ORTEC New Mexico Portal Monitor 1 Year Anniversary

OAK RIDGE, TN, November 23, 2010–The ORTEC® Products Group of AMETEK Advanced Measurement Technology recently celebrated the first full-year operation of its Detective  Spectroscopic Portal Monitor (SPM) radiation monitor at the Anthony, New Mexico, Port of Entry.

The system, which is designed to detect and identify illicit radiological and nuclear materials that attempt to enter the United States, completed its first year of operation without a single day of downtime. The Detective-SPM portal monitor, driven by ORTEC’s leadership position in high-purity germanium (HPGe) nuclear material identification technology, serves as a secondary screening for commercial vehicles entering the United States that have triggered basic alarms on primary low resolution radiation screening devices based on polyvinyl toluene (PVT) scintillators.

The State of New Mexico contracted for the ORTEC high-resolution radiation monitor in the spring of 2009 and commissioned the system on November 6, 2009.

“This anniversary marks a key milestone in our effort to bring the best available nuclear identification technology to the frontline in the global war on terrorism,” notes Matthew J. Cole, Vice President and General Manager of AMETEK Advanced Measurement Technology. “We believe the ORTEC high-purity germanium (HPGe)-based spectrometers coupled with our leading algorithms represent the world’s best commercially available technology for accurately and reliably identifying nuclear materials. This allows us to assess a potential threat quickly and optimize the flow of commerce.”

“The speed and accuracy of ORTEC’s Detective-SPM radiation monitor allows a single unit to be used in secondary identification screening supporting multiple PVT monitor portals used in a primary screening mode. By utilizing our portal monitor for secondary identification, as opposed to performing manual searches on the cargo that sets off the preliminary alarms, the State of New Mexico dramatically reduced traffic delays and labor costs,” he adds.

“The ORTEC HPGe-based detectors along with the software algorithms incorporated within our radiation portal monitor system significantly improve the ability of screeners to determine quickly if a radioactive source poses a threat without unnecessarily interrupting the normal flow of commerce.”

“We are very pleased with the operational record of our portal system” comments Mr. Cole. “Our system provides an undisputed, documented combination of the world’s best false negative identification performance with the lowest false positive identification relative to alternative detection technologies such as Sodium Iodide (NaI) or Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr). This performance, coupled with our now demonstrated high-level of reliability and low operating costs, makes the ORTEC Detective-SPM a compelling solution to assist in the world’s efforts to avoid a nuclear catastrophe. “

ORTEC has 50 years of experience in the design and manufacture of highly sensitive radiation detectors, signal processing electronics, software, and systems for industry, academia, and government applications. The ORTEC product line of over 1,600 products includes equipment and instruments for nuclear power plant and government nuclear facility operations, special nuclear material safeguards, fundamental research, and Homeland Security.

For more information, contact ORTEC Products Group, 801 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0895. Telephone: 865-482-4411, Toll free: 800-251-9750. Fax: 865-483-0396. Website: www.ortec-online.com