Automotive airbags are among the most important automotive safety products as they can be used to protect different parts of the body in either frontal impact collisions or side impact collisions. In frontal impacts alone, driver airbags are estimated to reduce fatalities of belted drivers by 25%, and serious head injuries of belted drivers by over 60%. Automotive airbag systems are made up of three general components, namely an airbag, a sensor system and a deployment mechanism. The airbag is generally constructed from nylon fabric as nylon has characteristics which are especially suitable for this application. The quality of seams is critical as imperfections can cause the airbag to fail. Rudimentary patents for automotive airbags date back to the 1950s. However, it was not until 1998 that airbags became mandatory for all passenger cars in the USA. In 2008 Toyota introduced the first rear curtain airbag - which inflates over a window - in its iQ model. Today, many cars are fitted with a wide range of airbags. As well as driver airbags and passenger airbags, these include knee airbags, anti-slide airbags, inflatable curtains, thorax bags, head-thorax bags, pelvis-thorax bags and door mounted inflatable curtains (DMICs). In 2010 the world market for automotive airbags stood at 258 mn units but by 2017 this figure is expected to rise to 446 mn units, representing an increase of 73.2%. In developed countries, markets for airbags are saturated but tougher safety regulations continue to be introduced and provide scope for further development in the market. In emerging markets, there is enormous commercial potential for the airbags sector, reflecting the fact that demand for new cars is expected to grow rapidly as a result of rising employment levels, economic prosperity and increases in discretionary income. Three prominent suppliers of airbags include Autoliv, Takata Corporation and TRW Automotive. Autoliv, based in Sweden, claims to be the market leader in automobile occupant restraints. Takata Corporation, based in Japan, is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of safety products for automobiles. TRW Automotive, based in the USA, is the world's second largest supplier of automotive safety systems.
Markets for automotive airbags and profiles of Autoliv, Takata and TRW Automotive
Technical Textile Markets ; 89 ; 25-45
2012
21 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 4 Tabellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
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