Thread: U.S. border posts to get new screeners

U.S. border posts to get new screeners

Published: Sept. 26, 2011 at 5:30 PM

BILLERICA, Mass., Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Advanced screening for both passengers and merchandise is soon to be deployed at the United States' northern and southern borders, the company asked to supply the $34.9 million security system package said.

American Science and Engineering, Inc. recently announced similar advances in selling its Z Portal cargo screening systems in Latin America, where governments have upped allocations for security equipment in response to drug and human trafficking threats.

The Z Portal Screening System claims to be the answer to the border authorities' urgent need to be able to screen people and goods at a fast, even pace and not to choke international traffic at land frontiers because of delays in the screening process.

The screening systems on land borders have been cited as a priority measure especially to control immigration and check the flow of narcotics from across the borders, especially those in the south.

Central and South American states believed to be on the path of the drug trade to North America are under mounting international pressure to do more to stem the multibillion-dollar narcotics trade. Only a few governments have responded to the criticism and begun investing in advanced equipment to deal with the contraband exports of cocaine, heroin and synthetic drugs to North America.

Organized crime has begun responding to the tighter controls and moved operations to the Caribbean and increased narcotics smuggling through sea-borne and submersible craft, many of which are unmanned.

The Z Portal systems will be installed at land borders and will provide border authorities with multi-view, drive-through screening systems capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks and their cargo for concealed threats and contraband. The company didn't mention the border points or name the purchasing agency.

Z Portal provider AS&E, which has headquarters in Billerica, Mass., said its systems will be deployed in two sizes -- one to screen large trucks and another to inspect passenger vehicles.

"The Z Portal systems will provide our customer with advanced technology to quickly and easily detect narcotics, terrorist weapons, and other contraband," company President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Fabiano said.

Fabiano said the company was working closely with border officers to meet their detection and performance requirements using the Z Portal Backscatter technology.

AS&E says the high-throughput Z Portal systems can inspect large numbers of cars and trucks at the border crossings.

With its compact profile, the Z Portal system is said to be ideal for high-traffic locations with space constraints and a high-throughput requirement. The Z Portal system is safe for drivers, operators, cargo, and the environment, the company said.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Securi ... z1Z6QDP3Et

"The Z Portal systems will provide our customer with advanced technology to quickly and easily detect narcotics, terrorist weapons, and other contraband," company President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Fabiano said.

Oh really? And what is this mysterious new technological leap that nobody has ever heard of before that will suddenly stop illegal aliens and drugs and weapons?

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

"The Z Portal systems will provide our customer with advanced technology to quickly and easily detect narcotics, terrorist weapons, and other contraband," company President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Fabiano said.

Oh really? And what is this mysterious new technological leap that nobody has ever heard of before that will suddenly stop illegal aliens and drugs and weapons?

W

Picture at link.

Z PORTAL MULTI-VIEW CARGO AND VEHICLE SCREENING SYSTEM (RELOCATABLE)

AS&E’s Z Portal® is a multi-view, drive-through inspection system capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo for concealed threats and contraband.

The relocatable screening system is available in two sizes — one for large trucks, buses, and cargo vehicles; and a smaller size for passenger vehicles. Z Portal can be configured with up to three Z Backscatter™ imaging modules, allowing a left, right, and top view of the vehicle under examination. The multi-views provide maximum screening capability and facilitate image interpretation. The Z Portal system provides high-quality, photo-like images that offer outstanding material discrimination capability.

The Z Portal is a high-throughput screening gateway, allowing approximately 80 trucks or 120 passenger vehicles per hour. Driven at a speed of 5 kph, vehicles and their cargo are scanned for threats and illegal goods such as stowaways, explosives, drugs, and alcohol. With its compact design and profile, the Z Portal system is ideal for high-traffic locations with space constraints and a high-throughput requirement. The Z Portal system is safe for drivers, operators, cargo, and the environment.

TECHNOLOGY

The Z Portal employs Z Backscatter technology, which produces photo-like images of the contents of a container or vehicle, highlighting organic materials, such as explosives, illegal drugs, agricultural products, currency, and other contraband. Optional Forwardscatter imaging creates up to two additional side-view images of the scanned vehicles and cargo. This option offers a second ‘scatter’ perspective to display dense regions of scanned vehicles and cargo to identify potential anomalies.

Top-down transmission imaging is also available to provide inspectors with an additional view to increase detection in areas such as gas tanks, trunks, spare tires, and other dense areas of a vehicle. The top-down transmission option uses an existing x-ray source, so the system remains safe for drivers, cargo, and operators.

OPTIONS

Z Portal with top down view is a drive-through inspection system capable of scanning cars, vans, and trucks, for concealed threats and contraband. The relocatable screening system features both Z Backscatter imaging as well as Transmission imaging for superior detection of both organic and metallic contraband.

http://www.as-e.com/products_solutions/portal.asp