Smiths Detection Wins Major Brazilian Ports Contract

Smiths Detection, part of global technology business Smiths Group, has won a major contract to supply 13 high-energy X-ray cargo scanners for truck and container inspection at ports throughout Brazil.

The contract, for mobile and stationary systems, was concluded with Abratec (Brazilian Association of Container Terminals for Public Use), which accounts for about three-quarters of the freight that transits national ports.

Danilo Dias, CEO of Smiths Detection Brasil, said: "The flow of cargo through Brazilian ports is growing so fast every year that there is an urgent need for a sophisticated national system of security scanning.  Smiths Detection is already established as the leader in Brazil both for supplying these scanners and providing technical back-up."

Abratec President Sergio Martins said: "We chose Smiths Detection because of its very consistent technical and price proposal. We are confident that this decision was the best for our members."

The high-energy cargo inspection systems can scan a complete truck in a single automated pass. They are used to inspect for threats such as explosives, narcotics, weapons of mass destruction and contraband.  The 13 scanners, chosen after a thorough analysis of the security requirements and port infrastructures, are due to be delivered in 2012.

Smiths Detection purchased its Sao Paulo-based distributor in May 2011 to take direct control over its sales in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Brazil will host the football World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016.