No modern port underestimates the importance of cargo screening – from weapons and narcotics interdiction to customs enforcement to early detection of potential terrorist threats, screening inbound cargo containers is a necessary task.  Increasingly, however, cargo screening also entails scanning for radioactive and nuclear materials, a much trickier task and one that, if improperly done, can shut down entire ports for days, weeks or even longer.

One needs to look no further than the mess at the Port of Genoa that started in July of 2010 – a single container emitting large amounts of radiation caused a near-shutdown of the entire port.  This wasn’t due to a potential dirty bomb; the radioactive material was just poorly disposed of medical waste.  Even so, this incident highlights the importance of radiation detection to the port community at large.

Implementing radiation screening, however, is far trickier than adding another “box” to a port’s checkpoint.  Most radiation scanning systems require exclusion zones that require a large footprint, while others are handheld technologies that dramatically limit throughput.  But radiation scanning isn’t optional any longer – so how can ports add this capacity into existing operations?

Read the full article at Maritime Executive.

With the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition just a month away, preparations are well underway for Rapiscan’s presence at the event. This will be Rapiscan’s third year attending AUSA, and we are excited for the opportunity to showcase our new comprehensive integrated solution software. The Rapiscan Integrated Security Solution (R-IS2) is a complete security technology delivery and implementation program developed entirely by Rapiscan’s experienced, skilled staff. 

R-IS2 can meet all organizational requirements for stopping threats and contraband while protecting personnel and assets across nearly every form of security, from access control and CCTV to people screening and intrusion detection. Applicable across almost every industry, including defense, R-IS2 is built to suit any security, providing an unprecedented level of customization for the utmost protection.

Along with R-IS2, leadership from our managed screening services division, S2 Global, will be on hand to discuss this unique security offering and how it is currently being implemented at the Port of San Juan in Puerto Rico and by Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT), the tax authority of Mexico. An S2 Global managed screening solution ensures customers always have the latest inspection technologies and techniques to stay compliant with global screening mandates. By focusing on delivering the highest level of screening in
the most efficient way possible the S2 Global screening model gives customers a cost effective avenue to focus their efforts on enforcing laws and collecting revenues otherwise missed with traditional screening solutions.

And finally, we will be showcasing our Eagle M60 X-ray imaging system on site. The Eagle M60 features a 6 MV X-ray imagining system—the most powerful X-ray system available on a mobile scanner—capable of easily penetrating dense and densely packed cargo. The Rapiscan Eagle M60 offers best-in-class imaging, robust standard features and advanced options that make it the most user-friendly and flexible mobile system available.

As we’ve mentioned before, while the event is hosted by the U.S. Army, we invite all of our current and prospective customers to take this opportunity to come meet with us in person, see some of our solutions in action, and talk to company leadership about the ever-changing security industry. 

In addition to our U.S. military customers and contacts, we’re particularly excited to connect with representatives from a number of foreign defense delegations. So far, the following countries have confirmed representation from their respective defense departments at this year’s AUSA event:  Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. 

If you’re interested in setting up an appointment with a Rapiscan executive while at AUSA please register here.

Rapiscan will be very busy this autumn visiting many of Europe’s leading security events. At these events we will be showcasing our screening solutions and inviting potential customers and delegates to learn in further detail about the security equipment that Rapiscan provides.

Inter Airport Europe, Munich Trade Fair, Germany
8th – 11th October 2013
Hall B5, Stand 1424

Inter Airport Europe is a one stop shop exhibition for the airport industry, renowned for stimulating new ideas and offering expertise. Covering a broad range of airport issues, Inter Airport Europe aims to represent the airport industry in its entirety and on an international level. 
With its comprehensive range of equipment, technology and services for ground handling, the exhibition attracts a global audience of industry professionals.

At the show Rapiscan Systems will showcase its advanced checkpoint screening solution, the STAC Standard 2 approved LED’s 620DV, which has been designed specifically for aviation and high security applications. We will also be demonstrating our high-speed Computed Tomography system, The RTT (Real Time Tomography), which has recently passed the European Civil Aviation Conference’s (ECAC) Standard 3 threat detection test, the highest standard set by ECAC for the detection of explosive threats in passenger baggage. In addition, Rapiscan will be displaying an impressive hologram of the RTT for visitors to witness.

SMART Airport Conference, 7th – 11th October 2013, Munich, Germany
Hotel NH Munchen Dornach

SMART Airports runs alongside Inter Airport and is the airport industry’s key trade fair for equipment, technology, design and service.  Day four concentrates on Airport Security and will explore the ongoing challenge of ensuring a secure and robust air transport system for passengers, workers and cargo as they pass through the world’s airports.

