ZF introduces lightweight seatbelt system on Jeep Wrangler

German supplier made strong progress in reducing debt, meeting sales and earnings target in 2017

ZF has launched its next-generation SPR8 (Snake Pretensioner Retractor) seatbelt system on the Jeep Wrangler SUV, the company said in a press release on 15 January. According to the German supplier, its lightweight system uses a plastic piston instead of conventional metal components to transfer tensioning torque through the torsion bar to the spool, resulting in weight saving of more than 20%. Apart from the weight saving, use of the plastics results in simpler design and more compact packaging.