Paris, France and Stirling, Scotland--Morpho, a security and biometrics company, and Cascade Technologies, manufacturer of spectroscopy monitoring systems, announced that they have installed a next-generation mid-IR quantum-cascade (QC) laser-based optical spectroscopy system for a field trial at Glasgow Airport. The walk-through portal system allows rapid detection of home-made explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in real-time via analysis of air samples, without using ionizing radiation or capturing passenger images.
The solution is the first outcome of a partnership initiated in early 2009 between Morpho and Cascade Technologies. Already deployed for the detection, measurement and monitoring of gases in industrial processes and emissions, the technology has been tested for IED/explosives detection since 2005 following the July 2005 London terrorist attacks, with support from the UK government. It presents unique capabilities for gas detection in terms of measurement speed and discrimination and is well suited for airport security checkpoints that require high convenience and low-false-alarm standards.
Jean-Paul Jainsky, chairman and CEO of Morpho, said, "We are very pleased with this partnership and to have now reached trial stage with a major airport operator such as BAA. The combination of Cascade Technologies’ expertise with our leading detection technologies, through our subsidiary Morpho Detection, will contribute to our cutting-edge range of airport control security solutions."
SOURCE: Cascade Technologies; www.cascade-technologies.com/pdfs/Morpho%20Cascade%20Technologies.pdf