On Thursday 10th October, Steve Revell, Director of Aviation at Rapiscan Systems, will be speaking on behaviour analysis and detection techniques as a security measure at airports.

IATA AVSEC World, 5th-7th November, Istanbul, Turkey
Hilton, Stand 25 & 26

IATA’s AVSEC World, hosted in Istanbul, is a two day conference and exhibition featuring high-level officials and senior executives from industry and government. At the event, a series of workshops and discussions will take place to bring together new approaches to aviation security.

The event features a variety of keynote speakers and gives the industry the opportunity to discover the latest technologies, explore new trends and discuss latest operational concepts.

Transport Security Expo, 13th- 14th November, Olympia, London
Olympia 2, Stand F40

Transport Security Expo has been the leading event for global heads of aviation, maritime, counter piracy, public transport and supply chain security for the past 10 years.

Rapiscan Systems will be showcasing its range of screening solutions for customs and border protection at the show. In addition, Frederic Brouiller, VP Sales EMEA, will be speaking at the Freight and Cargo Workshop on 14th Nov at 10:45am-11:10am, on a session titled: The evolution of the security screening requirement for customs and border agencies.

Port and Terminal Technology – 27th– 28th November, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Port and Terminal Technology is a niche technical event specially designed for representatives from operations, maintenance and engineering across the port, terminal and maritime industry.
Frederic Brouiller, VP Sales EMEA, will be speaking at the event on the evolution of the security screening requirements for ports and terminals. Frederic will be discussing how to achieve both speed and security when investigating cargo within shipments.

Frederic will discuss the issues and challenges ports face around cargo security and how these can be managed and maintained. Frederic will also explain how Rapiscan’s ready to use scanning solution can truly benefit the port security world.

If you will be attending any of the upcoming events, be sure to stop by the Rapiscan stand to hear about the latest developments, catch up with the spokespeople, and witness the RTT hologram in action.

A few weeks back, Rapiscan had the opportunity to attend and exhibit at the 16th annual India International Security Expo in New Dehli. The conference brought together security experts to showcase the latest cutting-edge security technology in the areas of aviation security, homeland security, fire safety, traffic management, public safety and more.

India is emerging today as one of the largest importers of defense and security equipment and also possesses one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. The country is expected to be among the five largest aviation markets by the year 2020. Given these dramatic increases in air traffic, airline operators, air route connectivity and air passenger flow, the safety and integrity of India’s airports and commercial aviation sector have become vitally linked to the country’s economic growth.

Rapiscan attended the conference to discuss this exponential growth and how we can assist India with their growing security needs. At the conference, Rapiscan demoed the HE50 Trace Detection solution. The Rapiscan HE50 is a mobile security solution used for detecting a wide range of threatening explosives. The HE50 features a lightweight design and uses a non-contact inhalation sampling technology, which allows the operator to screen for all major explosives without contact and without damaging the interrogated surface. This allows inspections to be performed faster and more efficiently therefore increasing throughput.

In addition to the HE50, the Rapiscan booth also featured the 620DV multi-view advanced baggage scanner. The 620DV generates multiple views of scanned items, allowing operators to identify threats faster and improve checkpoint throughput. It can also be used for critical non-aviation applications such as air cargo screening, military checkpoints, customs inspection and protection of national infrastructure.

In addition to exhibiting our solutions, Rapiscan also attended informative seminars on the latest security challenges facing the country and had the unique opportunity to collaborate with government leaders to determine how India can best modernize their security technology. We look forward to further working with India and attending next year’s expo.

Airport security authorities have a dual mandate:

1. Keep checkpoints current with innovative technologies that can detect the world’s constantly evolving threats
2. Keep checkpoints reliable by rigorously testing and certifying those technologies prior to implementation

The problem, it would seem, is that testing and certification takes time, and this could force security authorities into choosing between innovation and reliability.

But that’s a false choice. In fact, Rapiscan’s 620DV (Dual View) Aviation Checkpoint System for carry-on baggage is one of airport security’s best examples of innovation and reliability working seamlessly.

Having been deployed at major hub airports (including Los Angeles, New York JFK, and Atlanta) for the past five years, the 620DV is a familiar, highly trusted piece of equipment. It’s also one of the industry’s most operationally effective screening systems—possessing a small footprint, an energy-efficient design, and exceptional throughput capacity.

But while the exterior of the system hasn’t much changed, the 620DV’s multi-energy X-ray capabilities and material analysis software have been continuously improved to meet the evolving threat detection requirements of government regulators and security agencies worldwide.

The result is that checkpoint operators can rely on a tested, certified screening system (with approval from the U.S. TSA, the UK Department for Transport, and the European Civil Aviation Conference, among others) while leveraging its upgradeable detection platform to continuously improve capabilities and lower lifecycle costs (thanks to the ease of upgrading).

