BILLERICA, Mass., 1 August 2005. American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) announced today the receipt of an order for $9.4 million from the U.S government for eight Z Backscatter Van (ZBV) X-ray screening systems.
The Z Backscatter Vans will be configured for remote and harsh environment operation, and to function in "Portal Mode," which allows operators to inspect passing vehicles from a stationary position. The order includes installation, operator training, and parts and warranty.
"The ZBV has proven itself to be a critical tool in the U.S. government's counterterrorism efforts," said Anthony Fabiano, president and CEO of AS&E. "With its track record, the ZBV has been established as the mobile product of choice for detecting car and truck bombs. Customers are impressed by the ZBVs performance and effectiveness in the field, reporting that lives are being saved with its use. As demonstrated with our Service and Spare parts order last week, we continue to advance the reliability and functionality of the ZBV to support all 'in-country' service requirements for these escalating orders."
AS&E's Z Backscatter Van is a low-cost, highly mobile screening system built into a commercially available delivery van. The ZBV allows for immediate deployment in response to security threats, and its high throughput capability facilitates rapid inspections. The system's unique "drive-by" capability allows one or two operators to conduct X-ray imaging while the ZBV drives past suspect vehicles and objects. For personnel safety in dangerous environments, a remote console is available for operating the system in stationary mode from a distance of up to 500 meters.
American Science and Engineering, Inc. develops and manufactures state-of-the-art X-ray inspection systems for homeland security and other critical defense applications. AS&E continues to innovate, create, and develop new products by investing in new ideas through research and development, and evolving its technology to meet the needs of an ever-changing world. AS&E's patented Z Backscatter technology detects plastic explosives, illegal drugs, and other contraband, even when artfully concealed in complex backgrounds by terrorists and smugglers. AS&E's Shaped Energy X-ray inspection systems combine the material discrimination features of Z Backscatter imaging with the penetration capability of high-energy X-rays for dense cargoes, without the problems caused by excessive radiation. For more information, see www.as-e.com.