Case Study: Britax-Römer achieves 1.8 kg weight reduction and improved side-impact safety with Altair

Using Simulation Technology to Reduce Weight and Improve Safety of Child Restraint Systems

Britax‑Römer, a world leader in child restraint systems, needed to improve safety performance while minimizing weight and shortening development time for new child seats. They partnered with Altair (via Altair ProductDesign) and used Altair’s HyperWorks simulation suite — including OptiStruct and topology optimization — to get more value from CAE early in the design process.

Altair ProductDesign applied topology optimization and virtual validation to redesign major seat components (seat shell, base, plates and brackets), reducing weight by 1.8 kg (3.97 lbs), improving side-impact performance, meeting cost targets and shortening the development cycle; the Trifix seat later won a Red Dot product design award. Altair’s simulation-led approach also cut prototyping needs and left Britax‑Römer with lasting IP and a stronger CAE-driven process.

Britax-Römer

Iain Powell

European Advanced Engineering Manager