Jenoptik sells laser perforating system for airbags to Chinese company

Duesseldorf, Germany - Jenoptik has sold a Jenoptik-Votan A laser perforating system to the Chinese company Yanfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems Co., Ltd. (YFV), making it the 200th unit worldwide. The representatives of YFV and of the Jenoptik Lasers & Material Processing division also laid the foundations for further joint projects at the K plastics fair in Duesseldorf.

As China’s fourth largest automotive supplier, YFV is specialized in the manufacturing of dashboards for cars and uses Jenoptik laser perforating systems to create so-called predetermined breaking points for airbags.

These predetermined breaking points are created by laser perforation in airbag flaps. On the back of the material, the laser generates a tear line along the desired shape of the airbag flap. A specially developed sensor system prevents the laser from completely severing the material. However, the perforation line weakens the material in a way that allows the airbag to break through this line and open up during a collision.

The automotive supplier YFV had already purchased several laser systems from Jenoptik’s Lasers & Material Processing division since the cooperation began in 2002.

Patented laser perforation process
The Jenoptik-Votan A laser perforating system is suitable for the manufacture of concealed predetermined breaking points for passenger and knee airbags in car dashboards. The system is capable of processing single or multi-layer materials and decorative layers made from plastic, textiles or leather, working quickly and reliably. Customer-specific solutions allow for flexible processing of airbag covers: the type of perforation holes, their spacing and the shape of the perforated line are variable and can be adjusted according to the type of material being used.

(Photo source: Jenoptik AG)