Dr. Juergen Kappler, Portfolio Director for Aviation & Critical Infrastructure, Smiths Detection discusses in an exclusive interview with Security Journal UK the growing drive for sustainable and energy-efficient solutions and how AI is impacting innovations such as the SDX 10080 SCT.
Dr. Juergen Kappler is an experienced technology and R&D leader with a PhD in Physics, he specialises in measurement and detection systems for regulated markets.
He brings an extensive background in global R&D management, product and technology development and programme and project management.
My name is Dr Juergen Kappler and I am the Portfolio Director for Aviation and Critical Infrastructure at Smiths Detection.
In this role, I oversee all products supplied to airports, including checkpoint solutions – perhaps the most familiar to travellers – as well as technologies for baggage handling and air cargo security.
One of our key products in this area is the SCT solution, which we’ll discuss in more detail later.
Beyond aviation, our portfolio also includes solutions for critical infrastructure and urban security, such as X-ray scanners and people-screening systems used in environments like courthouses, schools, prisons and large public venues such as sports arenas.
I have been with Smiths Detection for just over two years, having initially joined as Director of Technology, where I led the R&D team focusing on the technologies we’re discussing today.
About a year ago, I also took on responsibility for Product Management, overseeing both the development and management of our aviation and critical infrastructure product portfolio.
First of all, let’s start with where the SCT – formally the SDX 10080 SCT – is used.
This system is primarily designed for hold baggage screening, typically located in airport basements.
These are the systems that screen the checked-in suitcases that passengers hand over before their flight.
The SCT’s main purpose is, of course, to detect potential threats such as explosives and it provides best-in-class efficiency and accuracy in a single platform.
There’s also a strong operational challenge for airports: Ensuring that all luggage reaches the aircraft in time for departure.
Speed and reliability are absolutely critical.
When it comes to throughput, the SCT delivers outstanding performance – exceeding 1,800 bags per hour, which is among the highest in the industry.
This is achieved through a combination of design features.
The scanner’s large 107 x 81 cm tunnel opening easily accommodates even the largest allowed baggage sizes, while the curtains – which contain X-ray radiation – are made from a material that allows very light objects to pass through smoothly, preventing jams.
Additionally, the SCT only requires a gap of less than 20 centimetres between bags, the shortest in its class, which further maximises throughput.
The system also offers flexibility, with plans for additional belt speed settings, which will allow airports to adjust throughput as passenger volumes grow.
This capability extension will require only field upgrades, ensuring ease of adoption.
Another key factor is that many airports have older, established infrastructures, making it challenging to install new equipment.
One significant advantage of the SCT is its modular design – it can be split into smaller modules, making transport and installation within existing facilities much easier.
In addition, the SDX 10080 SCT has been designed with the same footprint as its predecessor products from Smiths Detection – namely the XCT, which is widely used in Europe and internationally and the CTX 9800, which is more common in the United States.
Because the SCT fits seamlessly into the same space, airports can replace older systems without modifying their infrastructure or software, which makes installation much simpler and more cost-efficient.
Beyond easy installation, the SCT is also designed with future-proofing in mind.
Aviation security regulations evolve every five to ten years and the SCT is built to meet both current and upcoming regulatory standards.
That means that when airports invest in this technology, they can be confident it will adapt to new requirements rather than requiring a complete replacement.
Looking further ahead, upcoming standards such as TSA 8.x, TSA 9.x and future European ECAC regulations will likely require systems capable of detecting a wider range of materials while reducing false alarms.
Current technologies may not be sufficient to meet those demands alone.
The SCT, however, has been engineered to integrate additional modules, such as diffraction technology, ensuring it can meet these future performance benchmarks – another strong example of its future-ready design.
Altogether, these features – ease of installation, adaptability, future-proof design and exceptional throughput – make the SDX 10080 SCT a truly next-generation solution for airport baggage screening.
