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Bosnia Group Will Participate in Tests of Loch/ChemTech ELF Landmine Detector
AUSTIN, Texas---Chemical Detection Technologies Inc. (ChemTech), a subsidiary of Loch Harris Inc. reached an agreement yesterday in Bosnia/Herzegovina with Mine Action Consultants to collaborate on development of field configuration of the ELF landmine detector, according to Rodney Boone, CEO for both Loch Harris Inc. and ChemTech.
Mark Baker, CFO for Loch Harris, said Boone called Loch Harris' corporate offices in Austin, Texas, from Ljubljana, Slovenia, site of the 5th International Explosive Ordnance Disposal Conference, sponsored by the International Trust Fund For Demining and Mine Victim's Assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Boone attended with Dr. Henry Blair, noted ChemTech physicist, who had been invited to deliver a paper about his ELF technology to the Central European Demining Community.
"ELF, whose name is an acronym for Eliminate Landmines Forever, is a portable x-ray fluorescent-based, remote sensing optical instrument designed to provide direct, real time discrimination and mapping of unknown landmines from standoff distances of up to 30 meters,'' explained Blair. "After conferences in the United States, Crete, Italy, and now in Slovenia, we have seen nothing to compare to the ultimate potential of ELF.''
"After Blair's presentation, ChemTech was approached by members of Mine Action Consultants (MAC), an organization that is responsible for implementation and management of major demining efforts, many of which are funded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Bosnia/Herzegovina,'' said Boone.
"Following initial discussions with Mr. Ed C. Banks, a principal of Mine Action Consultants, ChemTech agreed to expand its live explosives testing program,'' said Boone. "We have invited a specialist from Bank's organization to witness direct explosive verification tests at ChemTech's Tucson laboratory. In turn, MAC will supply direct design input into the ELF's field deployment configuration.''
"Additional explosives testing,'' said Blair, "will allow ELF to be directly evaluated by those who have the project authority to affect the ultimate deployment and utilization of our technology. Establishing this relationship with Mine Action Consultants will give ChemTech direct access to both the humanitarian and commercial interests in the landmine fields in Bosnia and Herzegovina,'' he said.
"The ChemTech team in Tucson is ecstatic,'' said Blair. "We expect to perform monitored live explosives tests within a few weeks.''
Blair expressed appreciation for the willingness of Croatia's Rudjer Boskovic Institute to be flexible with laboratory tests of the ELF planned for this fall. "They agree that advances will result from this collaboration, and they understand that the schedule for overall deployment of ELF in Croatia's live minefields will not be affected.
"Expanded tests in Arizona actually shorten and enhance our efforts to deliver a viable and effective tool to the world demining community,'' added Boone. "This is a tremendous breakthrough in ChemTech's search for significant field deployment information.''
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Bosnia Group Will Participate in Tests of Loch/ChemTech ELF Landmine Detector