Smiths Detection partners with the TSA to improve speed of passenger screening at New Jersey's Newark International Airport

Smiths Detection, the world's leading provider of trace detection equipment, today announced it is partnering with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to improve passenger throughput at New Jersey's Newark International Airport. As part of a pilot program beginning in June, Smiths Detection and the TSA will be examining a number of easy-to-implement enhancements that can improve the speed of passenger screening.

"We are pleased to partner with the TSA to speed screening of passengers and luggage without compromising security or increasing costs," said Mark Laustra, Vice President of Transportation Security Programs for Smiths Detection. "Smiths Detection will be investing its resources to support the TSA in its efforts to increase efficiency of passenger throughput."

Smiths Detection is the largest supplier of luggage x-ray systems to the TSA. The pilot tests will determine if the speed of passenger screening can be significantly increased through the installation of easy-to-implement features. Such improvements would include the addition of new capabilities that would allow passenger carry-on bags that have cleared x-ray machine tunnels to continue unimpeded to their owners, while the operators stop the conveyor belt to view an image.
Other developments at Newark International Airport will include the addition of new image enhancing monitors that will allow operators to more rapidly and efficiently examine the content of luggage.