Smiths Detection

2,100 employees
£438m sales*
£78.6m headline operating profit*

*Source: Smiths Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2007

Group Managing Director:

Stephen Phipson

Principal operating regions:

Manufacturing is concentrated in North America, Germany, France and the UK.

 

Smiths Detection is part of the global technology business Smiths Group. It offers advanced integrated security solutions for customers in civil and military markets worldwide and is a leading technology developer and manufacturer of sensors that detect and identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons, and contraband. Its advanced technology security solutions also include Smiths Heimann x-ray imaging systems, millimetre-wave technology and a specialist software supply business for the management of large sensor and video surveillance networks. Separate business units focus on related products for the life sciences and food manufacturing industries. For more information visit www.smithsdetection.com

Customers & Markets

Smiths Detection provides a vast range of advanced technologies – including trace detection, x-ray, millimetre wave, infra-red and biological agent analysis – for the transportation, critical infrastructure, ports and borders, military and emergency responder markets. Some 85% of sales are influenced by governments around the world including homeland security authorities, customs authorities, emergency responders and the military.

Transportation

• Smiths Detection’s systems screen people and luggage for hidden explosives, narcotics and contraband in 85% of the world’s airports.

• Smiths Detection’s counter-terrorism equipment is deployed on mass transit rail systems to help protect the travelling public from terrorist attacks.

Critical Infrastructure

• Smiths Detection protects industries and institutions, buildings and distribution networks that are essential to everyday life - including commercial, public and government facilities - with its advanced counter-terrorism technologies.

Ports & Borders

Smiths Detection’s x-ray inspection systems screen fully loaded trucks and containers, monitoring cross-border cargo to:
• Reduce international shipments of contraband and
• Screen for explosives, arms, dirty bombs and weapons of mass destruction.

Emergency Responders

• Smiths Detection equips emergency response teams with advanced chemical, biological and hazardous agent detectors and identifiers, enabling them to face potentially toxic incidents with confidence.

Military

• Smiths Detection’s advanced chemical and biological agent detectors help protect many armed forces from attack by potentially lethal warfare agents.

In Action: Helping governments tackle drug smuggling worldwide

Smiths Detection’s technology is helping governments tackle drug smuggling worldwide. Smiths Detection’s mobile x-ray system helped Peruvian authorities seize one of the largest drug smuggling shipments in the country’s history in 2006. A team of Peruvian customs and police officers used a Smiths Detection Silhouette Scan CAB 2000 to conduct a preliminary inspection on a suspicious container. A thorough physical inspection resulted in the capture of 900 kilograms (1,800 pounds) of narcotics, with an estimated street value of $25 million.

Smiths Detection’s equipment also enabled Customs officials in the Caribbean to seize more than $40 million of cocaine hidden in cargo containers bound for Belgium. The cocaine was located by a machine which had been installed only the previous weekend and was the same type used in Peru.

Fast facts:

• Smiths Detection’s technology is installed in over 85% of the world’s airports.

• More than 250 of our cargo-screening systems are in operation in over 50 countries.

• Smiths Detection’s high energy HCV cargo screening systems can inspect 25-30 trucks per hour and the most powerful can penetrate up to 16 inches/410mm of steel, enabling customs and border officials to operate effectively in preventing cross-border movement of contraband and illicit goods.

• Over 700 Smiths Detection automatic hold baggage systems have been installed in international airports, keeping passengers safe when they fly.

• Smiths Detection has supplied 70,000 Chemical Agent Monitors to military forces in 30 countries, protecting the forces from chemical contamination in high risk situations.

• Smiths Detection has supplied more than 10,000 explosives trace detectors worldwide.

• Smiths Detection has delivered more than 40,000 x-ray systems all over the world.

• Smiths Detection has delivered 40,000 GID-3 chemical agent detectors worldwide, 30,000 of which were supplied to the US military forces.