Smiths Detection to Provide High-Speed Explosive Detection Systems to Washington DC's Union Station; Nation's First Test for Screening Checked Baggage Boarded On Trains

Business Wire, June 7, 2004

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PINE BROOK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2004

Smiths Detection, the world's leading supplier of baggage screening systems, today announced it has been selected by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to participate in a pilot program at Washington's Union Station to screen checked passenger baggage for explosives. As part of a pilot program beginning this month, the TSA will utilize Smiths Detection's high speed 'Explosive Detection tomography System' (EDtS), an automated multi-view tomography system designed to screen checked baggage for explosives. The test is the first ever to screen checked baggage boarded on trains. The Smiths Detection EDtS machine is the fastest automatic screening system in use today.

"We are pleased to have been selected by the TSA to participate in this unique program to screen checked baggage," said Bill Mawer, President, Smiths Detection North America. "EDtS is a proven technology that is scalable, automated and can detect explosives that threaten trains on the nation's rail system."

The EDtS installation at Union Station is part of the second phase of the Transportation Security Administration's Transit and Rail Inspection Pilot. The first phase took place in May at the New Carrollton, Md. train station where Smiths Detection provided Ionscan 400Bs, desktop trace explosives detection systems for screening carry-on luggage.

The EDtS is a multi-view tomography system capable of screening up to 1,800 checked bags an hour automatically and reliably. It allows for multidimensional image evaluation to detect blasting agents, including industrial and military plastic explosives. The EDtS has been selected by Frankfurt and Hamburg Airports in Germany and by the British Airports Authority for use at some of the UK's major international airports.

About the EDtS

The EDtS can accommodate passenger baggage of up to 42 inches (107 cm) wide by 32 inches (81 cm) high, reducing the need for the manual inspection of oversized bags.

The EDtS utilizes sophisticated multiplexing techniques for image queuing and alarm resolution.

About Smiths Detection

Smiths Detection North America, based in New Jersey, is part of Smiths Detection, which is one of four operating divisions of Smiths Group plc. Smiths Detection offers technologically advanced security solutions to detect and identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons, and contraband, plus specialist applications for life sciences and food manufacturing industries. Employing trace detection technology together with Smiths-Heimann x-ray imaging, Smiths Detection provides security solutions for customers in homeland security and defense markets worldwide.

For more information visit: www.smithsdetection.com.