Date:04/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/04/stories/2005010401630200.htm

Back ECIL ties up with US co for inspection systems

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(From left) Mr Deepak Chopra, Chairman, OSI Group, Mr L. Satyanarayana, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, ECIL Rapiscan, and Mr G.P. Srivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL), at a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad , Jan. 3

ELECTRONICS Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with OSI Systems Inc of the US for transfer of technology pertaining to electronic cargo inspection systems (ECIS).

ECIL and the US-based company formed a joint venture called ECIL Rapiscan Ltd, a decade ago, for the supply and after-sales maintenance of X-ray baggage inspection systems installed at various airports and other places in the country.

The $500-million OSI Systems is stated to be a global leader in ECIS with technologies such as X-ray, gamma ray, thermal neutron and pulsed fast neutron.

According to the OSI group Chairman, Mr Deepak Chopra, the MoU is a turning point in the manufacture and supply of these systems in India for Customs, civil aviation, Defence, paramilitary forces and Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Chairman and Managing Director of ECIL, Mr G.P. Srivastava, said that the corporation had already invested substantial amount in indigenous development of certain critical components of these systems.

With the transfer of technology, ECIL would manufacture them at cost-effective prices, maintain them and overcome any embargo.

ECIL is currently implementing a pilot project at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai.

It has also commissioned one of the mobile gamma systems at the place eight months back, which scans about 150 containers a day. An X-ray based system would also be installed at the port by the month-end.

Stating that the Union Government had designated ECIL as the lead agency for implementation of ECIS and absorption of the technologies involved, Mr Srivastava said that at least 10 ECIS would be produced in the first phase following the transfer of technology. It would take 20 months for fully absorbing the technology.

Mr. L. Satyanarayana, ECIL Rapiscan Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, said that the joint venture company would market and provide after-sales services for the systems produced by ECIL.