Adding to its portfolio of security screening systems, OSI Systems’ [OSIS] Rapiscan Systems division will distribute under its own label a passive millimeter wave people screening system supplied by Brijot Imaging Systems.
The two companies have entered into a private label distribution agreement that calls for the development, marketing and selling of people-screening and object detection solutions that combine Brijot’s and Rapiscan’s expertise in millimeter wave and X-Ray technology. For now though it appears the agreement will be limited to Rapiscan’s possible distribution of Brijot’s BIS-WDS GEN 2 screening system, which can detect weapons, explosives and contraband on people from about 10 feet away.
The companies plan to discuss the agreement this week at the AVSEC World 2007 conference in Vancouver. The extent of the partnership, such as technology co-development plans, haven’t been disclosed.
The distribution agreement offers Rapiscan another product it can offer its global customer base. Rapiscan current portfolio of X-Ray inspection systems can screen people, parcels, cargo and containers. For people screening the company has sold its Secure 1000 backscatter X-Ray based system to various international customers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also plans to pilot test the system at one or more airport checkpoints.
“We believe there is a large and growing demand for integrated security solutions that combine multiple technologies, so we are pleased to work with Brijot to expand our range of advanced body scanning products,” says Ajay Mehra, president of Rapiscan. “We intend to work with Brijot to bring to market new products and services that leverage Rapiscan’s deep expertise in X-Ray technologies and our global distribution and service network. Rapiscan will now be able to offer its customers the choice of screening people for threats in a stand-off mode utilizing passive millimeter wave technology or in a portal mode utilizing our proprietary backscatter X-Ray technology. Brijot’s technology is expected to be integrated with our existing products so that we can offer our customers a layered security checkpoint that efficiently detects a wide range of concealed metallic and non-metallic threats.”
Brijot believes that Rapiscan’s global customer base and marketing presence will give it the opportunity to expand its sales of the BIS-WDS GEN 2.
“We are confident that this private label branding will increase the distribution penetration of our systems worldwide,” says Mitchel Laskey, president and CEO of Brijot.
With its large installed base of X-Ray inspection systems, Rapiscan also provides a global service network, something that Brijot can’t right now.
The deal with Rapiscan fits right into Brijot’s sales and marketing plan. The company already has a customer base for its GEN 2 and earlier generation screening system, having shipped about 200 systems. Customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, and other U.S. government agencies, the United Kingdom, Israel and even commercial firms. Earlier this year Best Buy Corp.’s [BBY] Canadian division selected the GEN 2 system as part of a layered security strategy for associate screening and loss prevention at distribution center operations.
All that activity has “validated” the system, Laskey told TR2 last month at ASIS International in Las Vegas. “Now we’re looking to take the product globally.”
Laskey says there isn’t a single market driver for Brijot’s imaging system.
“We’re focusing as much on the commercial market as the government market,” Laskey says.
There are four primary applications for the GEN 2 system, according to Laskey. These are: military checkpoints, including perimeter checkpoint control; employee safety and loss prevention; office building checkpoints; and aviation security, such as passenger and employee screening. Brijot says the GEN 2 would work well for screening inbound passengers on international flights where U.S. Customs and Border Protection is trying to interdict drugs and currency laundering.
The GEN 2 system can be used in areas where people are moving or stationary. Brijot touts the product as a primary screening system. On the other hand, Rapiscan’s Secure 1000 portal screener requires people to be stationary. TSA plans to test it for secondary screening.