National Press Release

DEARBORN, Mich., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- International Automotive Components (IAC) will illustrate its leadership in safety and environmental innovation at the 2008 Ward's Auto Interiors Show on June 4-5 at Cobo Center in Detroit. Using an array of diverse products and manufacturing processes as a backdrop, IAC will present and showcase industry-leading door system technology, instrument panel and overhead system initiatives that hint at the future of vehicle interior systems.

"IAC is committed to a development process that ensures the safety and dependability of all of our products," said Maurice Sessel, vice president, Product Engineering at IAC. "Safety is our first priority, and that has helped us achieve market-leading positions in doors, cockpits and overhead systems. As a tier-one supplier we weigh all of our customers' demands and product strategies when determining where to advance technology."

An example of IAC's commitment to efficiency in addressing customers' safety demands lies within the impact absorbing countermeasure currently in place on the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe. The molded countermeasure within the door assembly helps customers meet FMVSS 214 standards for side-impact collision and helps protect occupants. The IAC technology is also tunable to the fifth and fiftieth percentile occupant, dissipating energy more efficiently and predictably than previous solutions by directing energy from an impact point, evenly distributing the force felt by occupants inside the vehicle.

In addition to tangible safety benefits, the door panel support system is made of recyclable high crystalline polypropylene (HCPP). This flexible technology maintains a 100 percent thermoplastic system and produces a 15-30 percent mass, cost and freight savings.

In the overhead systems realm, IAC offers a protective headliner that enhances safety and provides structural integrity. IAC's innovative foam in place technology replaces the traditional 26 components with one consistent canopy of protection that provides a total system weight reduction of four pounds. The technology utilizes energy absorbing polyurethane foam cohesively bonded to combat labor-intensive manufacturing processes, eliminate hot melt adhesives and add structural integrity during installation.

"In making interior system applications flexible and efficient in design, IAC helps customers save weight, time and money," said Sessel. "With fewer parts in the assembly, material costs are greatly reduced."

IAC applied this philosophy to its current seamless airbag door technology for instrument panels, reducing a 33 piece steel construction to a three piece system. By simplifying the design and utilizing a laser scored tear seam, the three piece thermoplastic construction, which is available for various top pad constructions, not only delivers the desired cost and weight savings, but also significantly reduces complexity. This system simplification eliminates several associated failure modes, endures a 93 percent reduction in secondary operations and totals 1.6 pounds of mass savings over the conventional steel construction.

In addition to Sessel's presentation on improving safety at Ward's Auto Interiors Show on June 4 at 8:30 a.m., Wilbur Ross, chairman and CEO, W.L. Ross & Co. LLC and chairman, IAC Group, will provide a keynote address outlining the impact of economic variables on the supply industry's present situation and eventual recovery to show attendees June 5 at 10 a.m.; John Smail, vice president - NA Commercial Group, IAC, will participate in a panel discussion on "Private Equity Brings New Birth, New Business Model" on June 5 at 2 p.m.; and Susan Kozora, engineering manager, IAC, will discuss the "Criticality of Environmental and Sustainability Considerations Early in Product Design" on June 5 at 8:30 a.m.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP

International Automotive Components Group is a leading global supplier of automotive components and systems, including interior and exterior trim and structural and functional applications. IAC's annual global revenue exceeds $5.3 billion. International Automotive Components Group operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries with more than 28,000 employees. IAC ranks #13 on the 2008 Automotive News Top 150 North American Supplier Listing and #1 on the Plastics News North American Injection Molding Listing. For more information, visit www.iacgroup.com .

SOURCE International Automotive Components