2019-02-22

The TSA's New Scanners Could Mean The End Of Removing Your Laptop And Liquids

The TSA hates that you have to take out your laptop and liquids, too. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is unveiling a new x-ray technology that could one day allow passengers "to leave laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags," according to a statement. Fifteen airports around the country will soon implement new 3D computed tomography (CT) scanners at security checkpoints. The new machines allow TSA officers to visually inspect and rotate 3D images of each bag. If a threat is found in the image, a TSA officer will remove the bag and search for the item. However the administration believes the new technology will result in fewer necessary physical bag inspections. The TSA began testing the new machines at Phoenix Sky Harbor and Boston’s Logan International airports in 2017, and recently installed a third machine at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The next airports to receive the technology are: Baltimore-Washington, Chicago O’Hare, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Houston Hobby, Indianapolis, Los Angeles International, McCarran in Las Vegas, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis Lambert, and Washington-Dulles. Other airports will receive the machines in the coming months. By the end of the year, 40 new machines are expected at airports around the country.

Regions covered the global refurbished medical devices market report include Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The FDA has recently announced new supportive regulations regarding the servicing and refurbishment of medical devices. Project MEND is building a larger facility for medical device refurbishing in Texas, U.S.A. North America leads the global refurbished medical devices market due to the regions high adoption of medical devices and the resulting presence of a high volume of medical devices that may otherwise go to waste. Many organizations in the region refurbish medical devices for low-income bracket patients in the North American market.

Europe and the Asia Pacific are neck and neck in terms of market size. However, it is likely that the Asia Pacific will make more significant progress during the review period due to the high adoption rate of refurbished medical devices in the many underdeveloped parts of the region. Emerging economies such as India, China, and many others have significant rural areas where the healthcare sector is expanding. Adoption of refurbished medical devices is expected to provide the regions healthcare sector with an overall boost. Meanwhile, the Middle East and Africa regional market have the smallest share of the market. However, the region displays potential due to the significant presence of poor countries where healthcare is a growing need.

INDIANAPOLIS -- New technology that will improve your safety and your experience is being tested at the Indianapolis International Airport. Aging x-ray machines will be replaced with 3-D scanners that show TSA agents a 3-D scan and allow them to move a bag or even "virtually" remove some of the items inside bags, like laptops. TSA Federal Security Directory Aaron Batt says Indianapolis is one of the first airports to get the scanners. "This is actually the first airport build post 9-11 and when you look at this facility you’ll notice that it was built with security in mind," said Batt. The new technology means everything can stay inside your luggage while you’re going through security. "Customers are liking it so far, they really enjoy this technology.

There are undoubtedly ways of improving the process, but rather than examining how other countries handle the security threat and learning their hard-won lessons, the TSA’s solution is to throw more money at things. The scanner uses the same computed tomography (CT) technology that’s been commonplace in hospital scanners for decades. The scanner is built by Analogic, and includes neat software tools for agents to visually explode and rotate the scan in 360 degrees. Having recently missed a flight because two TSA agents couldn’t find a single (and legal!) hex key in my carry-on, anything that helps TSA examine baggage faster and with less unpacking of my bags is welcome. The new scanner will be in operation at New York’s JFK airport starting in late July, and the TSA is also testing the technology at security checkpoints in Phoenix and Boston.

PET scanner is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. The scan uses a special dye that has radioactive tracers.Positron-emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine functional imaging technique that is used to observe metabolic processes in the body. The system detects pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a positron-emitting radionuclide (tracer), which is introduced into the body on a biologically active molecule. Three-dimensional images of tracer concentration within the body are then constructed by computer analysis. In modern PET-CT scanners, three-dimensional imaging is often accomplished with the aid of a CT X-ray scan performed on the patient during the same session, in the same machine.

Positron-emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine functional imaging technique that is used to observe metabolic processes in the body. The system detects pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a positron-emitting radionuclide (tracer), which is introduced into the body on a biologically active molecule. Three-dimensional images of tracer concentration within the body are then constructed by computer analysis. Middle East Africa (Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran) And More. Focuses on the key global Positron Emission Tomography PET manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis, and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Positron Emission Tomography PET with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. We work with the aim to reach the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Our representatives strive to understand diverse client requirements and cater to the same with the most innovative and functional solutions.

Be prepared for long queues and delays while commuting via trains next week in the name of enhanced security. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) today announced that a six-month trial will be launched starting Nov 12, when MRT stations will start deploying metal detectors and X-ray scanners at fare gates. Not all MRT stations will have screening equipment deployed though — LTA assured that the enhanced security screening trials will only be conducted at up to six MRT stations (across all rail lines) at any one time. Thing is, LTA made no mention of which stations will see the implementations, presumably done so we won’t know which stations to avoid. One can only imagine the pain of being hampered by having to walk through metal detectors and passing belongings through X-ray scanners, especially if the trial is being conducted during peak hours in the Central Business District. Not to mention the invasion of privacy when officers get to peruse through bags.

70 million order from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to supply new scanning tech for use in airports nationwide. Smiths Detection Inc., based in Edgewood, will supply its CTX 9800 Explosives Detection Systems, which uses computed tomography (CT) imaging to several U.S. 2018 and 2019. The tech will be deployed as part of security equipment upgrades and expansion efforts by TSA. The scanners can detect and identify explosives in checked baggage brought through TSA security checkpoints. The technology has been certified by several federal regulatory authorities, including the TSA, and it is also approved by the European Civil Aviation Conference.