As it turns out, innovation and reliability make splendid co-pilots—which is likely why the 620DV has been (and continues to be) selected for more U.S. TSA deployments than any other advanced technology carry-on baggage screening system.

The time has come and the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition is upon us. While some events kick off on Sunday, the expo officially opens on Monday and runs through Wednesday at the D.C. Convention Center. 

We are very excited to be exhibiting at AUSA for the third year in a row and think this will be the best year yet.  Along with providing us the chance to meet with high ranking military personnel from around the world, we’re hoping that many who are interested in our services and solutions, beyond just the defense and military community, will take this opportunity to come see us in person. 

Along with our Eagle M60 – our powerful and versatile mobile cargo scanner – we look forward to demonstrating, and providing information around our comprehensive Rapiscan Integrated Security Solution (R-IS2) as well as our turnkey security screening solutions.

R-IS2 can meet all organizational requirements for stopping threats and contraband while protecting personnel and assets across nearly every form of security, from access control and CCTV to people screening and intrusion detection. Applicable across almost every industry, including defense, R-IS2 is built to suit any security, providing an unprecedented level of customization for the utmost protection.

We’ll also be showcasing our managed screening services, which are offered by S2 Global, a division of Rapiscan Systems. As budgets are increasingly tightened, and security screening demands are becoming more rigorous, more organizations are choosing full-service, turnkey security solutions, like the one Rapiscan offers. Selected by both the Port of San Juan in Puerto Rico and Mexico’s Servicio de Administración Tributaria (MSAT), Rapiscan’s managed screening solution is redefining security screening. Whether for ports, land borders or airports, successful checkpoint screening requires comprehensive planning, trained personnel and accurate image analysis. S2 and Rapiscan’s managed screening solution provides a unique suite of services to meet the individual requirements of our customers. 

Interested in learning more about R-IS2 or our full-service turnkey screening solution? Then sign up today to meet with us at AUSA next week.

Readers of this blog will know that independent studies have repeatedly confirmed the safety and reliability of backscatter body scanners.

And yet despite this scientific consensus, questions have persisted among those unfamiliar with the issue.

Therefore, we hope a freshly decisive, independent study from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) will at last put this issue to rest.

To be specific, AAPM President, Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of California Davis and Vice Chairman of Radiology at the UC Davis Medical Center John Boone declared that backscatter units emit a “ridiculously low” dose of radiation and do not pose any significant health concerns.

The Oct. 16 issue of CQ Homeland Security writes that Boone and his team of scientists conducted tests on nine different backscatter machines—both in the warehouse and at airport checkpoints—for the study. They found that the machines exposed passengers to less radiation than they would naturally be subjected to every two minutes on the ground and every 12 seconds while flying on an airplane.

Boone made it clear to CQ Homeland Security that AAPM came up with the idea to study the radiation issue on its own, and approached Rapiscan and the TSA—not the other way around.

Over the last few years many studies have repeatedly proven the safety of Rapiscan’s backscatter body scanners. A few of those studies include:

• EU Scientific Community on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Transportation Security Administration
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• U.S. Army
• U.K. Department for Transportation

For further information on this topic, please visit our previous posts as well as our website for Rapiscan Secure 1000 Health and Safety Information.

With the weather turning cooler now is the time to head south to Argentina and join us at the upcoming 2013 Annual World Customs Organization Technology & Innovation (T&I) Forum.

Taking place in Buenos Aires November 12-14, the WCO T&I Forum is expected to bring together more than 350 international representatives of the border and enforcement agencies, Directors General, Heads of Procurement, Senior Operational Officers and field experts from Customs Authorities, technology sector, international organizations and others involved in the international trade arena.

The objective of T&I Forum is to
• Offer technological solutions to assist daily border inspection activities.
• Provide a platform for dialogue and cooperation between the public and private sector in the sphere of border management.
• Learn more about emerging technologies and innovations.
• Forge new partnerships and encourage the exchange of best practices in the sphere of using technologies and innovations among the stakeholders.

Rapiscan is excited to attend, present and participate in the Forum. We will be exhibiting at booth F1 and representatives will be on hand to chat about our screening products and services – including our cargo and vehicle inspection solutions and our popular managed screening solution, offered by S2 Global, a division of Rapiscan Systems. 

Additionally, Dr Edward Morton, Technical Director, Rapiscan Systems will be presenting as part of a panel discussion on Effective Decision Making Empowered by Technologies. The panel discussion is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 2:15-3:45 p.m. 

We hope you’ll join us at the WCO T&I Forum

At a recent hearing convened by the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Airforwarders Association Chairman Richard Fisher highlighted the many infrastructure concerns faced by forwarders today. As the winds of change blow through the global air cargo industry, all involved need to focus on addressing these challenges to ensure a successful future.

