat belt system to help improve their performance in an accident."

For example, Constant-Force (Torsion Bar) Load Limiters are designed to manage load forces but only do so at a single, predetermined level. In the case of Declining, Progressive and Switchable Load Limiters, these systems are tunable to be more synergistic with the rest of the vehicle in accommodating variables such as crash severity, occupant size, vehicle crash characteristics, etc. TRW is also looking at future generations of load limiting technologies that could offer even greater levels of adaptability to the crash situation.

"The ultimate goal is to continually progress a systematic approach to helping protect occupants. Technologies like seat belt load limiters are designed to work in conjunction with other occupant safety components such as air bags to manage energy and forces during a crash," added Campbell.

About TRW

With 2006 sales of $13.1 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 28 countries and employs approximately 63,800 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 http://www.trwauto.com/ .