CBRNe News May 2010
Product Watch
Tri-Air webinar
Tri-Air Developments, a biological air decontamination company, announced that they will be holding a Webinar on their system on July 8 at 16.00 (BST). Tri-Air are an interesting company, coming out of the BSL market, having a classic low regret countermeasure – no-one else knows that the air is being decontaminated. The system uses non-thermal plasma, ultraviolet catalysis and Hydroxyl radicals to get a 99.99999% clean atmosphere and surface. Admittedly that all sounds far-fetched, and has long scientific words in it, but it doesn’t need filters, can be queued by any detector and has zero toxicity. Find out more, and register for the webinar, at www.tri-airdevelopments.com
First ¼ Results
RAE announced their first quarter results, with a small drop on their results compared to the same quarter in 2009 - $18.8 million rather than $19.1 million. The US and Asia still make up the largest part of their market, 44% and 37% respectively, with Europe following far behind with 19%. RAE Systems’ CEO was delighted with the result as it was their second highest first quarter result in their history.
ICx meanwhile reported revenues of $40.6 million, down from $47.4 million in the same quarter last year. Despite the lower revenue EBITDA profitability soared from $.8 million to $2.1 million, a staggering 163%! This increase was down to “high gross margins on product sales in the Detection group” – stated the report. Just so you know, all you purchasers of ICx’s high gross margins, sorry, detectors.
Smiths News
Clearly May was the new product month for Smiths Detection, with a clutch of new items. First was their LCD-Nexus, the beady-eyed may have spotted an early version of this at the Shrivenham conference last November, this is essentially two LCD/JCADs lashed together, with one set to pick up CWA and one for TICs. This is aimed at facility, or area, detection – rather than the individual as LCD is – and Smiths state that it offers the highest level of detection in a portable unit, providing class, type, concentration, dosage and CWA identification.
The second was the latest version of their Smart Bio Sensor (SBS), which has increased sensitivity and enhanced software – which they claim offers wide usage for the device. The third device is their new HazmatID 360, which has improved data scrutiny, mixture algorithms, a large library, hazard classification for non-library items, Bluetooth and integrated PEAC-WMD software, courtesy of Aristatek. What is quite nice is that existing HazmatIDs can be upgraded to include these new capabilities.
Finally there is the HGVI Linx, which has “pioneering” software to provide a command center view, advanced software algorithms, GPS functionality and RF transmission technology. The command centre view allows information from up to 16 HGVIs to be overlaid on a map up to one kilometre away from the incident.
Portendo and BAE join forces
Portendo AB, a stand-off raman manufacturer, has announced that it has signed a marketing agreement with BAE Systems for them to sell their P Eye S product in the US and Canada. The P Eye S is an explosive detector, can be vehicle mounted and will detect home made explosives and military grade – effectively making it an IED detector.
Eurosatory News
Check out Saint Gobains One Suit, at stand D461, Hall 6. Aerosekur meanwhile will be showing their line of PPE at EF760 in Hall 6.
Alexium put down roots
Following on from their work on JFIRE, fabric treatment company Alexium announced that they have built a new facility in
Spore killer!
sBioMed (seriously, that is how it is spelled – what is it with random capitalisation noWadaYs?) announced that they have a sterilant that can kill anthrax in under 30 minutes. Designed for the BSL3 market their Steriplex disinfectant has been approved by the EPA as an anthrax disinfectant and is supposed to be soft on buildings and interiors. The product was initially created from items bought from a local grocery store and 500 tests later they found the right mix to kill anthrax, brucellosis, tularaemia and plague.
VeriTainer
Veritainer, the crane mounted scanning technology company, announced that it had a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. The CRADA will enhance and refine their system with approximately $4 million being spent over the next three and a half years. Veritainer have a good system, it will be interesting to see it improve.
RST and FDNY
Radiation Shield Technologies, manufacturer of the Demron radiological protective clothing, announced that they had sold protective vests to the FDNY for their CPC Upgrade Program (see CBRNe World Summer 2010). The vests will protect their vital organs from gamma radiation, as well as alpha and beta, and is accompanied by some blankets that will provide radiation, flame and acid protection.
Czech ChemWatch
The Prague Metro is to have a new chemical detection and evacuation system. The City Public Transport Company, has been working on the system for the past 15 years, after the
It will allow them to target which stations need to be evacuated and afflicted stations will have escalators that only go up and no trains will stop there. The system has cost millions of Crowns and given the Czech’s chemical detection capability is likely to be something special – more soon!
Threat Watch
Russian Drills
Two Russian Warships went through their NBC drills in the
Securing the City
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced legislation to provide long term funding for the Securing the Cities initiative, that combines federal, state and local resources to protect the
Meanwhile Senator Charles Schumer was requesting additional federal funding to put a ring of radiological and biological detectors around
Unfortunately the White House didn’t share Senator Schumer’s views and slashed funding for NYC, taking $42 million from the City’s mass transit security. Their proposals for extra patrols on trains and improved biological detection will have to wait, as will their Port security improvements that lost $11.2 million. Wow...
Georgian smuggling
If you have an interest in radiological smuggling – and who doesn’t – we’d recommend this story, it is too good to bowdlerise - http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18497&Itemid=132
You’re barred!
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Death toll.
A researcher from
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