PartnerTech Hosts U.S. Officials for Demo of New Chemical and Explosives Detection Devices

Handheld and portable IMS units begin production at PartnerTech’s Atlanta, GA manufacturing facility.

PartnerTech, Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of PartnerTech AB, (Stockholm Stock Exchange: PART), and Isonics Corporation in cooperation announced production of Isonics new handheld and portable Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) units has begun. PartnerTech and Isonics hosted a demonstration for law enforcement and other officials to launch the initial production of the devices, which will be available for commercial sale later this month. During the demonstration, the IMS units detected and identified a simulated nerve agent within seconds. The two devices are designed to detect chemical and homemade explosive threats, with applications for law enforcement, first responders, entry-point screening, mailroom package screening, and mass transit. The devices utilize IMS technology that identifies and quantifies trace amounts of deadly substances such as Sarin and mustard gas, as well as explosives. The demonstration, which was held at PartnerTech’s manufacturing facility in Atlanta, Georgia, was attended by a group of approximately 50 people, including area law enforcement, public safety agencies, elected officials as well as a representative from U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss’ office. Atlanta area print and television news media covered the event. To see photos from the event, please visit www.isonics.com/hsdc/events.html. “PartnerTech with its superior quality and highly skilled manufacturing facilities around the world is both pleased and excited to be a part of this new technology that will benefit so many,” said Mikka Olsson, President of PartnerTech Inc. How the IMS Units Work The devices intake a small air sample from a suspect item such as a package or a backpack. The molecules from the air sample are then exposed to an ionization source causing them to become electrically charged. These charged particles are then analyzed and identified. If the unit detects a threat, it identifies the substance and displays concentration levels on the unit’s LCD screen and triggers an alarm signal for the operator. If programmed, it can also transmit data to warn authorities.