How many times have you thought of not going through the airport metal detector especially when you are in a hurry? From your luggage, laptop bags to your mobile phones, everything goes through the X-ray scanners.

From the traveller’s point of view, the device might look like a conveyor belt through which your luggage passes. But the main purpose of the X-ray inspection at airport security, railway platforms or shopping malls is to ensure that no hazardous items are being allowed to enter the area which can become a potential threat to the people. Hence, you will find passengers need to walk through the metal detector and their luggage is scanned by an X-ray machine. Mostly, there are two types of X-ray security scanners — personnel security screening system and the cabinet X-ray system. 

So, how does the X-ray system at the airport security work? 

When the X-rays pass through the object, they are hit by the metal detector. This metal detector then passes the X-rays on to a filter. The filter, however, blocks out the X-rays with lower-energy. The remaining X-rays with high-energy pass through the second detector. The computer then compares the pick-ups of the two detectors and constructs an image. Interestingly, since different items inside the luggage absorb X-rays at various levels, the image on the computer screen lets the official see the items in your bag distinctly. 

The items are coloured on the monitor on the basis of the energy that passes through them. So, the colours signify three kinds of items — inorganic, metal and organic. 

The orange colour is used to denote anything that is ‘organic’. The colours of the ‘metal’ and ‘inorganic’ depend on the manufacturers. However, green is mostly used to detect glass items and blue is used to signify metals. 

With the advancements in technology, today X-ray scanners have become sharper. 3D technology is integrated with the X-ray systems to get clearer pictures and better view of the contents inside the luggage. In many airports and other places, dual view machines are also used. Thanks to these devices, now you can have two different images of one scanned object. X-ray systems also come with CT technology today, i.e. computer tomography. This makes the scanner more powerful as they are able to detect the explosives, contraband or any other hazardous items without any worry. 

Why should you contact Dutco Tennant LLC? 

Though both the X-ray scanners at the airport security and in hospitals use radiation, they are used in a different way. If you are looking for a reliable company dealing with X-ray scanners in the Middle East and GCC region, then get in touch with the technical experts at Dutco Tennant LLC. We offer wide range solutions in cargo screening, which can be used in stations, airports, ports and all types of freight security. Choose from our wide range of machines in various sizes having large openings of tunnels for the screening of pallet cargo. Empowered with cutting-edge technology, we have premium TSA X-ray scanners to screen large-sized cargo.