Lightweight chemical detector with breakthrough technology

A UK company has pioneered the development of a portable detection device that now protects tens of thousands of soldiers worldwide against chemical warfare agents.

The Lightweight Chemical Detector (LCD) is designed and built by Smiths Detection at its Bushey plant, near north London. Not much bigger than a man’s hand, the LCD can be easily held or clipped to a belt.

It continually samples the air and can detect minute traces of a range of chemical agents and toxic industrial chemicals in fewer than 10 seconds. It is designed for use in the harshest of battlefield conditions and some models can run for more than 75 hours on one set of standard batteries.

LCDs use ion mobility spectrometry technology to detect and identify dangerous chemicals. Air samples are sucked through tiny inlets into the ionization chamber where the ions are separated and passed through an electrical field.

Their differing speeds are instantly measured, identifying the molecules and setting off a visual and audible alarm if any threat agent is detected. The LCD can also be deployed as a screening and survey device and is used by armed forces and first responders around the world including those of the UK, United States, Canada, Australia and Norway.

Smiths Detection has introduced a range of improvements and accessories for the LCD series over the past four years and the US military has deployed almost 60,000 LCDs, of various models, in its Joint Chemical Agent Detector programme.

In April 2011 the company won a prestigious UK Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for developing the LCD.

Smiths Detection offers advanced security solutions in civil and military markets worldwide, developing and manufacturing government-regulated technology products that identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons and contraband.

It is part of Smiths Group, a global leader in applying advanced technologies to markets in threat as well as contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs about 23,000 people in more than 50 countries.