Smiths Detection Displays New Explosives Detection Technology

The Smiths HI-SCAN 6040 aTiX is an x-ray inspection system that automatically detects explosives in hand baggage. It will also alert security officers to the presence of liquids in a bag.

aTiX spots the presence of all liquids but does not identify them.

It automatically highlights potential threats with a red box on a display screen. This alerts the operator to take a closer look. He or she then has the option to use a second technology to identify the suspicious liquid and determine whether it is potentially dangerous.

Suspect liquids can be identified with a hand-held analyser, such as the Smiths RespondeR RCI. Based on Raman spectroscopy, this is a highly accurate device for the analysis of unidentified chemical substances including unknown liquids, powders and solids.

Stephen Phipson, Group Managing Director of Smiths Detection, said: "If the use of these two systems together is successful in these trials, it will provide a technique to detect liquid explosives."

*HI-SCAN and aTiX are trade marks of Smiths Group of companies

31st October 2006