Demand for body scanners boosts R&D in industry

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The security industry's rush to secure a slice of the new global business in body scanners at airports and entry checkpoints in buildings has given a new impetus to research and development of all the related gadgetry.

Business worth billions of dollars is set to be generated from 2010 onwards because of the stepped-up security after the Christmas Day incident involving Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab aboard a Detroit-bound flight.

Abdulmutallab was indicted last week on charges of attempting to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane on Dec. 25, 2009, by igniting a package of explosives concealed in his underwear.

The resulting security clampdown shifted attention on technologies deployed to rule out repeat incidents. Body scanners, used in some but not all airports in Europe, North America and elsewhere, are currently the hottest commodity in the security industry, industry analysts said.

From simple scanners that cost a few thousand dollars to machines priced above $200,000 apiece, manufacturers have found an unexpected upturn in buyer interest in the equipment.

A rise in demand has also led to more investment being poured into research and development. Industry sources cited investments worth tens of billions of dollars made by speculative entrepreneurs diverted away from banks, bonds and stocks by low interest rates and poor yields.

One of the manufacturers, Orlando-based Brijot Imaging Systems, Wednesday unveiled two new whole-body imaging machines that preserve privacy and safety of those being scanned.

The device, known as a passive millimeter wave security checkpoint screening system, now comes in two new variations: SafeScreen and MobileScan, Brijot said.

"With the launch of these two products, Brijot takes its imaging systems to the next level by directly addressing the key deployment-related issues -- throughput, portability and footprint size," the company said.

With its small footprint, Brijot added, SafeScreen answers the infrastructure and operational needs of many airports and other facilities that have limited space to incorporate large-scale technologies.

SafeScreen is a compact device that can be used with existing passenger screening equipment for an added layer of security to enhance primary screening capabilities and throughput. It detects smaller objects, offers a low total cost of ownership, and requires minimal training and maintenance, said the company.

MobileScan, the first fully portable whole-body imaging system, is a self-contained unit on wheels that can be plugged in and made operational within minutes. MobileScan is ideal for both primary screening and secondary screening, or for use in conjunction with intelligence for random screening.

Both systems can detect metallic and non-metallic items such as liquids, explosives, weapons, drugs or cash without emitting any radiation or energy, making the systems safe, while protecting personal privacy. Brijot said no anatomical details are revealed during the process.

Mitchel J. Laskey, Brijot president and chief executive officer, said SafeScreen and MobileScan address the changing demands of the marketplace.