Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Recently, ZF LIFETEC's Xi'an base, officially known as ZF Dongfang Automotive Safety Technology (Xi'an) Co., Ltd., held a groundbreaking ceremony for its airbag inflator capacity expansion and R&D center project, according to a post on ZF LIFETEC's WeChat account.
The initiative aims to enhance existing inflator production lines and establish a comprehensive inflator R&D laboratory. Once completed, the Xi'an facility will become ZF LIFETEC's largest inflator production base in the Asia-Pacific region.
Established in 2010, ZF LIFETEC's Xi'an base focuses on the R&D, production, and sales of hybrid inflator, serving major vehicle manufacturers across the global markets. According to ZF LIFETEC, increasing market demand has necessitated capacity expansion to maintain production efficiency and meet future requirements.
In July this year, ZF LIFETEC signed an agreement with Xi'an Economic and Technological Development Zone to build the inflator capacity expansion and R&D center project in Jingwei Industrial Park. Construction has now officially commenced, with trial operations expected by 2025.
Upon reaching full capacity, the project is set to achieve an annual production capacity of several million inflator and hood lifters. The R&D center will leverage ZF LIFETEC's expertise in passive safety technology, establishing a comprehensive laboratory with material testing, structural strength analysis, and product validation capabilities. It is dedicated to developing the next generation of hybrid inflator.
Dr. Nick Song, Vice President of ZF LIFETEC Asia Pacific, emphasized that the new core factory and R&D center will work closely with ZF LIFETEC's airbag manufacturing facilities to serve prominent domestic and international automakers.
ZF LIFETEC, formerly ZF's Passive Safety Systems Division, became an independent company following its spin-off in March 2023. By the end of September, the separation process was successfully completed.
In late October, ZF LIFETEC's new Asia-Pacific headquarters opened in Jiading, Shanghai, consolidating resources to enhance operational efficiency. Additionally, ZF LIFETEC has launched construction projects in Weihai and Wuhan.
In terms of R&D innovation, ZF LIFETEC has rolled out multiple advanced passive safety products, including the new smart seat belt, the seat-integrated ACR8.S belt retractor, and the retractable steering wheel.
