Thales’ airport security technology gets $10m boost, which will speed up check-ins

No more removing laptops or water bottles, amid a five-fold increase in passenger screening.

The process of airport security could be made five times faster as ultra-miniature X-ray tubes are developed. Picture: AFP

Technology developed by a small South Australian company is now the subject of a $10 million deal that promises to speed up the process of airport security.

Global technology giant Thales has won approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board to provide a $10m convertible loan to Micro-X for the development of ultra-miniature X-ray tubes.

Originally developed for medical use, the technology has attracted interest from the Australian Defence Force and the UK government, and is set to be adopted by airports worldwide.

Micro-X managing director Peter Rowland said the X-ray tubes could detect with extraordinary accuracy the presence of even tiny amounts of explosives.

“We did a trial for the ADF and the results were astounding,” Mr Rowland said.

“They wanted a device that could examine potential explosives, determine its contents and how it was made without requiring a human to operate it.

“We discovered the technology is really sensitive at detecting explosives, even tiny amounts hidden in a laptop.”

It is expected the technology will allow for much faster processing of travellers at airport security checkpoints, from about 200 an hour to 1000.

No longer would passengers have to remove laptops, water bottles and other items from their bags with the X-rays able to detect the composition of liquids.

Under the agreement, the nanotubes will be produced by Thales and manufactured in France, for sale to both the medical and security markets.

Thales Australia chief executive Chris Jenkins announced the alliance with Mr Rowland this morning at a reception at Parliament House in Adelaide, hosted by SA Premier Steven Marshall.

“Faster airport screening with improved threat detection, and compact and agile systems with 3D imaging in the medical market are the Holy Grail,” said Mr Jenkins.

“That is why we are proud to anticipate these needs, by joining forces with Micro-X in this multi-faceted collaboration to develop x-ray imaging systems based on x-ray sources that use carbon nanotubes (CNT) cathodes at their heart.”

Mr Rowland said the alliance with Thales represented a turning in Micro-X’s history.

“With FIRB approval in place, our journey with Thales can commence in earnest as we together develop and take to the market the innovative x-ray products which only this technology allows,” he said.

“It is very exciting to be working with a global partner who shares our vision for commercialising game-changing new products in both medical and security markets with this unique technology.”