Some of the sites receiving the new scanners include: San Diego, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Florida, Chicago, Seattle, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. It was not disclosed whether the sites included airports in Maryland or Washington, D.C. "These CTX 9800 EDS will significantly enhance the ability for TSA officials at airports to make better informed decisions about potential threats within checked baggage," Shan Hood, president of Smiths Detection, said in a statement. Smiths Detection has been contracted to provide scanning and detections technologies to ports, airports and other sites in need of defense capabilities worldwide for more than 40 years. Some of its other products include X-ray and human screening devices, and chemical and radiation detectors.

In airports, efficiency matters. Small delays in loading baggage, cleaning planes, or restocking airplane meals can have knock-on effects that cause havoc for hundreds of passengers. For frequent flyers, the difficulty comes with baggage. In the US, the Transport Security Administration (TSA) sees more than five million pieces of cabin baggage passing through its airports each day. Every single one of these items needs to be checked as it passes through an airport's security systems. Laptops, tablets, and liquids have to removed from hand luggage before the bags can be scanned. Heathrow airport is the latest airport - after Amsterdam's Schiphol and New York's John F. Kennedy - to trial technology that can fully image everything that's inside a piece of hand luggage. A small number of trials lasting between six and 12 months started this Spring, a spokesperson for the Department for Transport says.

It refused to give more details for security reasons but said the scanners being trialled, which are equipped with automatic explosive detection, could lead to it no longer being mandatory for items to be removed from hand luggage. So, how does it work? Airport scanners that provide 3D images and let security staff see completely inside baggage use a process called computed tomography (CT). Essentially, it's the same process as is involved in medical CT scans that allow doctors to see inside patients without cutting them open. CT uses x-rays to scan an area and then creates a computerised version of the results.

Hans Joachim Schoepe, who works in CT scanning at Smiths Detection. The company says more than 2,100 of its CT machines are used in airports around the world. These are then used to create a 3D image. The result is a 3D image. This appears on the screens of airport security staff who can rotate, turn and inspect what's in the object from multiple different angles. Being able to look at all items within a bag, from one image that can be manipulated, means that laptops and liquids don't need to be removed. Smiths' CT scanner can have 1,000 bags per hour pass through. CT technology isn't new. Schoepe says airports have used CT machines to inspect checked baggage, which is put in a plane's hold, for around 20 years. Why hasn't it been used to speed up security for cabin bags before now? The machines were too large, slow, and the computing power to quickly process images while people wait wasn't easily available. All that has changed.

We’re in the midst of one of the busiest weeks of the year for air travel, with 30.6 million passengers expected to fly on US airlines in the days leading up to and following Thanksgiving. On a daily basis, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) needs to manage both frustrations and fears. Travelers are agitated by long lines and intrusive screening measures. They are also aware of the complex and dangerous threat environment, which has included 297 mass shootings in the US this year alone. How can the TSA mitigate both the frustrations and the fears, given that these sentiments often work against each other?

The agency is experimenting with passive terahertz screening technology. Thruvision, a British company, claims its 50-pound devices can be used to screen multiple passengers simultaneously, from a distance of 25 feet away. The TSA is testing the efficacy of these devices at a facility near Arlington, Virginia. Although the large-scale deployment of Thruvision’s devices could prove significant, industry experts say that variations of passive terahertz technology have been under development for over ten years. There are differences between various companies’ iterations. In a press release, Thruvision noted that its stand-off people-screening solution uses a proprietary version of the technology. Passive terahertz solutions work by sensing the heat emission from a human body in order to visualize hidden hazardous objects.

According to an article published by SPIE, this thermal mapping approach uses the same type of radiation as active MMW imagers, but the lack of artificial illumination reduces health risks. Additionally, the tech may reassure privacy advocates. Passive thermal imagers record temperature variations instead of body shapes, which results in less-revealing imagery. Thruvision’s press release also emphasizes that its devices do not reveal anatomical details or emit energy or radiation. Thruvision claims the technology can screen more than 2,000 passengers per hour. But once it’s implemented into the practical operating environment of an airport, things might actually move much slower. "When you’re in an airport, that doesn’t work as long as you have to screen the carry-on baggage," Ray White, a former TSA executive, told me in an interview. "So if you come through with a laptop and a carry-on bag, that has to be x-rayed.

That is the slow point in the entire screening process. However, White noted that the industry has made a lot of advances in the technology that screens checked baggage. The agency is exploring high-speed explosives detections systems with a throughput that could exceed 900 bags per hour. The agency has also deployed new Computed Tomography (CT) units to selected airports. By moving CT technology from the checked baggage area to the passenger checkpoint, it could speed up and eliminate the bottleneck the current x-ray system creates. Every day, 2,587,000 passengers fly in and out of US airports. There are 5,116 public airports and 14,485 private airports.

Given the enormity and complexity of these operations, it isn’t surprising that technologies sometimes underperform in the field, despite promising lab results. In order to ensure safety and efficacy, the TSA has to carefully test and choose its tech. The agency hosts regular events where they invite industry to come in and share new innovations under development. "The TSA is working hand-in-glove, as best they can, with the industry to certainly innovate and make things more acceptable to the traveling public," said Ray White. When asked whether the immediacy of national security ever causes tech to be rolled out prematurely, White said yes. So did Jeffrey C. Price, M.A., an aviation and aerospace science professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the author of aviation security textbooks. One example was the puffer machine.