All of us have seen photos of cargo planes and airliners effortlessly taking off into seemingly beautiful skies. Shipments on those flights arrive within hours thanks to a well-choreographed ballet of workers who make delivery possible. But few outside our industry really appreciate the vast physical infrastructure required to get the freight inside those planes before departure.

We are all aware of the importance of airport facilities in the movement of air cargo but last year, mandatory cost cutting in the U.S. began to furlough air traffic controllers in 189 large airport control towers. Thanks to quick action by Congress, money from other programs was diverted to avoid longer-term cutbacks but only temporarily. This fall, another round of sequester related staff reductions threatens to reduce the amount of controllers again, resulting in possible significant delays that could severely hamper the flow of cargo. Unless Congress adopts a continuing resolution to keep money flowing, control towers at some airports will be closed while others may have their hours severely curtailed.

The global airline industry is finally beginning to see marginal profitability after years of tremendous losses.  Forwarders and passengers depend on these carriers and proposals to impose billions of dollars in new and higher aviation taxes should be rejected.  It is in the interest of our industry and our nation to have a healthy and robust aviation sector and increasing taxes on airlines runs contrary to this goal.

The U.S. and other governments need to focus on modernizing air traffic control systems as a way to meet future demand, improve safety of flight operations and increase productivity worldwide.  The deployment of this technology on programs such as NextGen is very complex and costly but in the U.S. alone, the FAA predicts that airlines will save an estimated $600 million in fuel annually and reduce flight delays up to 30%. Governments need to maintain strong support and vigilant oversight to ensure faster completion of this deployment.

The movement of shipments to and from airports is an essential component to the success of air cargo. Trucks require sturdy roads and bridges for quick airport access but in the U.S., one in nine bridges are structurally deficient and there is insufficient funding to fix them.  This creates delays to an industry that depends on clear, smooth roads for quick airport access. Obviously this money needs to come from somewhere and there are many proposed solutions. However, before embracing a higher tax, their needs to be assurance that existing taxes are being invested as intended and not diverted for other purposes. 

In addition to finding a funding mechanism for deteriorating roads and bridges, U.S. forwarders remain greatly concerned about the new hours of service rules for truckers that recently took effect. This new regulation is estimated to require an additional 40,000 truck drivers to maintain current service levels. Most airlines and members of the Airforwarders Association arrange long haul truck transportation as part of international air cargo shipments and already worry about an existing driver shortage due to the high cost of fuel, trucks and truck maintenance.

The global economic downturn continues to erode air cargo margins. For example, some rates into China have fallen to an all time low of just 40 cents a kilo, including surcharges. This comes as a senior market analyst recently predicted that independent air cargo airlines face bankruptcy unless new strategies are embraced. The economic viability of operating wide body freighter aircraft as an essential air cargo infrastructure component is being questioned.

Thanks to newer passenger planes designed with ample room for cargo, the airfreight paradigm is shifting as shipments that were once too large for passenger planes now easily fit on these flights. While freighters will always be needed for outsized cargo or for shipments with complex material or security handling requirements, making money only flying these planes will prove difficult.  As carriers take delivery of more cargo friendly aircraft such as the 777, independent cargo operators should consider alliances with passenger carriers as a means of survival.

The air cargo reputation for speed and reliability make it the most valuable offering in freight transportation.  While the industry faces many challenges and uncertainties, forwarders working as a team with airlines, regulators and customers believe the future will be prosperous. 

—Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association

Brandon Fried was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association in November 2005. Brandon has more than 25 years of experience in the air freight industry. He started his career as a sales representative in Los Angeles. He then moved to Washington, D.C. where he began, owned and operated the Washington office of Adcom Worldwide, a global freight forwarder specializing in time definite air cargo transportation.

In 2000 Brandon joined the Airforwarders Association and was elected as Chairperson in 2001, serving for two consecutive terms. In August 2005 he sold his interest in Adcom Worldwide and began consulting air cargo companies on business strategy and management practices. Brandon represents the Association on all security matters and currently serves on the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) working group in counsel to the Transportation Security Administration.

Disclaimer: This is a guest blog post. The thoughts and ideas within are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts of Rapiscan Systems.

The International Air Transport Association’s annual AVSEC conference has traditionally been a great place to get a global perspective on aviation security. This year’s event, which took place in Istanbul and was hosted by Turkish Airlines, was no exception.

