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| American Science and Engineering, Inc. Introduces New SmartCheck(TM) Personnel Screening System at ASIS International 2005 |
BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2005-- Industry's Most Comprehensive Non-Intrusive Z(R) Backscatter X-Ray Personnel Screening System Incorporates Privacy Software While Ensuring Detection of Threats American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASEI) (AS&E(R)), a leader in X-ray detection technology, announced today the launch of its new SmartCheck(TM) Personnel Screening System, the industry's most comprehensive personnel X-ray detection system that clearly displays all types of threats concealed under a person's clothing, while ensuring a person's privacy. The system will be introduced today at ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits in Orlando, Florida. Far less intrusive and time-consuming for individuals than a pat-down search, and more comfortable for passengers and operators, the SmartCheck screening system dramatically enhances the screening process. It is a safe and effective method to find explosives, weapons, drugs and other contraband hidden on a person. Designed for use in airports, high-threat facilities, military bases, prisons as well as commercial facilities, SmartCheck fits through standard doorways and offers a flexible operator console that is reconfigurable in the field. "We are very proud to introduce the SmartCheck personnel screening system," commented Anthony Fabiano, CEO of AS&E. "SmartCheck detects the broadest range of threats, including metallic weapons, non-metallic weapons, and explosives by providing a clear and unambiguous image of the threat. With this system as a primary screening method there should be little need to resolve false alarms with a secondary inspection, thereby improving the efficiency of the screening process." Fabiano continued, "AS&E has worked diligently to create software algorithms to eliminate privacy concerns. The result is a safe personnel screening system that ensures privacy while providing a much more cost efficient and effective screening process for identifying potential weapons, drugs, and other illegal substances in high-threat environments. American Science and Engineering stands ready today to deploy SmartCheck screening systems that assure personal privacy." Best Detection Possible Unlike metal detectors, which only detect metallic objects, or trace portals, which only detect explosives if residue is present on a person, SmartCheck's Z(R) Backscatter X-ray technology makes it possible to detect all types of threats, both metallic and non-metallic objects on a person's body, including plastic and metal weapons (e.g. guns, knives, box cutters, composite weapons), explosives, drugs and other contraband. SmartCheck provides operators with easy to interpret images that display the shape, size and location of potential threats or contraband hidden on a person, allowing operators to quickly and reliably identify threats. Assuring Privacy The SmartCheck system can be configured with privacy software that eliminates privacy concerns. The system uses unique algorithms to display only an outline of the scanned individual and the outline of any potential threat on the person, without showing revealing images of the body. Operational Flexibility SmartCheck's new compact design has a small footprint, allowing airports and other high-threat facilities to fit the system through standard doorways for easy relocation as customer needs change. In addition, the operator console can be put on the right or left side of the scan panel and can be reconfigured in the field for maximum flexibility. Safe for All - Operators and Screened Individuals Since the SmartCheck system uses Backscatter X-ray technology, it is safe for both operators and scanned individuals, with the radiation dose from a single scan at less than 10 microrem (0.1 microsieverts) per scan, equivalent to two minutes of airplane flight at altitude. It meets the manufacturer's requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard N43.17, which is the standard that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) references for systems such as SmartCheck. About Z Backscatter X-Ray Technology Z Backscatter X-ray technology displays threats by reflecting an X-ray beam from a person to a detector on the near side, creating a photo-like image that is easy to interpret and understand. AS&E's SmartCheck system utilizes Z Backscatter technology, which is a patented technology based on the X-ray Compton Scattering effect. Z Backscatter works by detecting and highlighting "low Z" materials (items that contain low atomic number elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen). Low Z materials include explosives, plastic weapons, and drugs. SmartCheck also recognizes the lack of scattering that occurs when "high Z" materials are placed against the body. These "high Z" materials, such as metal weapons and bomb-detonating wires, absorb X-rays and are displayed as dark objects on the person being scanned. Thus the system is able to display all organic and metallic threats and contraband anywhere on a person's body. About AS&E(R) American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection and screening systems. With more than 45 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, the Company's product line utilizes a variety of technologies, including patented Z(R) Backscatter, Shaped Energy(TM) and Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD). These technologies offer superior detection of threats including plastic explosives, plastic weapons, illegal drugs, other contraband, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. AS&E offers a complete range of X-ray inspection products including Z(R) Backscatter screening systems, CargoSearch (TM), and ParcelSearch(TM) inspection systems, used for critical detection and security applications to combat terrorism, drug and weapon smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal immigration. AS&E customers include leading governmental agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports and corporations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Royal Thai Police, HM Customs & Excise (U.K.) and Hong Kong Customs. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit www.as-e.com. Safe Harbor Statement. The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E's financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered "forward-looking" under applicable securities laws. AS&E wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein include the following: significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company's systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any source component incorporated into AS&E's products; litigation seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; potential product liability claims against the Company; global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; global economic developments and the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company's products to address such threats; and the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth, and future delays in federal funding. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time. http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=4969056 CONTACT: Public Relations: Red Javelin Communications, Inc. Dana Harris, 978-440-8392 dana@redjavelin.com or American Science and Engineering, Inc . Laura Berman, 978-262-8713 lberman@as-e.com or Sales: American Science and Engineering, Inc. Julie Ponusky, Manager, Sales Operations, 978-262-8719 jponusky@as-e.com SOURCE: American Science and Engineering, Inc . |
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| "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding American Science and Engineering's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year. |