These machines were meant to detect small traces of certain compounds, such as explosives and illegal drugs, by blowing particles off passengers with a puff of air. "But that was premature, we bought 80 of those, put them out in the field, tested them, and they didn’t work well enough. There were too many glitches," said White. "The problem with that is airports are dirty, dusty environments," said Price. The TSA determines specifications and standards for new technologies and then tests them at a mockup checked bag screening system and a mockup checkpoint. Equipment is then moved out into the field and placed in a pilot program.

During this stage of operational field testing, the new equipment is redundant to what is already being carried out. The stakes are too high to rely on something unproven. The equipment has to meet a certain threshold for effectiveness. That detection capability is classified. Public criticism of TSA technologies is often centered around health concerns and privacy. Scientifically, it isn’t always possible to definitively know the health effects of screening technologies or any technologies, unless you have population studies about 20 years after they have been implemented. In past instances, the TSA has iteratively adjusted its technology in response to complaints from the public. Backscatter machines were substituted with millimeter wave scanners that produce less detailed body imagery.

Additionally, researchers found that millimeter wave scanners mitigate the risk of adverse health effects by using non-ionizing radiation. When asked whether the passive terahertz technology could replace the current full-body scanners, Price said he hopes new tech can eventually replace the need for a checkpoint, as checkpoints could be targets for terrorists. He explained, "The terrorists have clearly changed tactics and they are now looking at attacking public areas, and a screening checkpoint does not fix that. He suggested installing passive terahertz scanners near the entrances of public areas. "When people are coming in, they’re scanned passively, they won’t even know it most of the time. If there’s no threat, they can just walk to the gate like they used to. The Thruvision devices have been field-tested in the L.A. Within the last five years, more than 200 units have been deployed worldwide. If the technology continues to perform well, it could be a game-changer. "I think we’ve seen the full cycle of what we can do with the screening checkpoint. It’s now time to build a better mousetrap," said Price.

Going through airport security is often an unpleasant experience, and some of that has to do with the scanners used in American airports. Since the scanners use x-ray technology, they can only take two-dimensional images of the bags that pass through them. This is why you have to separate your laptop from the rest of your carry-on bags: The 2-D images makes it difficult to distinguish explosives from harmless electronic devices when they're close to each other. But some airports in the United States are beginning to test scanners with computed tomography technology, according to Wired. These CT scanners are often used in hospitals, and they give the viewer 3-D images that make it much easier to distinguish and isolate the items in your bags. TSA agents would be able to rotate, zoom in or out, or change the colors or contrast on an object, which means you may not have to disassemble your bags again. Tests in European airports have indicated that security lines may be able to move at double their current speed if the new scanners are introduced, but the biggest hurdle to widespread implementation is their price. 300,000, which is double the price of a standard x-ray scanner. American Airlines is planning to test the machines at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport before expanding the trials next year.

Robotic X-ray scanner is a medical imaging device which gives flexibility to the medical practitioner. It has got its name from its characteristic of moving according to commands given to it. This robotic X-ray scanner uses radiographic abilities and is used in fields of emergency care, critical care, orthopaedic and surgical and non-surgical processes. The X-ray screening equipment and inspection equipment source and X -ray detector can move simultaneous without moving the patient. Robotic X-ray scanner comes in handy when patient is unconscious and is unable to move or respond. Robotic X-ray scanner adds supreme elasticity to surgical process. Robotic X-ray scanner reduces the time required during surgery procedures for scanning patient and helps to take critical decisions according to the situation. This all can be done without patient been carried from one room to another just for X-ray.

Robotic X-ray empowers swifter, smoother and easy patient positioning and completion of procedures. Presently, Robotic X-ray scanner global market is driven by the technological development in healthcare industry, increase in geriatric population, and increasing prevalence of osteoporosis and other bone related disease. Robotic X-ray scannerglobal market is expected to grow by the factors such as rapid innovation in products,technological advancement in production and modelling technologies, increasing privatization in the healthcare sector, rising acceptance of refurbished medical imaging devices in emerging countries. Globally manufacturers have been modifying their product lines to attract more consumers and as a result, it assist them to stay forward of the competition.The major restraint faced by the market is the high cost of robotic X-ray scanner. Various end-users do not have the financial plan to capitalize on expensive robotic X-ray scanners. Depending on geographic region, robotic X-ray scanner global market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Some of the key participating players in global robotic X-ray scanner market are Siemens AG, Philips Healthcare, GE Healthcare Inc.,Ziehm Imaging, Hologic corp., BMI Biomedical International s.r.l., Medonica Co. Ltd., DMS Health Technologies, Gemss Co. Ltd., Shimadzu Corp.

FOR many regular travellers—or at least those without access to fast-track security lanes—it has become a fact of life. When you pass through airport security, you have to load your carry-on bag onto the x-ray belt, and take out your liquids and large electronic items. But within a matter of years, this tedious exercise might be a thing of the past. Upgrade your inbox and get our Daily Dispatch and Editor's Picks. Will the courts let Donald Trump build his wall? This summer America’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is testing in 15 airports new x-ray machines that can detect explosives without the need to remove liquids and electronics from bags.

