Smiths Detection Provides High-Speed Document Scanners for TSA Pilot Program at Four Major U.S. Airports

Business Wire, Sept 13, 2004

PINE BROOK, N.J. -- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport First to Test Document Scanning Technology

Smiths Detection, the world's leading provider of trace detection equipment, today announced it has been selected by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to participate in a multi-airport pilot program. Smiths Detection is supplying its Ionscan Document Scanners, which have the capability to detect and identify traces of explosive substances by scanning passenger travel documents, such as driver's licenses and boarding passes. The deployment of the scanner is the first of its kind in an airport.

"Following successful tests of the document scanner as part of the TSA's Transit Rail Inspection Pilot project (TRIP), we are pleased to participate in this airport program," said Bill Mawer, President, Smiths Detection North America. "The Ionscan Document Scanner provides a high level of reliability and exceptional explosive detection performance."

Samples are collected by swiping the surface of documents such as driver's licenses, passports and other travel documents over a sample disc. Subsequently, the sample disc is automatically brought into the detector for analysis and a display presents the results to operators. The analysis cycle takes between six and eight seconds. If detection is made, the specific explosive is identified on the display. Positive detection would mean that trace amounts of a particular explosive have been found on the item sampled and would indicate that an explosive device may be present or that the person may have been in contact with explosive material.

Ronald Reagan Washington National is the first airport to conduct an operational test of the Ionscan Document Scanner. Tests are expected to be launched at Los Angeles International Airport, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport by the end of this month. The Document Scanner is currently in use at various international transportation centers, including Israel.

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.