TRW's Dynamic Locking Tongue Helps to Enhance Seat Belt System Performance


LIVONIA, Mich. -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE:TRW), the global leader in active and passive safety, is beginning to equip seat belt systems with its new Dynamic Locking Tongue (DLT) technology.

The DLT is an elegant, lightweight and compact design consisting of a seat belt tongue (the plate which fastens into the buckle) with a rotating cam and a concealed spring. The DLT allows webbing to pass freely through the tongue when buckling and in normal seat belt use to ensure comfort and convenience for everyday use. However, in the event of hard braking or a crash resulting in greater than about 45 Newtons (10 lb.) of force on the belt, the DLT clamps the webbing and works with other seat belt technologies helping to reduce loads on the occupant's chest.

"The Dynamic Locking Tongue is a simple and effective way to help manage the energy of an occupant in a crash," said Norbert Kagerer, vice president, engineering, TRW Occupant Safety Systems. "It works in concert with other seat belt technologies such as pretensioners and load limiters, and its ability to reduce chest compression loads is of benefit in complying with the more stringent test criteria now in place for the Euro NCAP and USNCAP ratings systems."

TRW testing has shown that the DLT is very effective in preventing the webbing from slipping through the tongue when in the locked mode. By using the DLT to better couple the occupant to the seat in the pelvic region, improvements in chest deflection and load have been shown across a range of vehicle types and sizes.

The DLT has been launched into production in North America, and vehicle manufacturer interest is high in this technology globally.

About TRW
With 2009 sales of $11.6 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 26 countries and employs over 60,000 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 www.trw.com.

Source: TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.

CONTACT: Lynette Jackson, +44 121-506-5315, lynette.jackson@trw.com, or Louise Colledge, +44 121-506-5317, louise.colledge-contr@trw.com, or John Wilkerson, +1-734-855-3864, john.wilkerson@trw.com, all of TRW Automotive

Web Site: www.trw.com/

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