From a Rapiscan standpoint, it was an opportunity for us to educate airlines and regulators ranging from Qatar to South Africa to Croatia on the benefits of our new RTT110 hold baggage screening solution. We’ve created a lot marketing materials to support the RTT, but there is no substitute for one-on-one demonstrations of the RTT’s no-moving-parts stationary gantry, its high-resolution 3-D imaging or its 1800 bag per hour throughput. Given that airports such as Istanbul have seen passenger volume increase from 10 million to a projected 100 million per year in 5 years, we think that highly reliable and high throughput solutions like the RTT110 are going to be a key part of airport security in the future.

Rapiscan was also invited to participate in a workshop on IATA’s Checkpoint of the Future program. IATA will be conducting pilots of various approaches to improving checkpoint efficiency and security – and Rapiscan will take part in these. I was asked to present my views as a technology provider on what needs to be done to facilitate the checkpoint of the future. I urged IATA, airlines and regulators to work on three issues:

1.  Encourage the development of common standards and protocols for data sharing, networking and integration of security technologies and products – this will reduce overall costs and allow for the deployment of best of breed solutions that leverage existing commercial off the shelf products.

2.  Establish more opportunities for technology vendors to demonstrate their solutions in real world or near-real world operational aviation environments. I know from Rapiscan’s experience, we have a lot of exciting technology but it is often expensive and time consuming to demonstrate it.

3.  Streamline the regulatory certification/approval/qualification process. Depending on the specific product, getting a national regulator to approve a security screening system for sale can often take years. During that time, what the regulator requires in terms of product performance often changes. The net result: a lot of risk and uncertainty for security solution providers and more importantly, delays in getting better solutions deployed.

Across the world, every airport has a goal beyond facilitating transportation of travelers and goods: Keeping the people and property that they transport safe and secure. To meet this goal, much of the developed world has adopted baggage-screening standards to detect and eliminate potential threats from checked bags. The catch, however, is that while the goal is the same across the world - the standards are not.
Almost every country around the world maintains differentiated standards when it comes to baggage screening. While the standards are often close enough to one another, disparities exist in the details, such as the types of screening machines to be used and rules around liquids and false alarm rates.

It might seem minuscule, but these diverse standards cause much of the pain for passengers during international flights and also force equipment manufacturers to deal with a variety of incremental tweaks to screening equipment, rather than focusing on innovation to combat emerging threats. 

Currently, the US and EU recognize each other’s cargo security programs – which reduces redundancies, and allocates screening resources more effectively to allow cargo screening operations to run more efficiently – however, synchronized global security regulations are still lacking.

The lack of harmonized standards has the potential to compromise even the most stringent security plans and could end up being very costly to international airlines and cargo carriers. More standardization makes it easier for security officials, airlines and freight forwarders to take advantage of emerging security technologies. By synchronizing the data that counterterrorist and homeland security agencies around the world need to detect and neutralize cargo-borne threats will greatly improve the ability to fight the global war against terrorism.

Harmonized standards would also expand the global market for manufacturers of security scanning systems. The more clarity and certainty that security companies have about scanning requirements on a global level, the bigger the market becomes, which increases technological competition and innovation.

Currently, there is much movement towards harmonized security screening standards, and much of the groundwork has been laid, but there is still much to be done. Nations are realizing the benefits however, and through working together they will reach their common goal of creating a secure travel environment worldwide.

We are pleased to announce that Rapiscan Systems has joined forces with landmines research charity Find A Better Way to help celebrate new projects which could save millions of lives around the world.

Rapiscan is sponsoring the Find A Better Way awards dinner at the Lansdowne Club, Mayfair, London, on 28 November.

The dinner will highlight hi-tech research work carried-out by the charity and feature the announcement of the winning bids in the Find A Better Way £1 million research challenge.

Find A Better Way was founded by England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton after he witnessed the death and destruction caused by landmines while visiting Bosnia and Cambodia.

Find A Better Way’s goal is to develop technological solutions which will cut down the time taken to detect and destroy landmines by half – saving millions of lives in former war zones across the globe.

Working with the EPSRC, Find A Better Way challenged UK-led research teams to come up with innovative and practical solutions to help in the detection and destruction of landmines.

More than 30 projects put forward bids for a slice of the £1 million fund and the winners have now been chosen by the charity’s Board.

Rapiscan has worked with the charity since its foundation in 2011 and the company’s Managing Director, Frank Baldwin, is a Find A Better Way Trustee and Board member.

The United Nations estimates that there are more than 110 million landmines in 70 countries and that it would currently take more than 1,100 years and cost more than 33 billion US Dollars to clear them.

I returned last week from the 19th Milipol Paris Exhibition and Conference on Security. Apart from its incredible location – even in November, Paris is an amazing city – there were several general trends and innovations that I found particularly exciting.

