The Bavarian avalanche airbag manufacturer ABS is recalling all of its European steel cartridges and TWINBAG systems that have been on the market since 1996. Tests have shown that some of the steel cartridges supplied were contaminated by machining residues during filling. These particles can block the release.
This affects all European steel cartridges in circulation with a filling date before December 3, 2014, including ABS Inside Partner models such as Bergans, Dakine, Deuter, Haglöfs, Ortovox, Salewa, The North Face and Vaude. Owners of an ABS TwinBag system that has already been triggered once with a European steel cartridge must send their backpacks to ABS for inspection. An inspection is necessary as contamination may have already entered the system during previous deployments. Backpacks that are still in their original packaging or have never been triggered do not need to be sent in. All you need to do is send in the trigger unit, i.e. the steel cartridge and handle.
The following products are not affected by the recall:
Carbon cartridges
Steel cartridges with a fill date from 03.12.2014
ABS mono airbags
If you own a backpack or cartridges that are affected by the recall
Fill out the following return form from ABS. You will then receive a process number and a shipping label from DHL by email.
Then pack your products and send them to ABS.
If your products are affected, they will be repaired or replaced accordingly.
You can find more information here.