Flyers passing through the security lines with those machines can simply place their bags on the belt and walk through the scanner. The TSA hopes to have 40 units in place by the end of the year and more than 145 by the end of September next year. "We think in perhaps five years or so, the passengers won’t have to take anything out of their carry-on bags," David Pekoske of the TSA told CBS, a broadcaster. According to CBS, the TSA would need about 2,000 machines to cover all of the country’s airport security checkpoints. It is not just America.

The same type of CT scanner, which works like a hospital scanner and produces 3D images, is being tested in Britain. The current American and British regulations require flyers to place all liquids under 100ml—larger liquid containers are not allowed—into a sealed plastic bag. But here is where the new machines could serve their best purpose. Flyers want to feel like their safety is being protected. Generally, new procedures and equipment that create the illusion of safety also create longer security lines. So even if the new scanners do not make flying meaningfully safer, anything that lends the appearance of safety without slowing things down—and the scanners are actually likely to speed things up—is most welcome.

According to scientists, the scanner will revolutionize the way x-ray technology will detect, diagnose and monitor many diseases, including cancer, has been awarded Gold Status for research excellence by MBIE. "The implications of this research will be huge for the medical profession. Scientists actually want to market MARS scanners developed by the University of Canterbury, where proof of concept trials have been undertaken at Otago University Christchurch. The initial market is a range of researchers from many institutes. The exploration has additionally been upheld by the MedTech Center of Research Excellence and GE Healthcare. GE is giving a first-class CT scanner to the MARS group to quicken the examination. As another case of the interdisciplinary idea of the MARS program, the GE scanner will be introduced in the creature offices at Lincoln University.

The growth of the vehicle scanner market is driven because of the increasing security and safety concerns worldwide. Buyers are installing the vehicle scanning technology in their premises as it helps in identifying immediate threats, contraband, foreign objects, and others. The vehicle scanner market is used for many applications such as military checkpoints, border crossings, airports and seaports, hotels and royal palaces, government buildings, nuclear power plants, and chemical companies. Although vehicle scanners are installed in many places, however, the growth is still slow due to the limited sale of the system. High spending on infrastructural development will propel the growth of portable/mobile vehicle scanner system during the forecast period. The portable/mobile vehicle scanner system segment is the fastest growing vehicle scanner market. The portable scanners have high growth potential as they can be installed at any desired inspection location and require low installation cost as compared with static scanners.

Moreover, the high spending on infrastructure in the developing countries is likely to propel the vehicle scanner market for portable/mobile scanners. North America is expected to record the largest market during the forecast period. North America is the largest vehicle scanner market, followed by the Middle East. North America is home to leading vehicle scanner manufacturers such as Gatekeeper Security, Leidos, and IRD. The North American region has faced safety and security concerns such as terrorism, contraband, and other illegal activities, which have fueled the demand for high safety and security systems in the region. Government and private and commercial properties are focusing more on the safety concerns to combat rising threats and activities. To ensure safety and security and to minimize irregular activities, properties are installing under vehicle scanners and overhead x-ray systems for full vehicle body scanning. These factors are expected to propel the vehicle scanner market in North America.

2019-02-22

Leidos Holdings Sets Sights On Canceled TSA Contract For Airport Security Screening

578 million contract that rival Peraton had won only to have it canceled — and then bid on the new work when a revised procurement hits the streets. As the Washington Business Journal first reported in June, the five-year contract was Herndon-based Peraton’s first big win since its spinout from Harris Corp. TSA confirmed it had spiked the award and had extended Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), the incumbent vendor. "We all travel through airports," Krone added. Leidos filed three protests over the Peraton award before withdrawing them in January. TSA declined to say why Peraton’s contract was terminated. Peraton said in a statement in June that it was "engaged in a constructive dialogue with the TSA regarding the contract." Analysts say pulling the plug on an award that size is pretty unusual.

Passenger screening equipment such as X-ray machines and scanners is used at more than 440 locations in the U.S. TSA. The winning contractor is responsible for radiation surveys and radioactive leak tests; corrective and preventive maintenance; communications; maintenance planning; supply support; tools, test equipment and calibration; parts and parts obsolescence; subcontract agreements; and TSA service response center services. 2.53 billion during the quarter. 2.57 billion a year ago) but Krone highlighted growth in revenue and its book-to-bill ratio from the first quarter to the second. Its book to bill during the quarter was 1.4. Book-to-bill measures how much a company is growing its backlog compared with how much it's drawing down and realizing revenue.

Any number above one means a company is growing future potential revenue faster than it's drawing it down, typically a bullish signal. 4.50 and adjusted EBITDA margins of 10.1 percent to 10.4 percent. Analysts queried Krone on his company’s planned divestiture of its commercial cyber business to France’s Capgemini and whether Leidos had more divestitures in its future. Leidos revealed in June that its 1,500 cyber pros will focus on its core government markets and customers in highly regulated industries such as commercial health care and energy. Capgemini will rebrand the unit and position it to meet growing customer demand in the U.S. A bigger near-term concern is the fiscal 2019 federal budget. 716 billion defense authorization bill indicates. "It’s not a bad summer," Krone said. "I think we're all looking at the fall, the midterm, the legislation and legislative process, and hoping that this goes smoothly, and that we get our bills and we get things passed.

