Stephen Phipson

President

Smiths Detection

Smiths Detection is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of sensors that detect and identify explosives, narcotics, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards 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 trace detection, milimetre-wave, infra-red, biological detection and diagnostics.

Employees

2,300

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

Our technology is deployed at nearly 80% of the world's commercial airports. Some 85% 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 29% market share, with GE Security (15.5%), L3 Security & Detection Systems (12.5%), Rapiscan Systems (8.5%) and Nuctech (8%) the main competitors. In the military and Emergency responder markets (not included in this data), the main competitors are General Dynamics, Bruker, Environics and Canberra.

*World Market for Explosives, Weapons & Contraband Detection Equipment 2007 Edition. As reported in Annual report, year ended 31 July 2008. Headline operating profit percentage calculated before corporate costs.