Automotive: BMW headrests spring into action

Carmaker BMW has started installing plastic crash-active headrests designed to provide even greater protection to passengers against whiplash trauma, utilizing multiple resin from BASF. In case of a rear impact at a speed of more than 12 km/hour (about 7.5 miles/hour), an actuator in the headrest is automatically triggered. A pre-tensioned spring moves the front half of the headrest forward and upward almost instantaneously. This reduces the distance between the back of the head and the headrest, thus lessening the risk of neck injury due to an overextension of the cervical vertebra.

The kinematic skeleton for these headrests are processed primarily of engineering plastics Ultradur B4300 G6 (PBT), Ultramid B3EG3 (PA 6), Ultramid A3K (PA 66), and Elastollan (TPU), all from supplier BASF. The plastic framework is molded by ITW in its fully automated assembly plant in R&ooml;ttingen, Germany and the headrest is subsequently assembled at Grammer in Amberg, Germany, not far from BMW headquarters.—[email protected]