ABS RECALL ACTION

ABS RECALLS EUROPEAN STEEL CARTRIDGES AND ABS TWINBAG SYSTEMS FOR CHECKING

The producer and filler of ABS steel cartridges has detected problems in the filling process, and it is possible that steel cartridges that have already been delivered may have been contaminated during filling. The contamination residues could block the airbag system during subsequent activation. So far three instances of this problem, caused by the supplier, have occurred during training activations.

We are working very hard to return your ABS backpack to you as soon as possible. The recall is important to be able to guarantee a reliable activation. The current processing time is  around 2 weeks. We would like to ask for your understanding and apologise for the inconvenience caused.

GO TO RECALL FORM

TO "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS"

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The following products are affected by the recall:

• all European ABS activation units in steel (cartridge + handle) with a filling date till 02.12.2014
• ABS backpacks with integrated Twinbag system (double airbag) on the market since 1996, including ABS Inside Partner models (Bergans, Dakine, Deuter, Haglöfs, Ortovox, Salewa, The North Face, Vaude). Please check under "frequently asked questions" if your TwinBag is affected.

Products not affected by the recall:

• Carbon cartridges
• Aluminium cartridges
• Steel cartridges with a filling date from 03.12.2014
• ABS Monoairbags
• Yellow steel cartriges from North America

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Contact:

• For any questions about the recall please dial: +49-89-898789-66
  We are available:  Monday - Friday from 09AM till noon and from 01-05 PM
  
• Of course you can also e-mail us at service@abs-airbag.com: we will answer as soon as possible.

 

What are the next steps?

If you have products affected by this recall, please follow these instructions:

• Complete the recall form on our website (see below) and send it off: you will immediately be sent a confirmation e-mail with your reference number.
• Pack your products in one package and frank it sufficiently. The backpack should be sent completely empty, without shovel and probe etc. Add your printed confirmation email with the reference number to the package.
• Your products will be tested by ABS specialists. If your products are affected by the recall, they will be repaired or replaced accordingly.
• If you like, you can also get your backpack checked directly by one of our ABS dealers in Austria or Germany. An overview of all participating dealers can be downloaded here.
• Attention! For our customers in Switzerland:
  The control runs through our service partner in Switzerland. Please register on our website and add your printed confirmation email with the reference number to the package. Please send your package sufficiently franked to the following address:
  
  

  ABS Protection GmbH
  Rückruf
  c/o Nitro AG
  Bösch 104
  6331 Hünenberg
  Schweiz
  
  No personal drop off or pickup possible.

• The current processing time is approximately 4 weeks. ABS pays the return shipment to you. In case of any questions please contact our customer service at +49 89 898 789 66 or via email to service@abs-airbag.com .
• Customers from Norway: Please get in touch with our customer service via phone +49 89 898 789 66 or email under service@abs-airbag.com
• Attention! For our customers in France:
  The control runs through our service partner in France. Please register on our website and add your printed confirmation email with the reference number to the package. Please send your package sufficiently franked to the following address:
  
  ABS Avalanche Airbag SARL
  206 Rue Charlet Straton
  F-74400 Argentière
  France
• Customers from UK: The control runs through our service partner Noble Custom in UK. After your registration please get in contact with our British service partner via email under miles@noblecustom.co.uk or via phone +44 (0) 1509 889 195

• Customers from Denmark: The control runs through our service partner Intersurf A/S. Please register on our website and attach the printed confirmation email to your package. Please send your package sufficiently franked to the following address:

Intersurf A/S pays the return shipment to you. In case of any questions please contact Intersurf A/S directly under +45 (0) 75 - 220 211 or via email at info@intersurf.dk.

• Customers from Finland and Sweden: Please activate your backpack with your steel cartridge and return your backpack with ABS System together with the empty steel cartridge sufficiently franked back to the ABS production in Germany:

The empty cartridge is not considered as a dangerous good and can therefore be forwarded with every parcel service. The refilling charges are to our expenses.

GO TO RECALL FORM

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Current status:

Up to the end of September 2015, we carried out mechanical and visual checks on approx. 40.000 ABS systems, of which 90 were covered by the recall and were duly exchanged.

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Press release

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 been found.

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.

Downloads

• Letter Peter Aschauer

  (PDF 112KB)

• Dealers who check ABS backpacks

  (PDF 222KB)