Implant Sciences Corporation, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of explosives trace detection (ETD) solutions for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) applications, announced on June 9 that the company’s ETDs have been deployed to over 160 airports across the United States and Europe over the past twelve months.
The company stated that over 1,000 units of their QS-B220 desktop explosives and drugs trace detector were sold in Europe in support of the European Civil Aviation Conference’s demand to increase security in over 70 European airports in 14 countries.
Additional shipments of 1,170 units, which are part of an order placed by TSA in November 2014, are being deployed at nearly 200 US airports. In December 2015, the company delivered its first shipment of QS-B220 desktop ETDs to airports across the United States.
Implant Sciences also announced the capture of the 122 unit order from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority in January 2016. Those units are also currently being deployed to airports across Canada.
“In winning competitive bid after competitive bid, Implant Sciences’ QS-B220 is now the most widely deployed non-radioactive ETD in the world," stated Dr. Darryl Jones, Implant Sciences’ Executive Vice President.
The QS-B220 uses Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) to detect and identify trace amounts of a wide variety of military, commercial, and homemade explosives.
The product features a radioactive material-free design, push-button maintenance and diagnostics, and a patented inCal internal automatic calibration system.
A handheld ETD, QS-H150 is being sold by the company as well. The product won a competitive contract with a North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) member state in 2014. The contract included a purchase of 18 units.
“The importance of having effective aviation security cannot be overstated,” Jones said. “It is Implant Sciences’ mission to support the safety of passengers as well as the employees of the airports.”
ETDs have increased in demand recently following domestic and international terrorist threats and the increase of transportation-related people and cargo screening lanes globally. Homeland Security Research Corporation analysts forecast that the cumulative 2015-2020 transportation-related ETD market—including systems sales, service, consumables and upgrades—will present $4.2 billion in market growth.
“We have made great progress in aviation security and we have a number of other markets with noteworthy opportunities in view. We are proud of our tremendous accomplishments in the aviation security sector and look forward to continuing to execute on delivering mission critical and life-saving technology to security operations and professionals,” said Robert Liscouski, Implant Sciences’ President.