Security innovation is a global enterprise: whether you are interested in cyber security, surveillance, or non-intrusive inspection, there are exciting solutions being developed worldwide. For example, the CEA – a pan-European research center – has developed wide-area, ultra-high speed video analysis tools that can identify risks and potential threats in settings such as crowded public events that have been traditionally challenging for CCTV analytics.

Smaller, lighter, more operator friendly is better: whether it is a bio hazard suit for first responders or Rapiscan’s new streamlined Eagle C02 vehicle scanner, solution providers are increasingly aware that whatever they produce must be as easy as possible for customers and operators to use.

Integration, integration, integration.  There are many companies providing solutions that allow for the combined presentation of data from multiple security sensors, such as a FLIR camera or CCTV.  Also of interest is the growing integration of communications and GIS capabilities with these types of solutions.  Rapiscan, I am proud to say, was part of this effort, highlighting its Rapiscan Integrated Security Software (RISS), which allows for the full integration of access control, surveillance and x-ray inspection capabilities.

This year’s Idaho Sheriffs Association & Jail Administrators Annual Conference will take place December 9-11 in Boise, Idaho. As a global leader in security screening, Rapiscan has a strong presence in the world of law enforcement and corrections. US Testing Equipment will be at the conference this week to represent Rapsican’s full line of x-ray and walk-through metal detector screening solutions, including the highly popular 6 series walk-through metal detectors. “We are pleased to represent Rapiscan at this year’s Sheriffs Conference and always look forward to working with potential clients to help select the right equipment for the right job,” shared US Testing’s Owner and President, Reese Carpenter.

Of particular interest at the conference will be Rapiscan’s Metor 6S, the perfect highly sensitive solution for prisons and courthouses. US Testing Equipment has installed the Metor 6S in over a hundred courthouses and correction facilities across the country and recognizes the NIJ compliant walk-through metal detector as the most efficient technology available for detecting small metal objects that can be used as weapons. In a white paper released earlier this year, US Testing demonstrated the ultimate efficiency of walk-through metal detectors and showed their ability to consistently detect security threats while maintaining high throughput. Their paper went on to show that in contrast to the repeatability of WTMDs, hand held metal detectors are often accompanied by inconsistencies caused either by operator error or other human based variables. These findings further highlighted the need for high-risk environments such as courthouses and prisons to utilize walk-through metal detectors in their screening process.

US Testing Equipment has been a recognized leader in the Detection Security market for nearly 20 years.  They have been a proud distributor of Rapiscan screening products for the past 6 years and as a one-stop provider are able to sell, service, consult, train, lease and finance all of your detection equipment needs.  If you would like any additional information on the conference or US Testing’s services, please feel free to contact Jason Allen by emailing jason@ustesting.com or by calling (360)735-7685.

As 2013 winds to a close, we wanted to take a look back at the year’s most meaningful (and two of the year’s most tragic) security storylines, and some lessons we might take from each of them moving forward.

We also want hear from our readers. Which security stories did you find most meaningful or most instructive this year? Please submit your votes right here on the blog, or chime in on Twitter and LinkedIn.

1) Chemical Horror in Syria

In August, the Ghouta suburbs near Damascus were struck by rockets containing the chemical agent sarin, killing hundreds and igniting a firestorm of international controversy. Though an agreement was eventually reached to eliminate Syria’s chemical stockpiles, the devastating accounts of the Ghouta attack endure as grim reminders of the threats posed by non-conventional weaponry, and the importance of detecting even more harmful substances—like nuclear and radiological materials.

2) Tragedy at the Boston Marathon

We never used to think much about providing comprehensive security for mass-participation races in downtown areas, but that’s forever changed. The tragic events of April 15th (and the days following) taught us two other important lessons, as well: terrorism can strike anywhere, and even relatively unsophisticated IEDs (like pressure cooker bombs) can be enormously destructive if left undetected.

3) U.S. Immigration Reform Stalls

One of the lessons we’ve learned from a protracted stalemate over comprehensive reform is that concerns remain over the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of our nation’s border security methods. Fortunately, innovators are working on software solutions that combine global threat intelligence with local information from physical scanners—which could make borders of the future both more secure and more efficient.

4) PreCheck Expands

In September, TSA announced the expansion of its popular PreCheck service (expedited airport security lanes) to 60 new airports. More than 18 million passengers have used the PreCheck service since its introduction in 2011. However, some frequent fliers are concerned that expanding the program may lead to over-use of the PreCheck lanes—resulting in more traffic and longer lines. Perhaps the optimal solution will be to continue expanding PreCheck, while simultaneously exploring ways to improve the quality and efficiency of the screening experience at traditional checkpoint stations.

