Smiths Detection has won a major contract to supply 10 Spanish airports, including Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga, with more than 120 high-speed X-ray scanners to check hold baggage for explosives and other threat items.

The HI-SCAN 10080 EDX-2is, which accepts baggage sizes of up to 100 x 80 cm, can screen as many as 1,800 bags per hour. Its dual view feature allows the operator to ‘look around’ objects for rapid and accurate evaluation, sharply cutting re-inspection rates and saving on time and labour costs. It is also the most compact system in its class.

The multi-million euro order with Spanish airport operator AENA, due for delivery this year, was agreed through Tecosa, Smiths Detection’s representative in Spain. Deployment of the HI-SCAN 10080 EDX-2is, which can also scan oversized luggage, will allow the airports to meet the strict Standard 2 requirements of recent European Union legislation on security screening.

Hans Zirwes, Vice President of International Sales for Smiths Detection, said: “This latest contract underlines both the quality of our advanced scanners and our capacity to meet specific customer needs. In this case, AENA stipulated that the equipment must be easily integrated into existing conveyor systems, one of the selling points of the EDX-2is.”

Smiths Detection (www.smithsdetection.com) offers advanced security solutions in civil and military markets worldwide, developing and manufacturing government-regulated technology products that identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons and contraband. It is part of Smiths Group (www.smiths.com), a global leader in applying advanced technologies to markets in threat as well as contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs around 23,000 people in more than 50 countries.