Block Engineering Wins $4.38M Government Contract

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Block Engineering announced today
that it has been awarded a new $4,380,000 government contract to develop a
fieldable, handheld infrared spectrometer that utilizes Block's unique laser
and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies. The spectrometer will
be used for standoff detection of solid and liquid explosive materials or
other substances that could be used for making Improvised Explosive Devices
(IEDs). Block's technology could also be used for the detection of Chemical
Warfare Agents, Non-Traditional Agents and Toxic Industrial Chemicals.

"Block's unique laser and MEMS technologies will enable the detection and
identification of these substances in the field and provide our warfighters
with a powerful tool in order to protect them against the devastating effects
of IEDs," said Dr. Petros Kotidis, CEO of Block Engineering. "Block has a long
history of delivering rugged, high performance instruments to government
agencies and these new devices will be the next generation of substance
identifying, mobile systems with unprecedented capabilities."

About Block Engineering
Block Engineering is a leading developer of high performance infrared
spectrometers for chemical detection and analysis to military, government,
commercial, and industrial customers. Its Mobile Chemical Agent Detector
(MCAD) system, in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation, and,
PORTHOS(TM), a portable FT-IR spectrometer system, remotely detect chemical
threats as far as 3 miles and protect against chemical warfare agents and
weapons of mass destruction. Block's systems are currently used to protect
critical infrastructure in the Washington Capital region. Following this
success, Block has applied its extensive knowledge of spectroscopy and
chemical detection towards revolutionary MEMS and laser-based, miniaturized
spectrometers, such as the ChemPen(TM) a low cost, FTIR chemical detector the
size of a fountain pen and the LaserScan(TM) a handheld laser-based infrared
spectrometer.

Block Engineering is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA. For
more information, visit www.blockeng.com.

Contact: Ms. Flo Ramonas, 508-251-3100

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SOURCE Block Engineering

Ms. Flo Ramonas, +1-508-251-3100