Figure 7. Enlarged VR image of IC. Figure 8. Enlarged VR image of solder joints. Using an optional function of VGSTUDIO MAX (Fig. 9), individual voids can also be visualized, and their volumes, positions, and surface areas can be measured. Figure 9. Analysis of Voids in Solder. As the X-ray CT system is a non-destructive technology, thermal shock tests, vibration tests, and other cycle tests can be performed with the same product and the internal state can be examined in each stage of the test. Furthermore, the number of tests and the number of units of each testing device can be reduced. In addition, as the X-ray CT system is effective in analyzing the destruction process and reducing the number of samples needed and development time, it is also useful for accelerating the work and reducing the cost. The inspeXio SMX-225CT FPD HR allows inspection and analysis of assembled products without the need to disassemble. The feasibility to vary production conditions and compare products prior to and after different types of tests makes it useful in production processes and also in development processes.

From flying cars to sustainable energy sources, visions of tomorrow’s most life-enhancing technologies invariably revolve around more efficient ways to operate. Although some of these solutions lie in a more distant reality, manufacturing’s pioneers have shaped cutting-edge forms of product inspection technology that help processors make significant gains in food safety while enhancing efficiency. These recent strides also have manufacturers focusing on cost in alignment with capability—and niche automation markets, such as machine vision, are expected to grow even more. 438 million in 2017, experiencing an 8.6 percent annual growth. Today’s food manufacturers must inspect every item on their processing line.

Older protocols may have only required checking for proper label adherence, providing a "yes or no" answer. Now, detection solutions deliver more than a just single piece of a complex puzzle. All together, investment in new inspection equipment that can detect multiple types of anomalies with greater precision and speed invites opportunities for cost savings. Firstly, processors stand to reduce the waste that accumulates from defective product. Secondly, they are minimizing the downtime that stems from stoppages and fixes required in the event of a malfunction or missed inconsistent output, maximizing return on investment (ROI). Last, but not least, the company avoids a potential recall and a devastating hit to its brand reputation. Smart design isn’t simply limited to the mechanics of today’s vision inspection equipment.

The Human-Machine Interface (HMI) has also improved to offer more intuitive operator capability. This technology does not require extensive training of a skilled worker, which translates in shorter training and higher productivity. For example, operators with limited training can operate machines and transition to different formulations or packaging formats. Menu options make it easy for operators to select programs, which enable swift changeovers. The value of HMIs is not limited to what you see; it’s also found in the consistency and expediency of data collection and analysis, in many cases able to integrate data from legacy equipment on the same line. Today’s solutions help processors to store and display key performance indicators that are essential to making strides in food safety and meeting increasingly regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies.

From its origins in detecting foreign materials in products, such as glass, metal and plastic, x-ray technology has come a long way. The inspection equipment has become more sensitive and is able to deliver more breadth of information; from examining the shape and edges of a food product to telling you its density and volume. X-ray technology no longer just detects a foreign piece of material, it provides detailed information about the product. In addition, manufacturers have increased the sensitivity of the detectors. In the past, the power necessary to operate the equipment required cooling during its operation. Now that the power is pointedly less, there is no need for cooling and health risks have also been reduced significantly, while also consuming less energy during usage. Due to the sensitivity of the detectors, there’s an abundance of new information to garner that can help companies build protocols for efficiency into their operations. From vision inspection to X-ray screening equipment and inspection equipment technology, exhibitors at ProFood Tech (March 26-28; McCormick Place, Chicago) will showcase a vast range of automated solutions for food inspection.

Comparatively, 0.0% of ICTS International shares are held by institutional investors. 7.2% of CBIZ shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 62.4% of ICTS International shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. This table compares CBIZ and ICTS International’s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. CBIZ has higher revenue and earnings than ICTS International. This table compares CBIZ and ICTS International’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. CBIZ beats ICTS International on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. CBIZ, Inc. provides professional business services that help its clients manage their finances, employees, and insurance needs.

It offers its services through three practice groups: Financial Services, Benefits and Insurance Services, and National Practices. The Financial Services practice group provides accounting, tax, financial advisory, government healthcare consulting, and risk advisory and valuation services. The Benefits and Insurance Services practice group offers group health benefits consulting, property and casualty insurance, retirement plan consulting, and payroll and HR consulting. The National Practices practice group provides managed networking and hardware, and health care consulting services. Through its subsidiaries, the company primarily serves small and midsized businesses, as well as individuals, governmental entities, and not-for-profit enterprises in the United States and parts of Canada. CBIZ, Inc. has approximately 100 offices in the United States. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. ICTS International N.V., together with its subsidiaries, provides airport security and other aviation services in the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, and internationally. It operates through Airport Security and Other Aviation Services; and Technology segments.

For decades, airport security officials depended on metal detectors to screen travelers for concealed weapons. The technology was safe and simple but had one glaring flaw: it could not detect non-metal threats, including plastic explosives. In 2009, the infamous underwear bomber almost exploited that flaw to devastating effect. In the aftermath of that near-tragedy, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) moved quickly to update its screening procedures and technologies. By 2010, it had implemented two new types of full-body scanners. One of these, called a millimeter-wave scanner, uses radio waves to search for hidden weapons or devices. These are the full-body scanners you’ll encounter at U.S. —the ones you stand in with your feet apart and your hands above your head—and experts agree they shouldn’t worry you. The second (and far more controversial) of the two is called a "backscatter" X-ray scanner.

