Analogic places $5-million order for x-ray tubes

Jun26--Analogic Corp. (Peabody, MA; www.analogic.com) has ordered a new line of x-ray tubes worth $5 million with Varian Medical Systems (Salt Lake City, UT) that will be used in Analogic's airport explosive detection systems (EDS).

This is the first baggage-screening tube produced by Varian, which is the world's largest independent supplier of x-ray tubes for medical diagnostic equipment. Varian has begun production and shipment of the new tubes, and it expects to deliver the majority of the order by the end of the calendar year.

Richard Levy, president and chief executive officer of Varian Medical Systems, says, "We are extending our expertise in x-ray tube technology into the development of new products for the security industry. This is a new growth opportunity for our business."

Varian's new high-voltage, metal-ceramic x-ray tubes will be used in EDS scanners for 'level-two' screening of baggage or shipments that have been selected for closer inspection in preliminary screening systems. Under recently adopted federal legislation, more than 400 US airports will need to install 'level two' EDS scanning systems by the end of the calendar year.

Ultimately, more than 2,000 EDS scanners will need to be manufactured and installed to complete the required security upgrade required under federal law. Varian Medical Systems is the only US supplier of x-ray tubes for these applications.