5) New EU Regulations

In March, the European Union implemented the first phase of its stepped approach to lifting the restrictions on carrying liquids, aerosols, and gels (LAGs) through airport security. Made possible by the emergence of advanced LAG-detecting screening systems, EU’s actions validate worldwide efforts to find technological solutions for improving travel experiences while maintaining top-notch security.

6) EU Certifies RTT110

Speaking of innovations, earlier this year Rapiscan’s Real Time Tomography (RTT) 110 hold baggage screening system became the first and only stationary gantry high-speed Explosives Detection System (EDS) to meet the European Civil Aviation Counsel’s (ECAC) highest standard for threat detection (Level 3). As airports strive to deliver faster, more secure travel experiences, systems like the RTT 110 can help increase performance and throughput—with smaller footprints and lower life-cycle costs.

Well, that’s our list for 2013. But we’re also curious to hear from our readers. Which security stories did you find most meaningful or most instructive this year? Please submit your votes right here on the blog, or chime in on Twitter and LinkedIn.

2014 will be the year for regulations; with phase one of the LAGs (liquids, aerosols and gels) restrictions due on 31st January, airports will be pushed to make investments in security screening technology, processes and training to be in line with new EU regulations.

The lifting of LAGs will be a phased approach, which will provide airports and security technology firms with operational experience before the restrictions are fully lifted in 2016.
Phase one starts on January 31st 2014, and will allow passengers transferring from European airports to transport duty free LAGs bought at non-European countries, provided they are held within an ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) specification Security Tamper Evident Bag (STEB). Although this phase may not be of great impact to passengers, it means that airports will need EU certified screening technology for these STEBs.

The lifting of the LAGs restrictions will mean that airports must have viable screening technology which is EU certified, something readily available to deploy. The challenge for airports will be to make sure they can meet the requirements as well as maintaining passenger satisfaction and keeping operating costs as low as possible. This is something that Rapiscan Systems is actively supporting feels will be a positive step towards the final deadline in 2016. 

The EDS (Explosives Detection Systems) baggage scanning deadline, set for September 2014, means that all European Airports will need to have a Standard 3 certified hold baggage system if they wish to deploy new equipment. The European Civil Aviation Conference’s (ECAC) Standard 3 threat detection test is the highest standard set by ECAC for the detection of explosive threats in passenger baggage, and aims to speed up the process of baggage scanning whilst maintaining low operational costs and high levels of security. The deadline will continue to drive growth in the EU market with many airports moving forward and purchasing equipment ahead the September closing date. Many countries are already prepared for these changes; however we will see an increase in uptake for compliant equipment in 2014.

The main question for the security industry this is; will the airports be ready for these regulations? The LAGs restriction is a phased approach, and with a final deadline of 2016, it would be fair to assume that airports will make a smooth transition to comply with these regulations in this timeframe. The EDS baggage scanning deadline is due a lot sooner, and will be the main priority; however with the compliant technology already available and continually improving, the market has a great opportunity to get a head start in Europe this year. 

A summary of current restrictions and impacts on European airports is now available to view.

Changes in EU regulations, starting this month, regarding the screening of liquids aerosols and gels (LAGS) in passenger carry-on baggage will require European airports to make changes in how they operate their security checkpoints. With the current restrictions on carrying LAGS in carry-on baggage being relaxed, European airports will have to make investments in security screening technology, processes and training to address these new EU regulations.

As phase one of the deadline is now active, we have developed a whitepaper that summarises the current restrictions, the timetable for their relaxation and the impact on airports. We also cover how countries across Europe can prepare for the first ‘go live’ phase, which involves the easing of restrictions with Secure Tamper-Evident Bags (STEBs). The document also explores the vital steps that airports can make to be compliant with these relaxations in time for the 2016 final deadline with the help of Rapiscan security screening equipment.

The informative publication, which explores the background behind the EU regulations, and the lessons learnt from the threats the aviation security industry has seen, is a component in ensuring that the industry is clued up on the restrictions and the reasons behind them.

With the end goal of a more streamlined and effective checkpoint security process in sight, regulators and technology providers are encouraged to work together to significantly reduce operating costs and increase passenger satisfaction. In this whitepaper, we showcase how our services are supporting these efforts and assisting airports and regulators to meet the demanding security screening requirements. The capabilities of the Rapiscan 620DV advanced baggage screening solution, which meets EU Standard 2 Type C certification for LAGS screening technology to airports, are also discussed.

The Rapiscan LAGs whitepaper is available to view here.

2014 is set to be a big year of events, The Winter Olympics in February,  The Brazil World Cup in June and The Commonwealth Games in July to name but a few. As the Official Security Equipment and Systems Provider of the London Olympics, The Brazil 2013 Confederations Cup, and many other major events, Rapiscan has experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities that large sporting events can present to the event industry and can offer advice to organisers when preparing for such activity.

