Side and curtain airbags are essential components of modern passive safety systems, designed
to protect the passengers in the event of side collisions. While side airbags primarily protect the thoracic area of the occupants, curtain airbags offer additional protection for the head and shoulder area. Both systems are based on fast and reliable deployment by airbag pressure cartridges, which are a crucial part of these airbag systems.
Airbag pressure cartridges are precisely manufactured metal containers made of tubular
material that are integrated into the seat, door or headliner of a vehicle. These cartridges
contain a gas mixture or solid propellant that is ignited by an electrical impulse in the event of a
collision. In fractions of a second, the gas mixture generates a high pressure that deploys the
airbag. The rapid and controlled release of the gas is crucial to ensure the protection of the
occupants.
Production of the airbag pressure cartridges
The production of airbag pressure cartridges / pressure vessels / inflators requires the highest
precision and safety standards, as the reliability of these components is crucial for the function
of the airbags. The airbag cartridges must be robust enough to withstand the high pressure and
temperatures during ignition, but also light and compact enough to be integrated into the
vehicle structure.
GFU – Maschinenbau GmbH is a leading manufacturer of machines and systems for the
production of airbag pressure cartridges, both for side and curtain airbags. We offer a wide
range of solutions, including:
These tailor-made production lines offer airbag manufacturers and suppliers the
opportunity to produce airbag cartridges in large quantities with consistently high
quality and precision.
Side and curtain airbags cartridges / pressure vessels / inflators are crucial safety systems in
modern vehicles that help prevent serious injuries to passengers in the event of a side impact.
The airbag pressure cartridges play a key role here, as they provide the necessary pressure for
the airbags to deploy. With its highly developed machines and production lines, GFU –
Maschinenbau GmbH ensures that these cartridges are produced efficiently and reliably. GFU –
Maschinenbau GmbH forming machines contribute to the high quality and safety of these life-
saving systems.
Side airbags are particularly valuable as side collisions at high speeds are among the most dangerous accidents. Due to the minimal side crumple zone in cars, side airbags must deploy particularly quickly to absorb the impact. The airbag pressure cartridge ensures rapid deployment of the curtain airbag, which is installed in the headliner. This protects and stabilizes the head by preventing it from hitting the vehicle structure in the event of a side impact. This indirectly relieves pressure on the cervical spine, reducing the risk of serious spinal injuries. In combination with other airbag systems in the vehicle, such as front airbags or center airbags, the body remains compact and is cushioned even at high speeds. Thanks to this innovative technology, side airbags significantly increase safety for the driver and front passenger and increase the likelihood of surviving such a serious collision. (Source: https://airbagbank.eu/de)
The side airbag for the driver and front passenger is usually installed in the backrests of the seats and protects the chest and thorax area in particular, as it is ideally adapted to the sitting position of the occupants. This is somewhat more difficult for passengers in the rear seats: here, the side airbags are often installed in the doors and deploy in the event of a side impact with the aid of the airbag pressure cartridge. Curtain airbags, also known as curtain airbags, provide additional protection by deploying from the headliner and covering the window front. (Source:https://airbagbank.eu/de)
Basically, side airbags work just like all other airbags. In the event of a collision, the sensors located throughout the vehicle send a signal to the airbag control unit. Within a few milliseconds, this forwards the signal to the airbag pressure cartridge or the gas generator, which then triggers the airbag. (Source:https://airbagbank.eu/de)
Front airbags are fitted in the steering wheel for the driver and in the dashboard on the passenger side. They are designed to provide the best possible protection for the driver and front passenger in the event of a frontal collision by cushioning the impact on the vehicle interior. (https://freeyou.de/blog)
These airbag systems use pyrotechnic gas generators to fill the airbag quickly and deflate approximately 150 ms after deployment. Side airbags and curtain airbags (also known as curtain airbags ), on the other hand, use cold gas generators. The gas is stored in the airbag cartridges under high pressure. After the airbag is activated, a membrane is destroyed by pyrotechnics so that the gas quickly fills the airbag and achieves the desired protective effect.
