Danbury-based Smiths Detection recently secured a $10.2 million order from the federal Department of Homeland Security for its RadSeeker radiation detection system.
Fred Facemire, director of technology for Smiths Detection, called the RadSeeker “the right tool to help protect our nation”™s borders.”
The company employs 23,000 people in 50 different countries with 130 working in their facility in Danbury.
The Fairfield County Business Journal asked six questions of Bob Bohn, vice president of U.S. sales at Smiths Detection.
How old is the company and where are its facilities?
“Smiths Detection”™s roots in Danbury started in 1997 as a small company that developed miniaturized equipment used to detect/identify hazardous materials threats. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, products were developed for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for use in responding to suspicious powders found in letter envelopes, and the company began to gain market share exponentially. Expanding rapidly to meet demand, the company grew to over 50 employees before being acquired by Smiths Detection in 2004. Smiths Detection has offices, R&D facilities and manufacturing plants around the world. In addition to Danbury, manufacturing in the U.S. is conducted in Edgewood, Md., and Alcoa, Tenn.”
What has changed since that time and how has the company adapted?
“Like many industries, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 were a major turning point. They occurred just a few years after Smiths Detection was founded. Since we began doing business, we have seen demand for security capabilities increase, and threats evolve. We have adapted to those changes to ensure we are meeting not only the demands of today, but future threats as well. We have adapted to supply more screening in more places, from county courthouses to major international airline hubs. The technology we use, while based on the foundations and principles that make us one of the leading threat detection companies in the world, has gotten faster, and its capabilities broader, as we are constantly able to upload new information and upgrade our systems. Our expertise in engineering and investment in R&D has led to growth in several different market segments, including emergency response, critical infrastructure security, military, aviation and ports and borders.”
Radiation is everywhere and a nuclear false alarm could spread panic. How does your equipment differentiate between background noise and real threats?
“We recognize that ”˜false alarms”™ can be incredibly disruptive, so we work to ensure that our products are highly accurate and provide responders with the information they need to make quick decisions that can minimize any impact felt by the public. RadSeeker is unique because it not only detects radiation, it also identifies it. With a preloaded library of 41 radionuclides, RadSeeker can identify the exact radionuclide that is being encountered, distinguishing a dangerous form of radiation from a naturally occurring one that poses no immediate risk. RadSeeker also measures the amount of radiation being emitted from a source, which is used to determine if the radiation is a risk to the general public or is contained to an isolated area.”
Who so far is using your equipment?
Our customers have become global and broad. Users include, but are not limited to the military, first responders, transportation authorities, ports and borders / customs officials, courts and corrections personnel, and those responsible for protecting embassies. We also work closely with governments, academia and leading institutions to respond to changing security threats; together we develop cutting-edge threat detection and security solutions.
Given terrorists”™ preferences for bombs delivered by suicide, is it conceivable a nuclear weapon is on the horizon?
“While we cannot predict or speculate on possible methods that terrorists may or may not use in future attacks, we can help emergency responders, security forces and military personnel be prepared for them by providing the tools needed to detect, identify and mediate threats to public safety. With an expansive portfolio of products to detect and/or identify chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives, Smiths Detection”™s products can be used in a wide range of scenarios.”
Is this a technology local responders would want? Or is it too expensive and too difficult to use for municipalities to buy, train to use and keep on hand?
“Many of our products have been awarded General Services Administration contract pricing. Customers may also be eligible for grants on the federal, state and local level to help offset purchasing new technology. Emergencies happen in small towns and big cities. For that reason, our products are designed to fit the needs of all of our customers. For example, RadSeeker, which was designed to meet the mission requirements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is also part of a range of radiation detection equipment that is applicable for local first responders. We work very closely with our customers to understand their needs before offering product recommendations, so they have the right tools to do their job. Smiths Detection”™s products are designed to be easy to operate. Hands-on training is tailored for customers of varying skill levels. We also provide customers with service agreements to make ownership affordable.”
