As national security becomes more of an issue in Australia and overseas, Perth-based System Two Pty Ltd has received $150,000 in AusIndustry Commercial Ready grant assistance to develop its explosive detection testing kit.
The kit, known as the Frontline Explosive Test, is made up of dry chemical components in a tablet form for the detection of explosive residues.
System Two commercial director Diranne Lee-Renwick said the Austrade grant would be used for commercialisation of the product and further research into biological warfare agents.
“We will be looking to keep adding elements to the same kit,” he told WA Business News.
“It is currently just explosives, but we look to expand out to incorporate other areas including detecting biological weapons, for example anthrax.”
Mr Lee-Renwick said the company had received considerable interest from the UK following the bombings last year and was currently being verified for airport security trials and baggage testing.
“The kit we have developed is very cheap and ultra portable and it takes 25 to 30 seconds to get a result,” he said.
Mr Lee-Renwick said the kit contained no liquid acids or hazardous materials.
“There are other kits on the market but they are all liquid based and you need to know what you are doing as they have acids in them,” he said.
System Two research and development director Chris Loane has been working on detection kits since 2003.
“Biowarfare, bioterrorism and terrorism include the intentional or the alleged use of viruses,bacteria, fungi, toxins and explosives to produce death or disease in humans, animals or plants,” Mr Loane said.
“The ‘Frontline’ product range will offer a simple and cost effective application for testing of unknown harmful substances.”
The private company’s research and development is funded by individual investors.