You’ll remember this as the machine that produced revealing full-body images of passengers that many found unnecessarily intrusive. Apart from the privacy questions posed by the use of the backscatter technology, some experts also had concerns that those scanners exposed travelers to potentially dangerous amounts of radiation. "We determined that the exposure from those machines was about 10% of what you’d get during a chest X-ray, which is significant," says John Sedat, a professor of biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. "There was probably some very small cancer risks associated with those X-ray machines," says David Brenner, a professor of radiation biophysics at Columbia University Medical Center.

European authorities almost immediately banned the use of the backscatter X-ray machines, and the TSA followed suit in 2013—though the agency never formally acknowledged that it was dumping the scanners due to health concerns. But with the machines used today, there’s no widespread health reason to opt out. "Scientists can never say that something is 100% safe, but I would say there’s no plausible evidence by which millimeter waves could damage DNA," Brenner says. Maidment has published dozens of studies on radiation exposures and human health, and he’s responsible for ensuring all of Penn Medicine’s medical equipment is safe for patients.

He explains that microwave-emitting devices—from the heating appliance in your kitchen to the smartphone in your pocket—are believed to cause health harms only when they’re powerful enough to cause molecular changes. The radiation emitted by airport millimeter wave scanners don’t come anywhere close to this level. ] to pregnant and potentially pregnant patients and neonates, and I’m convinced they are safe," he says. "It’s beyond my imagination to theorize a significant cancer risk from use of these millimeter wave scanners," he says. In fact, the only criticism any of these experts had about airport scanners had nothing to do with radiation exposure or cancer. "We had something fast and cheap and very accurate in the old metal detectors, and they beeped loudly when they found something," Maidment says. He points out research that concludes it’s very possible for someone to dupe the new scanners and sneak camouflaged guns or explosives past their defenses. But how best to keep passengers safe from airport threats is another story. As far as cancer concerns go, you can feel safe stepping inside airport scanners.

2019-02-22

Production And Inspection: What To Do When Contamination Occurs

As much as food manufacturers take precautions to avoid all types of contaminants, there can still come a moment when you realize that your best efforts have failed. Maybe you find a broken blade or a missing wire during a sanitation break, but the product has already gone through your inline inspection machines—and nothing was detected. This is the freak-out moment that no plant manager or quality assurance manager wants to have. Knowing that there’s possible contamination of your food product (and not knowing where that contaminant might be) creates a hailstorm of possibilities that your plant works hard to avoid. And you’re probably wondering how this could have happened in the first place.

To prevent physical contamination from occurring, it’s important to understand the reasons why it happens. Metal detectors are the most commonly used inline inspection devices in food manufacturing, and they depend on an interference in the signal to indicate there is metal contamination in the product. Despite the fact that technology has progressed to deliver fewer false positives, the machines can still be deceived by moisture, high salt contents and dense products that could provide interference in the signal. When that continues to occur, it’s common for manufacturers to recalibrate the machine to get fewer false positives—but that also decreases its effectiveness. Another limitation of the metal detector is that, as the name indicates, it can only find metal.

That means contaminants like plastic, glass, rubber and bone won’t be found through a metal detector, but will hopefully be discovered through some other means before the product is shipped out. Oftentimes, contamination or suspected physical contamination is discovered when a product, such as cheese or yogurt, goes through a filtration system, or when a piece of machinery is inspected during a sanitation break. Once a food manufacturer discovers that it may have a physical contamination problem, it must make a decision on how to handle the situation. Options come down to four basic choices, each of which comes with its own risks and benefits.

The one advantage of disposing of a full production run is that it entirely eliminates the possibility of the contaminated product reaching consumers. However, this is an expensive solution, as the manufacturer has to pay for the cost of disposal in a certified landfill and absorbs the cost of packaging, labor and ingredients. It also presents the risk of lost revenue by having a product temporarily out of stock. Running the product through inline inspections a second time may result in finding the physical contaminant, but there’s also a risk that the contaminant won’t be found—and now the company has lost money through overtime pay and lost productivity. If the inspection equipment was not sensitive enough to find the contaminant the first time around, it may not find it the second time, which puts the manufacturer back at square one.

The advantage to this method is that the manufacturer maintains complete accountability and control over the process, although it may not yield the desired results. There’s always a chance that a missing bolt didn’t make its way into the product. Sometimes, if a metal detector goes off and the manufacturer can’t find any contaminants upon closer examination, they will choose to ship the product and take their chances. The advantage for them is that, on the front end, this is the least expensive option—or it could be the costliest choice of all if a consumer finds a physical contaminant in their food.

10 million; lawsuits may push that cost even higher and result in a business being closed for good. X-ray inspection is the most effective way to find physical contaminants. In addition to metal, X-ray systems can find glass, plastic, stone, bone, rubber/gasket material, product clumps, container defects, wood and missing components at 0.8 mm or smaller. When a food manufacturer has a contamination issue, it can have the bracketed product inspected by a third-party X-ray inspection company and only dispose the affected food, allowing the rest of the product to be distributed. This option allows the manufacturer to maintain inventory and keep food deliveries on schedule while still eliminating the problem of contamination. X-ray inspection can find what other forms of inspection cannot, because it’s based on the density of the product, as well as the density of the physical contaminant.

