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AS&E’s Proprietary ZBV Mobile Inspection System Demonstrates Success Around the World with Over 400 Systems Sold to Date

Dépèche transmise le 30 juin 2009 par Business Wire

AS&E’s Proprietary ZBV Mobile Inspection System Demonstrates Success Around the World with Over 400 Systems Sold to Date

BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASEI) (AS&E^®), a leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection solutions, today announced that its top selling, patented Z Backscatter Van™ (ZBV) has gained an unprecedented level of worldwide success as the number one selling non-intrusive mobile inspection system on the market with over 400 ZBV systems sold to 85 customers in 46 countries. The number of ZBV success stories from around the world continues to grow, from seizures of large quantities of drugs, to the detection of stowaways and bulk explosives in war zones. Introduced in 2003, AS&E’s ZBV is faster, more effective, and less expensive than any other mobile X-ray screening solution available. In the last year alone, AS&E gained 16 new ZBV customers in 7 countries.

“With over 400 systems sold, the ZBV is widely accepted as the mobile X-ray system of choice to support a wide variety of critical security missions,” said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E’s President and CEO. “Its varied operating modes provide maximum maneuverability for multiple applications, including force protection, checkpoint security, law enforcement, and port and border security. The ZBV’s exceptional speed and agility combined with its explosive and contraband detection capability provides governments and corporations around the world with an effective tool to secure high threat facilities, protect civilians, and detect trade fraud and illegal immigration.”

ZBV Proven Success Worldwide

Some examples of the ZBV success that have been covered in national and international news stories include:

• U.S./Mexico border: Using the ZBV on the Arizona border, Border Patrol agents discovered 1,500 pounds of hidden marijuana and five illegal immigrants in a hidden compartment of a large truck, as reported by the Associated Press in March of 2009. Further reports revealed that within the first month of operating the ZBV, Border Patrol agents seized 30 pounds of cocaine and 17 pounds of methamphetamine, according to the Green Valley News and Sun in March of 2009.
• Military: Utilizing the ZBV to heighten military base security, a Technical Sergeant noted that the ZBV displays organic anomalies in vehicles — such as a detonation cord or hidden narcotics — allowing base security to target suspicious vehicles, as reported in Air Force Link in April of 2007. The Technical Sergeant also said the ZBV is safer for search teams because the ZBV can be operated remotely for bomb detection.
• Iraq: Iraqi officials utilize two ZBVs along the borders of the Basra Province, according to a Colonel in the Multinational Division in UPI Energy in October of 2007. The ZBVs operate as part of a security program to increase protection at ports of entry. The Colonel also noted that the ZBV’s unique capabilities are significant enhancements to the traditional screening procedures.
• Singapore: Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers uncovered 1,484 cartons and 158 packets of smuggled cigarettes in a bus hidden under floorboards. The potential customs duties for the duty-unpaid cigarettes totaled about $79,000, according to AsiaOne in March of 2009. AsiaOne also reported in September of 2008 that the ZBV was used to interdict Singapore’s largest haul of illegal tobacco products that year when a bus driver tried to smuggle them into the country through the Tuas Checkpoint.
• Middle East/Africa: Officials utilizing the ZBV at a border crossing found 1,042 kilograms of marijuana in the false wall of a delivery truck — the largest drug bust in this country’s history, according to Al-Chourouk Newspaper in February of 2008. The ZBV clearly revealed the smuggled goods, and the security officials were able to seize the drugs, which had a street value of approximately $5 million.

For more success stories and to see images from the ZBV, please visit:

About AS&E’s ZBV

A breakthrough in X-ray detection technology, the ZBV is a low-cost, highly mobile screening system built into a commercially available delivery van. The system’s unique “drive-by” capability allows one or two operators to conduct X-ray imaging while the ZBV drives past suspect vehicles and objects. The ZBV employs AS&E's patented Z Backscatter technology, which reveals threats and contraband that transmission X-ray systems miss. The ZBV is designed to detect radioactive threats and large amounts of organic material including:

• Explosives: including car and truck bombs
• Illegal Drugs
• Trade Fraud Items: such as alcohol, tobacco, and other legal goods smuggled to evade duties
• Stowaways: such as illegal immigrants and terrorists
• Currency

About AS&E^®

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection systems. With over 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, the Company’s product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. AS&E’s complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel screening systems. AS&E systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism and trade fraud, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, and illegal immigration and people smuggling. AS&E customers include leading government agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports and corporations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), HM Revenue & Customs (U.K.), Hong Kong Customs, and Abu Dhabi Customs. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit www.as-e.com.

Safe Harbor Statement. The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E’s financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered “forward-looking” under applicable securities laws. AS&E wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein include the following: significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company’s systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any source component incorporated into AS&E’s products; litigation seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; potential product liability claims against the Company; global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; global economic developments and the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company’s products to address such threats; and the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth, and future delays in federal funding. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E’s periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time.

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