JGW Group New Releases

AVON approved for full rate production on M50 Masks for US JSGPM Program

The Joint Program Executive Officer for Chemical and Biological Defence, has approved the Joint Service General Purpose Mask (“JSGPM”) Program for entry into the Full Rate Production Phase of Systems Acquisition. The collaboration between Avon and the Joint Project Manager for Individual Protection has resulted in this significant milestone which will allow Avon's Cadillac, Michigan plant to ramp up to full rate production to support fielding of this product to the U.S. Armed Forces. This milestone allows the U.S. Government to exercise the full rate production portion of its contract with Avon and commence full rate production and fielding. The first multiyear order is planned at a rate of 100,000 masks per annum for an initial contract period of five years with additional orders for both masks and spares to follow. It is anticipated that orders in the first year will exceed $40 million.

The development of the M50 Mask by Avon has resulted in the world’s most advanced respiratory protection mask, offering huge improvements in comfort, usability and operational effectiveness, as well as protection. It will replace the M40 mask which has been in service with the US military for more than 15 years.

The JSGPM program is likely to become the largest respiratory protection contract and will equip all five US armed forces. Avon has managed the complex and technologically demanding development of the M50 to meet the JSGPM requirement since being awarded the original contract in 2000.

The M50 and its extensive range of associated products including the unique conformal filters and advanced visor, will be manufactured at Avon’s state of the art production facility in Cadillac, Michigan.

Commenting on the full rate production of the M50, Terry Stead, Chief Executive of Avon Rubber p.l.c., said: “This is a wonderful day for Avon and puts us on track to become the largest supplier of military CBRN respirators. It is the result of over seven years of dedicated effort working with the US Department of Defense and we are very proud of this achievement.”

SMITHS DETECTION Selected for Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) Increment 2 Evaluation

Department of Defense (DoD) will test two different detector configurations of Smiths Detection’s advanced chemical detectors

EDGEWOOD, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smiths Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, today announced its military unit has been selected to participate in the first major phase of Increment 2 of the Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) Program. Earlier this year, Smiths Detection was awarded an initial $3.9 million firm-fixed price contract to supply M4 JCADs to Increment 1 of the JCAD Program.

The M4 JCAD is an advanced, non-radioactive chemical point detector that is designed to help save the lives of troops by automatically detecting, identifying and quantifying both chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals.

The second increment of the JCAD program builds upon Increment 1 requirements emphasizing detector sensitivity, false alarm rejection, and networking capabilities. The DoD will evaluate multiple detectors over the next year.

Smiths Detection has developed two different detector configurations to meet the requirements for the second increment of the JCAD program. These further enhance the Smiths Detection product and technology that was chosen for Increment 1 of the program and is now in production.

Initially ten detectors - five of each configuration - will be procured by the DoD for evaluation. If successful through multiple evaluation phases, the long-term potential for the JCAD Increment 2 program is for production of up to 120,000 units for the detector selected.

“This is the next phase in helping the DoD to equip the U.S. Military and another important milestone for our military business,” said Stephen Phipson, Group Managing Director of Smiths Detection.

Phipson continued: “Smiths Detection has produced chemical detectors for military forces around the world for over 40 years and securing the Increment 1 contract of the JCAD program was a significant win. For both the Department of Defense and Smiths Detection, it marked the start of one of the most important chemical agent detection equipment programs ever undertaken. The selection of Smiths Detection detectors to the JCAD Increment 2 evaluation further highlights our commitment to continuous development of technology to protect U.S. military forces.”

About Smiths Detection

Smiths Detection is part of the global technology business Smiths Group. It offers advanced integrated security solutions for customers in civil and military markets worldwide and is a leading technology developer and manufacturer of sensors that detect and identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons, and contraband. Its advanced technology security solutions also include Smiths Heimann x-ray imaging systems, millimeter-wave technology and a specialist software supply business for the management of large sensor and video surveillance networks. Separate business units focus on related products for the life sciences, and food manufacturing industries. For more information visit www.smithsdetection.com.

Smiths is a global technology company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Smiths Group is a world leader in the practical application of advanced technologies. Its products and services make the world safer, healthier and more productive. Smiths Group has three divisions focused on the high growth detection, medical devices, energy and communications markets. It employs more than 20,000 people in over 50 countries. For more information visit www.smiths.com.

BIOQUELL awarded subcontract to Joint Material Decontamination System

BIOQUELL PLC (“BIOQUELL”), the UK leader in specialist bio-decontamination technology and testing/compliance services, announces that it is a member of the Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. (“TBE”) Team that has been awarded a contract relating to the United States Department of Defense (“DOD”) Joint Material Decontamination System (“JMDS”).

The JMDS is required to have the ability to decontaminate sensitive equipment, and interiors of vehicles, aircraft, ships and fixed site facilities that have been exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (“CBRN”) warfare agents. Users of the JMDS will include the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

TBE has informed BIOQUELL that the DOD has awarded TBE the initial System Development and Demonstration (“SDD”) phase of the JMDS contract which is worth approximately $14.7 million (of which BIOQUELL’s share is expected to be some $7 million) and will last two years. The SDD phase is reimbursed on a cost plus basis.

The DOD’s request for proposal dated 13 March 2007 described a SDD phase which would last two years - and requested firm prices for two production options: the low rate initial production (“LRIP”) option of 23 JMDS units and the full rate production (“FRP”) option of 1,843 units.