1st Detect Launches the Tracer 1000™ – the First Mass Spectrometer Explosives Trace Detector
June 26 2019 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Superior technology at a price competitive
with the current IMS-ETD technology
1st Detect Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astrotech
Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC), today announced that it is officially
launching the TRACER 1000, the world’s first European Civil
Aviation Conference (ECAC) certified desktop mass spectrometer
explosives trace detector (MS-ETD), enabling airports and air cargo
facilities worldwide to stay ahead of emerging threats, lower
operating costs, and improve screening throughput.
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Over a decade ago, the National Research Council’s Committee on
Assessment of Security Technologies for Transportation identified
mass spectrometry as the solution for the shortcomings of ion
mobility spectrometry ETDs (IMS-ETD), which is the currently
deployed technology. The shortcomings identified included a limited
number of detectable threats and a high false alarm rate. The
Committee also recognized that cost, complexity, and ruggedness
would be the challenges of fielding mass spectrometry-based
instruments.
In addition to their extremely limited libraries, IMS technology
is known to suffer from false alarms because common household
products can be confused with dangerous explosives. This commonly
results in passenger delays, unnecessary screening costs, and
decreased confidence in ETDs.
– Introducing the TRACER 1000 –
The TRACER 1000 is an ETD that has been engineered to meet the
needs of the next generation passenger and cargo security
checkpoints and replace the antiquated IMS-ETDs that are currently
in service with a lower cost of ownership. As terrorists continue
to find new ways to threaten global aviation security, the TRACER
1000, with its virtually unlimited and instantly updatable threat
library, enables aviation security operators to always stay ahead
of the threats. With a lower false alarm rate than the outdated
IMS-ETDs, and near-100% uptime, the TRACER 1000 ETD is the logical
solution for any passenger checkpoint or cargo facility going
forward.
“The aviation security industry has been wanting MS-ETDs for a
long time and we are excited to announce the launch of the Tracer
1000 as a true mass-spec technology breakthrough,” stated Raj
Mellacheruvu, CEO of 1st Detect. “The fundamental virtues of mass
spectrometry technology enables us to deliver a product with
compelling benefits to checkpoint security operators, including the
capability to quickly address a virtually unlimited number of
emerging threats, improve screening efficiency, and lower operating
costs,” he added.
The Tracer 1000 garnered considerable interest following the
recent announcement of receiving ECAC certification and has been
invited to participate in a number of field trials, all of which
have met or exceeded customer expectations, further validating its
superiority over the obsolete IMS technology.
“We were excited to be the first
international airport to do an operational trial with an ECAC
certified mass spectrometry ETD. Overall, we found the system to be
very easy to use with 100% uptime. We noticed that the cleardown of
an alarm is quicker with the TRACER. The low false alarm rate and
throughput will help keep on-time departures and avoid security
delays. The Tracer 1000 also allows us to be prepared for the
future as new threats emerge,” said Tuomo Kivikari, Vice
President/Senior Adviser Risk Manager, Finavia Corporation,
operator of Finland’s airport network.
1st Detect also unveiled its new website to accompany the
product launch, which can be seen at www.1stdetect.com.
To schedule a demo, please contact us at
sales@1stdetect.com.
About 1st Detect Corporation
1st Detect Corporation, a subsidiary of Astrotech
Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC), develops, manufactures, and sells
explosives and narcotics trace detectors for use in the air
transport and other security markets. Astrotech Corporation is a
science and technology development and commercialization company
that launches, manages, and builds scalable companies based on
innovative technology in order to maximize shareholder value.
Astrotech is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For information,
please visit www.astrotechcorp.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are
made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to be materially different from the
forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not
limited to, whether we can successfully develop our proprietary
technologies and whether the market will accept our products and
services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations
described in the Astrotech Corporation’s Securities and Exchange
Commission filings including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any
forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in
light of these important risk factors. Astrotech Corporation
assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking
statements.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190626005297/en/
Eric Stober, Chief Financial Officer, Astrotech Corporation,
(512) 485-9530
Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC)
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