Company Announcements

ICx Technologies forecasts 2008 sales of $177–$184 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $2–$7 million. In 2007, revenues increased 51% to $136.2 million and the adjusted EBITDA loss was $16.0 million, down from $23.8 million (see IBO 3/31/08). The Detection Division’s revenue in 2007 rose 79% to $77.2 million and the Division’s operating loss fell from $46.2 million to $1.5 million.

Smiths Detection reported a 22% increase in revenues to £222 million ($453 million) for the six months ended December 31, 2007. Operating profit rose 13% to £31 million ($63 million) (see IBO 4/15/08). R&D rose 11% to £13 million ($27 million).

Smiths Detection and Torion Technologies announced a strategic partnership in August to develop a hand-portable GC-toroidal ion trap MS system for trace analysis of complex mixtures.

Ahura Scientific named Kenneth Boyda, most recently president and CEO of GE Security, to its Board in May.

In May, the US Transportation Security Administration certified Reveal Imaging Technologies’ dual-row CT-80DR explosives detection system (EDS) for screening checked baggage at 226 bags per hour.

In June, Australia’s publicly listed QRSciences acquired US-listed Diversified Opportunities in a reverse merger.

In June, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated in part a 2006 jury verdict against L-3 Communications for breach of fiduciary duty and for fraud that awarded OSI $126 million (see IBO 5/31/06). The court remanded the fraud claim to the trial court for a new trial, according to L-3. OSI issued no comment.

Product Introductions

Implant Sciences introduced the Quantum Sniffer QS-B200 benchtop EDS, utilizing dual ion mobility spectrometers.

AMETEK Advanced Measurement Technology’s ORTEC business released the Micro-Detective handheld nuclide identifier in April.

Smiths Detection launched the handheld SABRE EXV vapor detector.

Smith Detection introduced the SmartBio Sensor, a real-time detector for biological agents or airborne toxins, designed for military environments.

Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the Matrix ARIS Mobile Detection System, a radioisotope detector.

ICx Technologies introduced the fully automatic Stride Radionuclide Detection and Identification Systems, which can be integrated into existing infrastructure.

Sales/Orders of Note

The US Department of Homeland Security awarded a $9.1 million Phase IIIX contract to US Genomics under the Bioagent Autonomous Networked Detectors program.