A&P Technology's cutting edge braiding enables ASD Simula's ingenious side impact airbags. In this application, the natural "Chinese handcuff" action of the braid is used in reverse. By inflating a biaxial braid internally it expands in diameter and shrinks in length. ASD Simula, Phoenix, Arizona, harnesses this phenomenon to create a device that is stowed in an elongated configuration. Upon inflation, it self deploys into a position to cushion a vehicle occupant's head in event of a side impact.

While a braid made on any size machine would accommodate the requirement of shrinking in length while expanding in diameter, only braid made with A&P Technology's unique large braider technology would meet the rigid requirements of this market. The tube needs to have full coverage of the fabric at the six inch inflated diameter so that it can handle internal pressurization without damage to the bladder material. At the same time, the bag fabric needs to have a thin enough profile to be stowed in a small volume beneath the trim above the door.

These large machines have inspired the use of braid in a variety of applications which in turn, have spawned the development of an entire family of large braiding machines ranging from 172 carriers to 800. These large machines allow for the braiding of lightweight, full coverage sleevings for applications such as water skis, wakeboards and snowboards. At the same time as providing fabrics for articles with large cross sections, the need has been very apparent to reduce the costs of braided fabrics. In creating this new line of equipment, A&P Technology has yielded a process capable of making competitive products that enable dramatic new technologies as well as breakthrough reductions in total component costs.