It’s not where the event is, but who is attending
After the London 2012 Olympics set a de facto model for securing large scale international events, whereby Rapiscan Systems provided over 1000 X-ray machines and 1000 archway and handheld metal detectors, event organisers have now recognised that it is not necessarily where you hold the event that should determine the level of security required, but about how you protect those that have been invited. Hosting an event with representatives from around the globe only increases security concerns and precautions and this is something that organisers need to take into account when planning large scale operations such as the World Cup.

Security is a priority
Organisers are considering and taking into account security much sooner than before, especially with the heightened threat levels and importance of protection. With the media in security frenzy after disasters such as the Boston bombings, security has never been at its tightest. Not only has the 2012 Olympics set an impressive model for security standards, Rapiscan successful screened 500,000 people at the Brazil 2013 Confederations cup including all attendees, players, staff and media. In addition to people, Rapiscan screened all freight delivered to the stadiums on non-games days. Going into 2014 will mean that security is a priority when organising both domestic and international events, and this is something that is not likely to decrease.

Attendees expect high security
Gone are the days when it was a hassle to have your bag checked. Event attendees now anticipate to see high level metal detectors and bag searches when entering a high profile show or sporting event.  Although the importance of speed when going through the checkpoint is still high on event attendees’ priority list, this is also becoming outweighed by the desire to feel protected in such a large area. In times where security is forever being questioned, the general public like to feel safe and secure and sometimes without these precautions, there is concern over safety. It is now becoming expected as standard that event security should follow the example set by airport style security.

Following in the footsteps of the Olympics
With a busy year of events ahead around the world, organisers are looking into the actions and choices made by those at the Olympics 2012 and using these as examples to follow. Taking into account security risks and planning early is imperative for such events to run smoothly. With the right combination of technology and high level of throughput, a speedy checkpoint solution can be made, which will prove vital in the successful execution of largely populated events in 2014.

First it was the National Football League and now Major League Baseball. Professional sporting leagues are increasingly choosing to implement advanced security measures for fans at their events – and rightly so.

Between the Boston Marathon bombing, the Centennial Park bombing at the Atlanta Olympics, and threats already being voiced against the upcoming Sochi Olympics, high-profile sporting events have become an unfortunate target for violence and terrorist activity.

Today, Major League Baseball told its 30 teams that they must implement security screening for their fans by 2015. The screening must be conducted using either hand-held metal detectors or walk-through magnetometers and will be in addition to the bag checks that are already in place throughout the MLB.

While extra security is never a bad thing, the challenge then becomes balancing fan experience with effective security. How long are spectators willing to wait in a security queue to watch the home team live as opposed to the comfort of their home?

Luckily, effective security doesn’t have to mean inconvenience, and stadiums that are able to successfully execute on this balance will not only have secure venues but also pleased patrons. A well-managed security checkpoint, can ensure that threats are detected without impacting the fan experience.

Solutions like the Rapiscan Metor series of metal detectors combine superior threat detection with high traffic throughput to ensure spectators are getting into events in a timely manner. Designed with ease of use in mind, these solutions are ideal for event settings where security staff may have limited training on the equipment. 

To read more about successful event security, take a look at our white paper that outlines how event security professionals can create an environment that keeps both spectator experience and effective security in mind. To read the full paper CLICK HERE.

World renowned security screening company Rapiscan Systems Limited has today (Wednesday 5 February) been appointed as Official Security Screening Equipment Provider for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Rapiscan provides state-of-the-art security equipment and services including x-ray machines and metal detection. During the Games, Rapiscan provide and install all physical security screening equipment at Games venues. Rapiscan will also provide security scanning equipment at the Athletes’ Village.

Rapiscan is a global security screening company, operating in over 100 countries worldwide.  It is a leader in event security solutions, having supported major sporting events such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Glasgow 2014 Deputy Chief Executive, Ty Speer, said:

“Keeping athletes, spectators and everyone involved with the Games safe and secure is of paramount importance at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“Rapiscan has a strong track record in providing security scanning solutions for major companies and worldwide sporting events such as Olympic Games. We’re looking forward to working with Rapiscan to ensure a safe and secure environment during Glasgow 2014.”

President of Rapsican Systems Ltd, Ajay Mehra, commented: 
“To be working alongside the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games organisers is a great honour for Rapiscan and demonstrates our leadership in the security screening solutions market. Our technology allows for both superior non-intrusive threat detection and extremely high throughput, meaning that visitors and baggage will be scanned effectively and efficiently and to the highest standard.

“Having worked to secure other high profile sporting events, such as the London 2012 Olympic Games, we have the knowledge and expertise required to not only ensure the security of the venues but to also enhance visitor satisfaction.”