ABS recalls steel cartridges and ABS TwinBag Systems

Munich (ots) - Avalanche airbag manufacturer ABS is responding to
a fault caused by a supplier with an immediate recall action: all
European steel cartridges (black) currently in use with a filling
date of before 3 December 2014 must be replaced. It is possible that,
during the supplier?s filling process, machining residues could have
entered the cartridge which would prevent the airbag system from
functioning in future. All backpacks with ABS TwinBag systems (dual
airbags) that have been activated with a steel cartridge are
therefore to be returned to ABS for checking. ABS carbon cartridges
and ABS Mono airbags are not affected.

The producer and filler of the steel cartridges used in airbag
systems has informed ABS that the steel cartridges supplied may have
been contaminated with machining residues during the filling process.
These particles could block the ABS system during activation. So far
three instances of this problem, caused by the supplier, have
occurred during training activations.

ABS places great emphasis on the quality and safety of its
products. The Bavaria-based company is therefore recalling all
European steel cartridges with a filling date of before 3 December
2014 for replacement. The filling date is located together with the
weight on a round sticker on the cartridge (see illustration).

Owners of ABS TwinBag systems that have ever been activated with a
European steel cartridge (e.g. for training purposes) must now return
their avalanche backpacks to ABS for checking. A system check is
required because previous activation of the ABS system may have
caused the machining residues to have entered the system which might
thus hinder or even prevent subsequent activation. Backpacks fitted
with ABS TwinBag systems that are still in their original packaging
or have never been activated with a steel cartridge are not affected
and do not have to be returned, only the steel cartridges must be
replaced. ABS Mono airbags and ABS carbon cartridges are equally
unaffected.

ABS promptly informed the trade and the company has in addition
set up a hotline for end consumers and dealers. For all information
about the next steps for the recall action see
www.abs-airbag.com/recall

Enquiries: Media contact:

ABS Peter Aschauer GmbH
c/o Julia Schmideder
Stefanusstraße 6a
D-82166 Gräfelfing/Munich

Tel. +49.89.898789-11
Mobile +49.173.3852700
Fax +49.89.898789-60
schmideder@abs-airbag.com
www.abs-airbag.com

pro.media kommunikation gmbh
c/o Philipp Jochum
Maximilianstraße 9
A-6020 Innsbruck

Tel. +43.512.214004-18
Mobile +43.664.3876606
promedia.jochum@pressezone.at
www.pressezone.at