GE Security, Schiphol to collaborate on security technology
Leading security developer and major European airport will work to develop advanced technology aviation security; collaboration will lead to a real-world evaluation of existing and emerging security products and technologies “from the European perspective”
GE Security, a business of GE Enterprise Solutions (NYSE: GE), said that its Homeland Protection business has agreed with Schiphol Nederland B.V. to examine, develop, and make available innovative technology solutions to further help improve operational security processes at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. GE Security and Schiphol Nederland B.V. said they believe that the joint advanced technology aviation security collaboration will lead to a real-world evaluation of existing and emerging security products and technologies from the European perspective. The primary goal of the joint development program is to identify, evaluate, and eventually deploy technology solutions which may improve checkpoint security for government and airport operator stakeholders and their respective customers across the European Union.
“We believe the technologies and products that are being and will be evaluated in this first European operational test collaboration will make it possible to further enhance security while allowing passengers to have a better and faster screening experience,” said Dennis Cooke, president and CEO, GE Security’s Homeland Protection business. “GE’s vision for the checkpoint of the future calls for both improved security and a much improved passenger experience and we believe that our work with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of Europe’s most innovative airports, will help to make that vision a reality.” Miro Jerkovic, senior manager research and development, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, said that “In order to be able to anticipate and meet the needs of changing global security challenges, we must cooperate with industry at the early stages of technology development. The main advantage of this approach is that jointly developed technologies and concepts meet end-user requirements. This will increase the applicability of the resultant technologies and products.”
GE Security, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the General Electric Company, is a supplier of security and life safety technologies, with operations in more than 35 countries and $1.8 billion in annual sales. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol handled 47.8 million passengers and more than 1.6 million tons of cargo in 2007, ranking as Europe’s fifth-largest passenger and third-largest cargo airport. Around 90 scheduled airlines operate flight services from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to some 270 destinations worldwide. The airport ranks as one of Europe’s four major hubs and one of the two principal home bases to Air France-KLM and the SkyTeam alliance. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a major driver of the regional Dutch economy, generating on-airport jobs for more then 61,000 people.
