ICx Technologies [ICXT] has acquired S3I, LLC, a small firm that will bolster its capabilities in biological threat detection, for $5.3 million in cash.
S3I’s key product is the Instantaneous Bio-aerosol Analyzer and Collector (IBAC) which is used in environmental systems of buildings and facilities to detect and warn of potential threat agents such as anthrax. The Maryland-based company typically sells IBAC to prime contractors who do systems integration for commercial and military end users, Colin Cumming, president of ICx’ Detection division, tells TR2.
Most of S3I’s customer base is government as the commercial market is still emerging, David Silcott, president of S3I, tells TR2.
The acquisition helps make ICx a “dominant player” in the bio-aerosol arena, Cumming said. In addition to IBAC, S3I has developed all the technology that goes into the sensor, much of it done through experimentation and trial and error in an “arcane” area of research, he says.
“They have gone through that learning curve,” Cumming says.
S3I also has key capabilities in being able to model buildings for how best to distribute the bio-sensors, Cumming says. The company also can test a building to help determine what the sensor needs are, he adds.
IBAC also does triggering, which enables the sensor to alert other detectors and systems to potential threats as part of a layered approach to security. The system can be installed with wireless or hardwire connections and run on either S3I’s command and control software or on legacy systems, Silcott says.
ICx already has capabilities and products in the bio-aerosol detection space, especially in building monitoring just like S3I. However, Cumming says there is no overlap between the companies’ products. The products have different price points and create a portfolio to meet different types of requirements, he says.
Moreover, Cumming says, S3I gives us “capability beyond commercial buildings.” Commercial buildings are an important market for S3I but IBAC also has military applications, he says.
In addition to IBAC, S3I also has been participating in the Defense Department’s Joint Biological Tactical Detection System and hopes to eventually be part of any final solution, Silcott says. The company also stands ready to participate in upgrade opportunities for the existing Joint Biological Point Detection System, which is produced by General Dynamics [GD]. S3I is also participating in Phase 3 of the Department of Homeland Security’s Instantaneous Bio-Aerosol Detector Systems program, he says.
The acquisition deal terms include earn out provisions based on business performance. S3I’s sales were not disclosed.