Officials at the Federal Aviation Administration have chosen the ITEMISER explosives detector by Ion Track Instruments of Wilmington, Mass., to provide enhanced security at airports across the country as part of a U.S. anti-terrorist initiative.
According to an FAA official, the Itemizer was just one of several products chosen for the airports through extensive lab testing.
The FAA selected the ITEMISER after tests that confirmed the instrument met federal mandates for explosives detection. Ion Track will provide as many as 250 units for screening passenger baggage to major airports all over the United States as part of the contract.
The ITEMISER works by analyzing air samples trapped on a paper filter. The samples are gathered either by using a hand-held vacuum or by simply wiping down the surface to be tested. The filter is then placed in the machine, which detects the presence of explosives and tells the operator exactly what type of material it has found.
The ITEMISER sells for one-third the price of slower, older technology detectors that are in place at some airports overseas, company officials say. -J.M.
For more information on the Itemizer and Ion Track contact Paul Eisenbraun by phone at 508-658-3767, by fax at 508-657-5954, or by mail at Ion Track Instruments, 340 Fordham Road, Wilmington, Mass. 01887.
