Full Description

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) develops, manufactures, markets, and sells X-ray inspection and other detection solutions for homeland security and other targeted markets. AS&E provides maintenance, warranty, research, engineering, and training services related to these solutions. The Company manufactures X-ray inspection products that can be used to inspect parcels, baggage, vehicles, pallets, cargo containers, and people. It sells its products to a variety of customers, including authorities responsible for port and border security, military organizations, high threat commercial and government facilities, aviation security agencies and legal enforcement agencies. Its products are used by these customers to help combat terrorism, trade fraud, drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and illegal immigration. Its products are also used for military force protection and general facility security. The Company’s products and services are grouped into five different areas, including CargoSearch Inspection Systems, Z Backscatter Systems, ParcelSearch and Personnel Screening Inspection Systems, Contract Research and Development, and Service and Support.

CargoSearch Inspection Systems

The CargoSearch family of systems includes non-intrusive inspection products, which are primarily used for the screening of trucks, cars, cargo containers, pallets, and air cargo at locations, including border crossings, seaports, military bases, railroad centers, airports, and cargo and transportation hubs. The CargoSearch systems are designed to combat trade fraud, drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and terrorism. The CargoSearch family includes OmniView Gantry System, a multi-view, relocatable high-energy cargo and vehicle inspection system; Z Portal, a multi-view, high throughput, drive-through inspection system capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargoes for threats and contraband, and Z Gantry, a multi-view Z Backscatter inspection system capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo for concealed threats and contraband in a gantry configuration.

Z Backscatter Systems

Z Backscatter Systems include imaging systems that use Z Backscatter imaging only. Z Backscatter Van (ZBV) is a mobile X-ray screening system built into a commercially available chassis. It utilizes Z Backscatter X-ray technology to produce photo-like images of the contents of a vehicle or cargo container, highlighting organic materials, such as plastic explosives or other anomalies. With one-sided, backscatter-only imaging, security officials can use ZBV for screening vehicles, sea containers, and other cargo for terrorist threats, trade fraud, and contraband, simply by driving past the objects. The ZBV is focused on equipping with radioactive threat detection (RTD) capability. With RTD, the ZBV is focused on producing Z Backscatter images for general screening while simultaneously scanning the object for the presence of radioactive material.

ParcelSearch and Personnel Screening Inspection Systems

ParcelSearch systems are designed for the non-intrusive X-ray scanning of parcels, baggage, and mail. These systems are primarily located in government facilities, airports, commercial office buildings, high-security federal facilities and convention centers. ParcelSearch systems include Gemini, a parcel and baggage inspection system, which combines AS&E’s Z Backscatter technology with dual-energy transmission X-ray to provide enhanced detection for a range of threats, and SmartCheck, a personnel screening system for the effective screening for contraband and threats hidden under a person’s clothing. SmartCheck simultaneously detects both metallic and non-metallic objects, such as guns and knives, plastic explosives, liquid explosives, composite weapons, drugs and other hidden threats and contraband. Its Z Backscatter image gives the operator an easy-to-read display of where the threat or contraband is hidden, thus eliminating the need for intrusive and time-consuming pat-downs and strip searches. SmartCheck employs advanced image processing algorithms to enhance privacy, while maintaining a high level of threat detection.

Contract Research & Development

AS&E engages in a variety of contract research and development (CRAD) programs, mostly for agencies of the United States government. AS&E pursues CRAD opportunities, which provide avenues for advancing its core technologies or developing product offerings for strategic customers or markets.

Service and Support

AS&E’s field service engineers (FSEs) provide support services worldwide. Each FSE has a technical degree in Electrical and/or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience), and is trained in the operation and repair of electronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanics, electrical systems, and computers. FSEs are available round the clock and are located at AS&E offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America. AS&E provides spare parts solutions customized for each system. The Company maintains an inventory of field-replaceable components in order to meet customer needs for spare parts. It also provides technical training on all X-ray inspection systems.