Smiths Detection security equipment helps protect EU-Africa Summit and Obama visit

Smiths Detection is providing a range of its advanced threat detectors to contribute to increased security for this week’s EU-Africa Summit which brings together some 90 heads of state to discuss “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace”.

As part of a technology trial conducted by the Directorate General for Home Affairs of the European Commission (DG HOME), Smiths Detection supplied security detection solutions similar to those deployed during the visit of US President Obama to Brussels last week.

The DG HOME trial aimed to elaborate how the use of CBRN-E equipment such as Smiths products can be used in different environments. Sabre 5000 and MMTD chemical agents and explosives detectors and its RadSeeker radiation detector – all hand-held systems — were provided to Belgian Rail Police, Special Units and EU Council security staff to check for any suspicious substances during these highly sensitive VIP events.

Special security units of the Belgian Federal Police, the EU Council Security Unit, the European Commission and of the Brussels Airport Security had received thorough field training on how to operate the Smiths Detection systems.

Ian May, Smiths Detection Vice President – EMEA Region, said “This has been an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of Smiths Detection products, on a world stage. It shows that wherever there is the need for identifying a combination of chemical, biological, radiological threats and explosives, we can provide the complete solution and training”.

The MMTD is a hand-held detector that provides detection and identification of explosives, narcotics from a single sample and features the detection of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. The SABRE 5000 detects the same substances as the MMTD but uses a different technology. Smiths Detections RadSeeker is highly accurate radioisotope detector used to detect and identify varied nuclear threats.

Smiths Detection offers advanced security solutions in civil and military markets worldwide, developing and manufacturing government-regulated technology products that help detect and identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, radiological and nuclear threats, weapons, narcotics and contraband. It is part of Smiths Group, a global leader in applying integrated, advanced technologies to markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs around 23,000 people in more than 50 countries