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BREED Introduces New Testing Methods to Advance Occupant Safety

17 March 1999

BREED Introduces New Testing Methods to Advance Occupant Safety While Reducing Development Costs

    LAKELAND, Fla.--March 17, 1999--Engineers at BREED Technologies, Inc. , a world leading manufacturer of automotive occupant restraints, are taking a new approach to testing in the areas of advanced rollover protection and intelligent restraint systems. By replacing traditional vehicular testing with more controlled laboratory sled tests, the company is able to accelerate the development cycle while reducing costs and improving technology.
    BREED and its joint venture company with Siemens Automotive - BSRS Restraint Systems - have begun utilizing a patent-pending rollover test sled that simulates a dynamic 90 degree rollover impact crash. This simulation tool is used for development and testing of curtain airbags, rollover sensors and rollover seatbelt pretensioners for pulling down occupants in vehicle rollover events. The sled is capable of simulating rollover pulses for vehicles ranging from small cars to heavy trucks.
    BREED has also patented a unique HYGE pre-impact sled fixture, which is used to simulate the movement of occupants during both pre-impact and crash events, allowing for evaluation of total dynamic tracking systems and intelligent restraints in a realistic crash environment. The ability to properly measure an occupant's position in relation to the airbag before the restraints are activated is key to appropriately tailoring airbag and seat belt performance.
    "The increasing complexity of vehicle safety systems calls for a new approach to simulation and testing," commented BREED Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Craig W. White. "I believe we are leading the industry with our use of innovative test methods, particularly in the areas of rollover and pre-impact braking. These tools have significantly enhanced our systems development work within BSRS - BREED's joint venture with Siemens Automotive - and we are continuing to receive positive feedback at the customer level."
    BREED's pre-impact braking sled is located at the company's headquarters in Lakeland, Florida. The company has installed the rollover sled at the BSRS facility in Sterling Heights Michigan, and plans to construct another at the joint venture headquarters in Alzenau, Germany.
    BSRS Restraint Systems was formed in 1998 by BREED Technologies and Siemens Automotive to meet the increasing market demand for integrated automotive occupant safety systems. Headquartered in Alzenau, Germany, the company has a strong network of sales offices around the world and direct access to the extensive engineering, testing and manufacturing facilities of both BREED and Siemens.
    BREED Technologies is one of the world's largest manufacturers of complete automotive occupant restraint systems and components. With approximately $1.4 billion in annual revenues, the company designs, develops and produces advanced airbag, seat belt, steering wheel and sensing technologies for leading automobile manufacturers around the globe.