When X-ray beams are directed through a food product, the rays lose some of their energy, but will lose even more energy in areas that have a physical contaminant. So when those images are interpreted on a monitor, the areas that have a physical contaminant in them will show up as a darker shade of gray. This allows the workers monitoring machines to immediately identify any foreign particles that are in the food, regardless of the type of material. Handling contamination properly is vital to every food manufacturing company. It affects the bottom line and the future of the company, and just one case of a physical contaminant reaching the consumer is enough to sideline food companies of any size. As X-ray technology continues to evolve, it remains an effective and efficient form of food inspection. Educating plant managers and quality managers on what to do if inline inspection machines fail to detect contaminants should include information on how X-ray technology can be a food company’s first line of defense. While physical contaminants can’t always be avoided, they can be detected—and the future of your company may depend on it.

Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/17/2019 -- X-ray Inspection Systems as one of the most promising methods of non-destructive testing (NDT). The systems are also viewed as important screening tools for quality control and risk management, with their ability to detect contaminants, defects and inconsistencies in products. X-ray imaging offers superior precision, repeatability and high-speed capabilities.The report mainly focused on industrial x-ray inspection systems. In the coming years there is an increasing demand for x-ray inspection systems in the regions of North America and Europe that is expected to drive the market for more advanced x-ray inspection systems. Increasing of automotive fields expenditures, more-intense competition, launches in introducing new products, increasing of spending on general industry, retrofitting and renovation of old technology, increasing adoption of x-ray inspection systems will drive growth in China markets.

Globally, the x-ray inspection systems industry market is low concentrated as the manufacturing technology of x-ray inspection systems is relatively matures than some high-tech equipment. And some enterprises, like YXLON International, Nikon Metrology, Nordson, GE Measurement & Control, etc. are well-known for the wonderful performance of their x-ray inspection systems and related services. At the same time, Europe, occupied 32% revenue market share in 2017, is remarkable in the global x-ray inspection systems industry because of their market share and technology status of x-ray inspection systems. The consumption volume of x-ray inspection systems is related to downstream industries and global economy.

As there will always be some uncertain in the global economy in the following years, the growth rate of x-ray inspection systems industry may not keep that fast. But it is surely forecasted that the market of x-ray inspection systems is still promising. This report focuses on X-ray Inspection Systems volume and value at global level, regional level and company level. From a global perspective, this report represents overall X-ray Inspection Systems market size by analyzing historical data and future prospect. Regionally, this report focuses on several key regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan. At company level, this report focuses on the production capacity, ex-factory price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer covered in this report. QYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services.

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SINGAPORE, Nov 6 — From next Monday, some commuters at selected MRT stations will have to walk through metal detectors and pass their belongings through X-ray scanners before going through the fare gates. In its media statement yesterday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) did not say which MRT stations will have the screening equipment, only that it would be deployed at up to six stations at any one time. The six-month trial will be conducted across all rail lines, the LTA added. The stations will be "selected at random and will not be disclosed beforehand due to security reasons", its spokesperson said.

On the estimated proportion of commuters who may be screened, the spokesperson said: "Similar to the security bag checks that are being performed at MRT stations today, the frequency is not fixed. Security officers contracted by the LTA will conduct the screening. When metal detectors and X-ray scanners were first deployed at the first Exercise Station Guard emergency exercise in February this year, a senior LTA official said that the checks would take an estimated eight to 10 minutes for each passenger. This included queuing time, and all commuters boarding the Downtown Line at Newton Station at the time were screened during the eight-hour drill. For the upcoming trial, information obtained will enable the LTA to "streamline and optimise its security screening processes" and reduce the future impact on daily rail operations.

It will also collect feedback from commuters and the public transport operations. LTA's chief executive officer Ngien Hoon Ping said that by the end of this year, public transport operators will progressively use handheld metal detectors during security checks at bus interchanges and MRT stations. Ngien, who is chairman of the Public Transport Security Committee, added that the public transport system, used by millions of people in Singapore daily, is a key infrastructure. "We must remain vigilant against individuals who may be carrying dangerous items that can cause harm to the public," he said. Given the vulnerability of the public transport system to terrorist attacks, security measures have increased over the years. In 2009, the Public Transport Security Command (TransCom), a Singapore Police Force specialist unit, was established. Last December, the police said that commuters could see more explosives-detector dogs around public transport hubs ahead of Christmas and New Year’s Day. This will be carried out with rail operator SBS Transit and will test preparedness against security threats. During the exercise, commuters will be directed to Exit A or Exit B of the station to undergo security screening before they enter the station. They will have to go through a metal detector and pass their belongings through X-ray scanners.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and American Airlines are to test a new computed tomography (CT) scanner at the Terminal 8 security checkpoint at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). CT checkpoint technology is an enhancement to today’s 2D x-ray technology scanning equipment, which is used at the majority of security checkpoints worldwide. Because CT technology is 3D, this new checkpoint technology has the potential to provide better visibility and allow the operator to rotate the bag’s image 360° to show the contents of carry-on items at every angle. CT provides the capability to virtually see beyond unwanted clutter and greatly enhances the ability to visually inspect the contents of carry-on bags for prohibited items. This results in more effective security screening at the security checkpoint. In the future, CT could offer the opportunity for passengers to leave liquids, gels and aerosols, as well as laptops, in their carry-on bags at all times. David Pekoske, TSA administrator, said, "Use of CT technology substantially improves TSA’s threat detection capability at a checkpoint. TSA expects the new CT technology will begin operation at JFK in late July. CT technology is also being tested at airport security checkpoints in Phoenix, Arizona, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Thousand by the following Product Segments: Explosives Detection, X-ray & Infrared Equipment, Metal Detectors, Perimeter & Access Control, Biometrics Equipment, Alarms & Sensors, Video Surveillance, Intercom & Video Door Phones, and Others. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2016 through 2024. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are primarily based on public domain information including company URLs. Smiths Detection Watford Ltd. ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

