Smiths Detection

Stephen Phipson, CBE

President

Smiths Detection is a world leading designer and manufacturer of sensors that detect and identify explosives, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, narcotics and contraband.

Our technology helps customers in the global transportation, ports and borders, critical infrastructure, military and emergency responder markets. We have the most comprehensive range of detection technologies in the world, including X-ray, trace detection, millimetre-wave, infra-red, biological detection and diagnostics.

Principal operating regions

Our eight manufacturing centres are concentrated in North America, Germany, France and the UK. We sell to over 100 markets around the world either through a sales and marketing company or a third-party distributor.

Customers

A significant majority of sales are influenced by more than 100 governments and their agencies, including homeland security authorities, customs authorities, emergency responders and the military.These include the US Department of Defense, US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), UK Ministry of Defence, and airport operators such as BAA in the UK.

Competitors

Data published by IMS Research* shows that, in the combined transportation, critical infrastructure and ports & borders sectors, Smiths Detection has a 31% market share, compared to its main competitors being L3 Security & Detection Systems (10.5%), Rapiscan Systems (9.7%), Nuctech (8.6%) and AS&E (6.4%). In the Military and Emergency responder markets, which are not included in this data, the main competitors are General Dynamics, Bruker, Environics and Canberra.

*The World Market for Explosives, Weapons & Contraband Detection Equipment 2009 Edition

Suppliers

We are redesigning our supply chain model to maximise shared component parts and reduce costs across the division while taking into account the growing demand for local sourcing, particularly in North America. Our supplier base is being adapted accordingly while ensuring quality and delivery requirements are maintained.