Micro-X forms alliance with Thales Group

By Angela Skujins

South Australian company Micro-X has signed a contract with Thales Group to develop its mobile X-ray products for security purposes.

Under a new contract with the global company, Adelaide-based Micro-X will develop multiple image processing systems for defence and security purposes.

Micro-X manufactures carbon nanotube X-ray systems that are portable and adaptable for multiple industries.

Thales is a multinational company that develops products for aerospace, defence, transportation and security technology markets.

Under a six-year convertible bond, Thales is investing $10 million in Micro-X which will further develop a selection of the company’s products.

Micro-X’s Managing Director, Peter Rowland, said the deal is a key inflection point in Micro-X’s development and changes its growth trajectory.

Rowland said: “The close, long term working relationship and collaboration agreed with Thales on technology, manufacturing, product development and sales activities positions us well to propel Micro-X’s value creation quickly.”

Thales and Micro-X will collaborate on the global sales and support of Micro-X’s counter-terrorism Mobile Backscatter Imager of Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs.

Design and development is underway for the Imager following positive feedback from a demonstration conducted at the Australian Defence Force’s Counter-IED Task Force.

For the counter-terrorism product, Micro-X will offer direct sales to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Thales will sell the product – manufactured in Adelaide – internationally.

Another product that will be developed further is an airport checkpoint security scanner.

Thales will use the X-ray scanning technology under license.

Micro-X recently unveiled a prototype of the luggage X-ray imaging system at the ‘Future Airport Security Solutions’ (FASS) industry showcase in London.

Micro-X and Thales will also design and manufacture a new range of ultra-miniature X-ray tubes.

The tubes will be designed by Thales in South Australia and manufactured in France.

Jean-Jacques Guittard, Thales’ Vice President of Microwave and Imaging Sub-Systems said X-ray imaging offers the best practical and quantifiable benefits in the CNT market.

Guittard said: “From airport checkpoints to counter terrorism activities to future medical imaging devices, Thales and Micro-X are on the edge of a historically decisive moment.

“In addition to these high-tech synergies and as a major player in the digital domain, this partnership will give us a technological leap none else can offer.”

This story first appeared in The Lead.

Picture: Micro-X Tonsley facility

Micro-X enters alliance with security giant Thales to develop multiple products

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