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News >> Technology >>
OSI, ECIL in tech transfer tie-up
By siliconindia staff writer
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Tuesday, 04 January 2005, 20:30 IST
HYDERABAD: US based OSI Systems has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Electronics Corporation of India Limited to indigenously develop electronic cargo inspection systems.
By developing these systems, cargo containers need not be opened manually for inspection, thus minimising congestion in ports.
OSI Systems is a global leader in electronic cargo inspection systems based on a variety of technologies like X-ray, gamma ray, thermal neutron and pulsed fast neutron.
Deepak Chopra, chairman of the OSI group, told a news conference that a pilot project at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai was being implemented by ECIL.
One mobile gamma system had been commissioned and was working satisfactorily for eight months, scanning about 150 containers a day. An X-ray based system is to be commissioned this month.
As the US has started a container security initiative under which containerised cargo entering American ports would be electronically inspected and cleared by originating ports from this month, the Indian government has designated ECIL as the lead agency for implementing such systems in the country and absorption of the technologies involved.
"The agreement with ECIL will make India self-reliant as far as electronic cargo inspection technologies are concerned," said Chopra.
He noted OSI was the world's only company that possessed all the technologies available for inspection of cargo.
G.P. Srivastava, chairman and managing director of ECIL, said gamma technology offers simple, safe and maintenance-free mobile solutions for scanning cargo containers.
The radiation safety of operators and cargo is ensured by ECIL according to guidelines of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
The indigenous development of the systems would ensure their maintenance was not affected by embargos.
"In fact the joint venture company between OSI and ECIL, which is in existence for 10 years, has demonstrated success in the area of X-ray baggage inspection systems supplied to various airports and VIP installations," he said.