BILLERICA, Mass., 5 July 2008.American Science and Engineering Inc. (AS&E) won a $55.1 million contract from Abu Dhabi Customs. The Customs Administration at Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates, purchased multiple OmniView, Z Portal, and Z Backscatter Van (ZBV) x-ray detection systems to scan cargo trucks, passenger vehicles, and containers at strategic border checkpoints.
Anthony Fabiano, president and CEO, says: "Abu Dhabi Customs will utilize AS&E's full range of cargo inspection products to protect the emirate's borders and citizens while facilitating trade and collecting revenues through effective customs operations as per the directorate strategic priorities. Each of AS&E's proprietary cargo inspection solutions are uniquely designed to provide superior detection, while optimizing high-throughput and safety."
The solutions purchased by Abu Dhabi Customs are each designed to provide superior detection, while maximizing safety and high-throughput. All leverage the company's patented Z Backscatter x-ray technology -- a proprietary capability that reveals the threats that some systems miss, including explosives, plastic weapons, and drugs.
Z Backscatter technology produces photo-like images of the contents of a container or vehicle, highlighting organic materials. Based on the x-ray Compton Scattering effect, Z Backscatter technology works by detecting and highlighting "low Z" materials (items that contain low atomic number elements, such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen).
Z Backscatter images display organic materials by directing a sweeping beam of x-rays at the object under examination, and then measuring and plotting the intensity of scattered x-rays as a function of the beam position, says a representative.