One way to look at our portfolio is through what we call the iCMORE product suite.
iCMORE is the trade name for our family of AI-driven algorithms designed to detect a wide range of threats and prohibited items.
Beyond explosive detection, which is the foundation of aviation security, these algorithms can identify currency and cash smuggling, narcotics and drugs, weapons and other dangerous goods such as gases and lithium batteries.
In other words, the same technology that enhances aviation safety can also help intercept other forms of contraband and illegal activity – making it a truly multi-purpose solution.
A key advantage of iCMORE is its upgradability.
Airports or operators can start with a core configuration – say, explosive detection – and later expand the system’s capabilities by adding new detection modules such as narcotics or currency recognition.
As our AI models continue to evolve, they become smarter and more comprehensive, able to identify an expanding range of materials.
Importantly, these updates can be deployed directly in the field, allowing customers to continuously benefit from the latest algorithmic improvements without replacing their hardware.
Looking further ahead, one of the future AI capabilities we are exploring is something we refer to as dynamic bag spacing.
Currently, systems operate with fixed spacing between bags on the conveyor.
But in reality, baggage types vary widely – some are heavy and rigid, others soft or lightweight.
With dynamic bag spacing, the system would use AI to adjust the distance between bags in real time based on their characteristics.
For heavier items, spacing could be minimised to maximise throughput; for lighter bags that might slow down or shift within the scanner, spacing would automatically increase slightly to ensure smooth operation.
This intelligent optimisation could further increase throughput beyond the current 1,800 bags per hour, combining operational efficiency with the adaptability of AI.
These are just two examples of how artificial intelligence is not only enhancing threat detection today but also shaping the next generation of aviation security systems.
Sustainability is becoming a major focus for the SCT and our products overall.
Customers are increasingly looking for energy-efficient and environmentally responsible solutions and we’ve responded in several ways.
Firstly, we’ve replaced traditional lead curtains with lead-free alternatives.
Secondly, we’ve moved from chemical-based active chillers to simple air cooling, eliminating chemicals, reducing installation complexity and lowering power consumption.
The benefits are twofold: The machines use less energy and they generate less heat, reducing the building’s cooling needs.
It’s a clear example of how we’re designing for both total cost of ownership and environmental impact – sustainability is now an essential part of modern aviation screening systems.
In the field of hold baggage and air cargo screening, technologies such as the SCT are leading the next wave of innovation.
One of the most significant advancements is the integration of multiple detection technologies, which greatly enhances overall security.
By combining AI-driven analysis and CT technology with x-ray diffraction, operators can identify a broader range of emerging and unconventional threats – particularly homemade explosives.
Unlike traditional industrial explosives, these substances vary widely in composition and form.
The fusion of AI and diffraction provides a much higher probability of accurate detection, ensuring that even complex threats are effectively identified.
Another major benefit of these advanced technologies is the reduction of false alarm rates, which has long been a challenge for airports.
Every false alarm typically initiates a manual review process – known as a Level 2 inspection – where an operator must examine the X-ray image.
In rare cases, a Level 3 inspection may be required, involving the physical opening of a bag.
By improving detection accuracy, these systems reduce unnecessary interventions, resulting in greater operational efficiency, lower total cost of ownership and a smoother passenger experience, as luggage is processed faster and reaches its destination on time.
A further development is the concept of intelligent alarm distribution.
Traditionally, alarm data stays within the airport where the screening occurs.
However, not every alert is relevant to that specific location.
For instance, an explosive detection alert concerns the departure airport, while cases involving contraband or smuggling may be of greater interest to the arrival airport.
Through secure data sharing, screening images and alerts could be transmitted directly to the relevant authorities – allowing them to take pre-emptive action upon arrival.
This type of intelligent image and alarm sharing represents an important step toward a more connected, collaborative and proactive aviation security ecosystem – one that not only strengthens safety but also enhances efficiency throughout the entire travel chain.
