Smiths Detection has won the ‘Best Innovator’ award from the Airport Operators Association, for the development of its automatic explosives detection X-ray system HI-SCAN 10080 XCT. The prestigious award was presented at the AOA annual conference in London.

Nominees in the Best Innovator category had to demonstrate how their product or service would satisfy strict criteria, including: “meeting an airport’s particular needs and requirements, delivering an innovation solution to a defined need, and adding value to the airport and the services that it offers.”

The HI-SCAN 10080 XCT is a next generation high-speed checked baggage detection system, developed to fulfil the requirements of security authorities, airport operators and integrators. It is currently the only explosives detection system which has achieved both TSA laboratory certification and EU Standard 3 approval.

Andrew Lee, managing director of Smiths Detection UK, said: “This award is a major achievement that recognises our considerable investment in the system’s advanced technologies. The HI-SCAN 10080 XCT is the world’s leading technology solution to meet the new Standard 3 Hold Baggage Screening requirements that will be effective from 2018. We have developed HI-SCAN 10080 XCT to provide the most economical solution for airport hold baggage screening requirements combining high baggage throughput rates with advanced technology screening capability.”