Rinehart Motion Systems Becomes Functional-Safety Certified

Rinehart Motion Systems leveraged LHP’s Functional Safety Expressway to open the doors to new business and safety certification.

COLUMBUS, Ind. --- Last November, LHP introduced the Functional Safety Expressway as a response to the new safety-critical regulations (ISO 26262) that are impacting the design and development of all on-highway vehicles, including trucks, buses, trailers, semitrailers, and motorcycles this year- See the original press release here.

The FSXpressway focuses on getting small companies and startups positioned to execute functional safety projects and refine their compliance process. LHP is striving to provide a comprehensive solution and pathway towards product compliance that not only addresses the technical and process hurdles, but also business limitations. Through LHP’s exclusive North American partnership with TÜV NORD, the world’s largest certifying body, LHP can help companies become ISO 26262 ready in as little as six months.

Rinehart Motion Systems (RMS), a provider of propulsion inverters and ancillary power electronics for new and emerging applications of electric and hybrid-electric ground vehicles, was an early adopter of the FSXpressway and has since opened the doors to new vehicle markets. After adopting the FSXpressway model, RMS has transformed its business model, and captured multiple safety-critical product development opportunities.

Steve Neemeh, LHP’s president of LHP’s Software Solutions group expresses that, “By working as partners and combining our respective domain expertise, we were able to transform the RMS business model to include safety-critical applications. We have created a model through which small companies can compete in a stringent regulatory environment, which is key for engineering innovation.”

In less than a year from adoption, the RMS/LHP team developed the internal processes, upgraded the design consideration in hardware and software, itemized the production process, and set a structure that allows for compliance to safety standards. Validation of those steps was performed by TÜV NORD, a globally-recognized certification body.

In addition, by leveraging decades of aerospace design experience, LHP also supported RMS in the expansion of the process into aerospace safety standards, which has resulted in sales in a market new to the company.

"We are in the midst of a major change in our industry. Two years ago, none of our customers needed or were concerned about functional safety-compliant products. Today, however, nearly every customer is looking for a solution that can comply – maybe not this quarter, or this year, but very soon. Thanks to our collaboration with LHP, we are now the first small supplier of propulsion system electronics that can credibly tell new customers that we are fully qualified to take on the challenge of developing a compliant product for their needs. I cannot overstate the competitive advantage this gives us, and the access to new market segments it opens for us."

Larry Rinehart, president of RMS