The flagship London Heathrow facility of AMI, a trade-only airfreight and express wholesaler, has installed Astrophysics XIS-1818DV, said to be the ‘most powerful’ cargo X-ray scanner available.

The scanner is a dual view machine (as required by security regulations from 1 January  2015) with a 180x180cm tunnel aperture. Its powerful 320kv generator enables it to penetrate up to 80mm thick steel – almost double the capability of most machines currently in use. This increased penetration significantly reduces the number of shipments requiring secondary screening using techniques such as hand searching and ETD (explosive trace detection).

The machine – which measures 1116.4 cm x 310.5 cm x 314.3 cm – benefits from a low conveyor height of just 34.4 cm and can support 3000kg of cargo without impairing its throughput speed. The new machine joins AMI’s existing LHR X-ray equipment, providing greatly-increased total screening capacity.

AMI has also installed a similar new X-ray machine in its Manchester Airport facility; this is a more compact version which can still accommodate 180 x 180cm items, but has a smaller (200kv) generator. All AMI Manchester warehouse staff are now fully-trained in using its ETD equipment, and can therefore cater for any cargo that requires additional screening.

Says AMI UK general manager – operations, Matt Johnson: “The new machine at our LHR facility has revolutionised our operation. In its first four weeks of service, only five shipments have required further screening – meaning we have successfully enhanced throughput for our customers.”