AS&E continues brisk U.S. government business in X-ray security screening vans
BILLERICA, Mass., 10 May 2010. Security screening systems designers at American Science and Engineering Inc. (AS&E) in Billerica, Mass., continue to do a brisk business with the U.S. government for the company's Z Backscatter Van, a mobile screening system with “drive-by” capability that enables operators to conduct X-ray imaging while the van drives past suspect vehicles and objects.
AS&E announced a $13.9 million U.S. government order today for several Z Backscatter Van screening system, which the company says is the industry’s top-selling mobile X-ray screening system.
The ZBV is a low-cost, mobile security screening system built into a commercially available delivery van, which allows for immediate deployment with its high throughput capability for rapid inspection in response to security threats.
AS&E won a U.S. Air Force contract of undetermined value on 21 April from the Air Mobility Command in Dover, Del., for a ZBV X-ray system.
One day before, on 20 April, the company won a $48.8 million U.S. Army contract to supply as many as 37 37 backscatter van military trailer scanner systems for entry control points in Afghanistan. Awarding that contract was the Army Research, Development & Engineering Command, Natick Contracting Division, Orlando, Fla.
“We continue to receive outstanding field performance reports from ZBV customers,” says Anthony Fabiano, AS&E's president and chief executive officer. “The ZBV has proven to be a valuable tool for customs, law enforcement, and military officials for the detection of drugs, explosives, contraband, and stowaways."
AS&E's security screening systems use a combination of technologies, including Z Backscatter technology, radioactive threat detection (RTD), high-energy transmission, and dual energy transmission X-ray.
These technologies can detect plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs, and nuclear devices for applications in port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems.
For more information contact American Science and Engineering online at www.as-e.com.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
