ABS are requesting an immediate recall on all European steel cartridges (black) currently in use with a filling date of before 3 December 2014. All backpacks with ABS TwinBag systems (dual airbags) that have been activated with a steel cartridge also need to be returned to ABS for checking. Full statement from ABS as follows:
Avalanche airbag manufacturer ABS is responding to a fault caused by a supplier with an immediate recall action: all European steel cartridges (black) currently in use with a filling date of before 3 December 2014 must be replaced. It is possible that, during the supplier’s filling process, machining residues could have entered the cartridge which would prevent the airbag system from functioning in future. All backpacks with ABS TwinBag systems (dual airbags) that have been activated with a steel cartridge are therefore to be returned to ABS for checking. ABS carbon cartridges and ABS Mono airbags are not affected.
The producer and filler of the steel cartridges used in airbag systems has informed ABS that the steel cartridges supplied may have been contaminated with machining residues during the filling process. These particles could block the ABS system during activation. So far three instances of this problem, caused by the supplier, have occurred during training activations.
ABS places great emphasis on the quality and safety of its products. The Bavaria-based company is therefore recalling all European steel cartridges with a filling date of before 3 December 2014 for replacement. The filling date is located together with the weight on a round sticker on the cartridge.
Owners of ABS TwinBag systems that have ever been activated with a European steel cartridge (e.g. for training purposes) must now return their avalanche backpacks to ABS for checking. A system check is required because previous activation of the ABS system may have caused the machining residues to have entered the system which might thus hinder or even prevent subsequent activation. Backpacks fitted with ABS TwinBag systems that are still in their original packaging or have never been activated with a steel cartridge are not affected and do not have to be returned, only the steel cartridges must be replaced. ABS Mono airbags and ABS carbon cartridges are equally unaffected.
ABS promptly informed the trade and the company has in addition set up a hotline for end consumers and dealers. For all information about the next steps for the recall action see abs-airbag.com/recall