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Atlantic Research Corporation's New 'Smart' Air Bag Inflator Leads Its Class

19 February 1998

Atlantic Research Corporation's New 'Smart' Air Bag Inflator Leads Its Class

    GAINESVILLE, Va., Feb. 19 -- Atlantic Research Corporation
(ARC) is introducing smart inflators to complement the advances in smart air
bag systems.  The Variflow(TM) Inflators, introduced into the ARC line of
BAICO(TM) Advanced Hybrids, offer adjustable peak pressure and are for use
with both driver- and passenger-side air bags.
    Variflow is designed to work with a wide variety of smart systems.
Utilizing input from smart system sensors, its output can be adjusted to
respond to differing crash scenarios.  Variflow has minimum performance
variability across the temperature range and, like all other advanced BAICO
inflators, it uses a non-toxic, smokeless propellant.
    "ARC is rapidly developing new inflator technology and is working closely
with airbag system suppliers to develop inflators that will accommodate the
advanced sensors and diagnostic input from smart systems currently under
development," Roy G. Brown, senior vice president, ARC Automotive Products
Group, said.  Variflow will be available for production for model year 2000
vehicles.
    Variflow is based on the proven hybrid design and manufacturing processes
that have made ARC the world leader in hybrid technology.  The BAICO product
family already includes passenger side, driver side, and side impact
inflators, including inflators for the new side impact "curtain" applications.
    ARC, which recently became the sole owner of the BAICO product line,
supplies inflators to major automakers in North America, Europe, Japan and
Korea from its facility in Knoxville, Tenn.  Energetics are supplied from its
propellant plant in Camden, Ark.  ARC also is a partner in BAG S.p.A, a joint
venture in Collefero, Italy.  Via a licensing agreement, BAG S.p.A
manufactures a variety of inflators designed and developed by ARC.
    ARC's work in air bag inflators is an outgrowth of nearly five decades of
experience in the field of propellant chemistry and gas propulsion systems.
ARC has the full in-house capability to develop and manufacture air bag
inflators, including energetics, through its facilities in Tennessee,
Virginia, and Arkansas.  ARC's parent company is Sequa Corporation.
    Sequa is a diversified technology company with 1996 sales of $1.4 billion.
Sequa's other operation serving the automotive industry is Casco Products
Corporation, a leading supplier of automotive cigarette lighters, power
outlets and electronic sensors.  In addition to automotive industry
businesses, Sequa operations include the repair and manufacture of components
for jet aircraft engines; the production of rocket motors and propellant for
missiles and space applications; the manufacture of specialty chemicals for
the detergent, paper, textile and graphic arts markets; and the production of
machinery to form and decorate two-piece cans.

SOURCE  Atlantic Research Corporation