By Calvin Biesecker
ICx Technologies [ICXT] said last week that it 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 which do systems integration for commercial and military end users, Colin Cumming, president of ICx’ Detection division, told Defense Daily on Friday.
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 said.
“They have gone through that learning curve,” Cumming said.
S3I also has key capabilities in being able to model buildings for how best to distribute the bio-sensors, Cumming said. The company also can test a building to help determine what the sensor needs are, he added.
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.
ICx already has capabilities and products in the bio-aerosol detection space, especially in building monitoring just like S3I. However, Cumming said 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 said.
Moreover, Cumming said, S3I gives us “capability beyond commercial buildings.” Commercial buildings are an important market for S3I but IBAC also has military applications, he said.
The acquisition deal terms include earn out provisions based on business performance. S3I’s sales were not disclosed.