"When you’re in an airport, that doesn’t work as long as you have to screen the carry-on baggage," Ray White, a former TSA executive, told me in an interview. "So if you come through with a laptop and a carry-on bag, that has to be x-rayed. That is the slow point in the entire screening process. However, White noted that the industry has made a lot of advances in the technology that screens checked baggage. The agency is exploring high-speed explosives detections systems with a throughput that could exceed 900 bags per hour. The agency has also deployed new Computed Tomography (CT) units to selected airports.

By moving CT technology from the checked baggage area to the passenger checkpoint, it could speed up and eliminate the bottleneck the current x-ray system creates. Every day, 2,587,000 passengers fly in and out of US airports. There are 5,116 public airports and 14,485 private airports. Given the enormity and complexity of these operations, it isn’t surprising that technologies sometimes underperform in the field, despite promising lab results. In order to ensure safety and efficacy, the TSA has to carefully test and choose its tech. The agency hosts regular events where they invite industry to come in and share new innovations under development. "The TSA is working hand-in-glove, as best they can, with the industry to certainly innovate and make things more acceptable to the traveling public," said Ray White. When asked whether the immediacy of national security ever causes tech to be rolled out prematurely, White said yes.

So did Jeffrey C. Price, M.A., an aviation and aerospace science professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the author of aviation security textbooks. One example was the puffer machine. These machines were meant to detect small traces of certain compounds, such as explosives and illegal drugs, by blowing particles off passengers with a puff of air. "But that was premature, we bought 80 of those, put them out in the field, tested them, and they didn’t work well enough. There were too many glitches," said White. "The problem with that is airports are dirty, dusty environments," said Price. The TSA determines specifications and standards for new technologies and then tests them at a mockup checked bag screening system and a mockup checkpoint.

Equipment is then moved out into the field and placed in a pilot program. During this stage of operational field testing, the new equipment is redundant to what is already being carried out. The stakes are too high to rely on something unproven. The equipment has to meet a certain threshold for effectiveness. That detection capability is classified. Public criticism of TSA technologies is often centered around health concerns and privacy. Scientifically, it isn’t always possible to definitively know the health effects of screening technologies or any technologies, unless you have population studies about 20 years after they have been implemented.

In past instances, the TSA has iteratively adjusted its technology in response to complaints from the public. Backscatter machines were substituted with millimeter wave scanners that produce less detailed body imagery. Additionally, researchers found that millimeter wave scanners mitigate the risk of adverse health effects by using non-ionizing radiation. When asked whether the passive terahertz technology could replace the current full-body scanners, Price said he hopes new tech can eventually replace the need for a checkpoint, as checkpoints could be targets for terrorists. He explained, "The terrorists have clearly changed tactics and they are now looking at attacking public areas, and a screening checkpoint does not fix that. He suggested installing passive terahertz scanners near the entrances of public areas. "When people are coming in, they’re scanned passively, they won’t even know it most of the time. If there’s no threat, they can just walk to the gate like they used to. The Thruvision devices have been field-tested in the L.A. Within the last five years, more than 200 units have been deployed worldwide. If the technology continues to perform well, it could be a game-changer. "I think we’ve seen the full cycle of what we can do with the screening checkpoint. It’s now time to build a better mousetrap," said Price.

Originally posted at TomDispatch. "Training." It sounds so innocuous. It also sounds like something expected of a military. All professional soldiers undergo some sort of basic training. Think: calisthenics, negotiating obstacle courses, and marksmanship. Soldiers require instruction, otherwise they’re little more than rabble. Sometimes soldiers from one country even train the troops of another, imparting skills from the basic to the complex. The U.S. military calls this, among other things, "building partner capacity." Sometimes a foreigner steps in and whips sorry soldiers into shape, as former Prussian army officer Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben did with George Washington’s Continental Army. And sometimes the foreigners, like the modern heirs to the army that Steuben trained, can’t even seem to successfully teach their wards, like Iraqis or Afghans, jumping jacks or pushups.

Each year, through a vast constellation of global training exercises, operations, facilities, and schools, the United States trains around 200,000 foreign soldiers, police, and other personnel. From 2003 to 2010, for example, the U.S. 471 locations in 120 countries and on every continent but Antarctica. Most of it goes on behind closed doors, far from public view. And almost all of it escapes independent scrutiny. Is the training effective? Does it achieve the desired results? Is it worth the cost? Does it conform to U.S. It’s often difficult to glean basic information about what types of training are taking place, let alone the results.