UK Ministry of Defence Awards Ametek Contract for Portable High-Resolution Radiation Detection System
High-Purity Germanium System to Support UK Naval Emergency Monitoring Organisation
Oak Ridge, TN October 16, 2006 -- The ORTEC® business unit of AMETEK Advanced
Measurement Technology has received a ₤1.6 million ($2.9 million) award from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply and support a state-of-the-art portable radiation
detection system for its Naval Emergency Monitoring Organisation (NEMO).
AMETEK was awarded the contract to replace NEMO's existing gamma ray
spectrometry detection systems with an advanced High-Purity Germanium-based (HPGe)
system manufactured by ORTEC in Oak Ridge, TN. The contract involves providing the
MoD over a 15-year period specifically designed hardware and software systems for its
Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
"AMETEK is pleased to be selected by the UK Ministry of Defence for this
important program. We believe our system represents the best available technology for
accurately and reliably identifying the presence of nuclear material and quickly
determining whether or not it poses a threat," noted Jon Kidder, Vice President and
General Manager of AMETEK Advanced Measurement Technology.
NEMO uses gamma spectrometry systems to analyze radioactivity during and
following a radiological incident involving its Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program to quickly determine what health protection measures are needed. NEMO deploys a number of
systems throughout the United Kingdom and abroad to provide an immediate response
24/7 to a possible incident.
A key factor in awarding the contract to AMETEK was the performance of the
ORTEC trans-SPEC Portable Gamma Spectrometry System. The combination of
reliability, high performance and portability of the trans-SPEC system made it the clear choice for this demanding application. The trans-Spec represents a technological
breakthrough by reducing the size, weight and power needs of a sophisticated highresolution gamma ray detector into a portable, battery-powered device.
The trans-Spec employs a unique class of HPGe gamma-ray detectors that offer
the best available combination of resolution and sensitivity for the rapid, positive
identification of nuclear materials. These HPGe detectors determine quickly with a very
high degree of certainty the constituents of a radioactive source, or even a mixture of
sources.
Although high-resolution HPGe detectors are accurate and fast, their use in the
field under real life conditions has been hampered by their need to operate at very low
cryogenic temperatures that traditionally required liquid nitrogen coolants. The trans-
SPEC, however, features a miniaturized mechanical cryogenic cooling system that
eliminates the need for liquid nitrogen.
AMETEK's ORTEC Products Group has more than 40 years of experience in the
design and manufacture of highly sensitive radiation detectors used by government and
industrial laboratories, nuclear facilities and medical research and in nuclear
safeguards. It is one of only two manufacturers worldwide with the ability to produce
both high-purity germanium and high-resolution radiation detectors from it.
For more information, contact
ORTEC Products Group,
801 South Illinois
Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0895.
Telephone: 865-482-4411, Toll free: 800-251-9750.
Fax: 865-483-0396.
Website: www.ortec-online.com
AMETEK AMT is a division of AMETEK, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of
electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annualized sales of nearly
$1.8 billion.
CONTACT:
Susie Brockman
865-483-2124
