U.S. Marines Begin Fleet-Wide Upgrade of Smiths Detection’s Chemical Identifiers

Smiths Detection today announced that the U.S. Marine Corps will shortly begin installing the company’s HazMatID 360 upgrade to their fleet of chemical detectors as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Assessment and Consequence Management (MAGTF ACM) Program for chemical agent identification systems. The upgrade maximizes system capabilities and performance in the most cost-effective way.

Smiths Detection’s HazMatID is a world-leading, ruggedized device that provides comprehensive in-field analysis and identification of unknown solids, gels and liquids. It enables HazMat teams, military personnel and emergency responders to quickly identify potential chemical threats and make decisive life-saving decisions in response.

Bob Bohn, Vice President of Sales, the Americas, Smiths Detection, said, “With thousands of HazMatID systems in use across the world, the 360 upgrade allows current users to update their capabilities of in-field threat identification without having to retrain personnel or purchase additional equipment. In this time of fiscal responsibility, the Marine Corps will be updating its chemical detection technology and also maximizing previous investments.”

The upgrade includes optimized mixture algorithms, larger substance libraries, chemical hazard classification for not-in-library substances, easy-to-connect Bluetooth wireless communications, and integrated PEAC-WMD software by AristaTek providing critical information management and decision support.

The HazMatID 360 will be featured at Fire Rescue International in Chicago, August 27-28, 2010 in Smiths Detection's booth #2454.

Smiths Detection (www.smithsdetection.com) designs and makes advanced solutions to detect and identify threats including explosives, chemical agents, biohazards, nuclear, radiation, narcotics, weapons and contraband. A market leader worldwide in providing layered security technologies, Smiths Detection has plants in eight U.S. states. It partners federal and state government agencies and first responders to strengthen homeland security and safeguard the military. Major customers include the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It is part of Smiths Group (www.smiths.com), a global leader in the practical application of advanced technologies. Smiths Group employs around 22,000 people, including more than 9,000 in the U.S. where it operates around 100 sites in 40 states. For more information on its U.S. operations: U.S. Fact Book.