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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 01, 2005
SCHUMER PRESSES HOMELAND SECURITY NOMINEE TO CONSIDER ENDICOTT
INTERCONNECT FOR TSA CERTIFICATION
Schumer Holds Personal Meeting with Judge Michael Chertoff,
Secures Assurance He Will Pursue EIT’s Technology
Endicott Interconnect Technologies Developing State-of-the-Art Bomb-Detecting
Device; With Federal Approval, Airports and Governmental Agencies
Can Purchase Critical Equipment
US Senator Charles E. Schumer late last week met with the new Homeland
Security Secretary nominee, Judge Michael Chertoff, and pressed
him to look into Endicott Interconnect Technology (EIT)'s plans
for a high-tech bomb detecting device. When EIT and partner companies
get the device certified by the Transportation Security Administration,
it can be sold to airports and other government agencies for lucrative
contracts. Chertoff was receptive to Schumer’s request and
said he would study EIT’s progress.
“I wanted to meet with Judge Chertoff to impress upon him
how valuable EIT’s products and services can be to our national
security,” Schumer said. “EIT has developed first-rate
technology and this could mean a big boost for EIT and the Southern
Tier. On the heels of the Lockheed 101 announcement, this could
be the beginning of a turnaround for the entire region.”
EIT plans to manufacture a bomb-detecting device that is designed
to be much faster than existing ones, processing 1000 bags per hour
as opposed to the 300 that current devices can scan. In addition,
this device will have fewer false alarms (10% as opposed to the
30% that current ones experience), and is less expensive than current
technology.
To be able to sell the device to airports and other government
agencies for potentially lucrative contracts, there needs to be
official TSA certification. SureScan, a wholly owned subsidiary
of EIT, is currently in close communications with the TSA and should
be submitting for certification in the coming months.
Schumer has been active in EIT’s certification process, which
involves sending the unit down to the Atlantic City TSA testing
facility for rigorous tests to insure that the device performs at
the levels specified by the company. In summer of 2003, Schumer
persuaded the federal Transportation Security Administration that
the device EIT is planning to build would be ideal for airports
and government agencies to use.
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