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20 Apr 2009 07:00
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20thΒ AprilΒ 2009
Westminster Group Plc:Β
New Contract AwardΒ - 2 Million Euro
Diver Detection and SecurityΒ NetΒ to Nagaa Hammadi Dam -Β Egypt
Westminster Group PlcΒ ('Westminster' or 'the Group'), the AIM listed supplier of system solutions and products to the security, defence, fire protection and safety markets worldwide, announces thatΒ it hasΒ secured aΒ prestigiousΒ contractΒ to protect the new Nagaa Hammadi Dam complex on the river Nile in Egypt.
The contract,Β valued atΒ over 2Β million EurosΒ is toΒ supply and installΒ an advanced security net across the riverΒ Nile;Β to prevent access to the dam fromΒ eitherΒ vessels or diversΒ and to protect the hydraulic control structure from any floating or submerged objects.Β Β
The security net comprisesΒ aΒ steel wire mesh withΒ anΒ integral fibreΒ opticΒ core woven into every strand. Any attempted attack on the net will signal an alarm and indicateΒ the location of attack within the security control room. The net,Β spanningΒ the entire width of the riverΒ Nile,Β will be fitted with an automatic gate which can be remotely opened and closed from within the control room,Β allowingΒ authorised ships passageΒ into the lock complex.
The net will riseΒ from the river bed toΒ circa 2Β metres above theΒ surfaceΒ to prevent climb overΒ andΒ will also be fitted with a bespoke strain gauge and stress system in order to provide early warning alarms within the control room of pressure building up from the estimated 60Β tons of weed floating down theΒ NileΒ every day.
In addition, advanced thermal imaging surveillance cameras will be installed to monitor the net and river approaches. Thermal imaging cameras can work under extreme conditions, including zero light levels, allowing for uninterrupted monitoring from within the security control room.
The project will commence immediately and is expected to be completed in early 2010.
This latest contract comes on the heels ofΒ Westminster's recently announced Β£1million contract win for deployment of the company's ThruPORT scanning portals inΒ Iraq.
ThruPORTΒ is aΒ completelyΒ self contained scanning solution,Β built withinΒ a specialised ISO shipping containerΒ whichΒ is rapidly deployable and can be shipped throughout the world. Once on site,Β the unit can be set up and fully operational within hours. This flexibility allows for rapid response temporary security arrangements as well as permanent fixtures.
Commenting on theΒ contract awards,Β Peter Fowler, Chief Executive of Westminster Group, said:
"The Nile Dam project presented us with a unique set of challenges. The client had not been able to find a solution using existing security products or otherΒ specialistΒ security firms. Our project managers used innovative technologies to tackle each of the individual demands of the brief to provide a bespoke and complete solution. This tailored approach isΒ criticalΒ in differentiating Westminster from alternative solution providers.
"I am delighted to be able to announce this latest contract award so soon after our previous major project win in Iraq. Both contracts are a testament to the investment we have made in building up our Middle East operations and illustrate how Westminster can design innovative solutions for wide ranging security challenges throughout the world.
"This latest award meansΒ thatΒ we have startedΒ 2009Β very positively,Β with a surge ofΒ newΒ ordersΒ worth, in aggregate,Β in excess of Β£3.3million,Β to add to our already record order book ofΒ Β£4.2mΒ at the beginning of the yearΒ (Β£1.4m 2008).Β Enquiry activity remains healthyΒ and despite the current economic difficulties we remain optimistic for 2009".
Enquiries:
Peter Fowler 01295 756 300
Chief Executive - Westminster Group Plc
NicholasΒ Mearing-Smith 01295Β 756 300
Finance DirectorΒ - Westminster Group Plc
Clive Carver 020 7600Β 1658
FinnCap
Tom Cooper/Paul Vann 0117 920 0092
Winningtons Financial
Notes:
Β
Westminster Group plc is a leader in the supply of system solutions and productsΒ to the security, defence, fire protection and safety markets worldwide.
Westminster's principal activity is the design, supply and ongoing support of advanced technology security solutions. These can range from product only assignments, such as the supply of specialised scanners, to the design and implementation of an integrated system solution such as a border detection and surveillance system. The majority of its customer base, by value, comprises governments and government agencies, non governmental organisations and blue chip commercial organisations.
Notes on ThruPORT:
Each unit contains sophisticated people and baggage scanning solutions allowing for a high throughput of persons whilst maintaining a high degree of security. Typical operation would be for a person to enter the unit through a controlled door and deposit their baggage onto the conveyor belt leading to an x-ray scanner, the person then walks along a corridor and through a metal and weapon detection archway. AtΒ the same time the person is being scanned byΒ passive standoff terahertz imagingΒ unit which will detect hidden weaponry or substances concealed under clothing etc without any loss of privacy. Once the person has passed along the corridor they then pass through a second door into the next corridor where they collect their scanned baggage and leave through another controlled exit door.
All systems are remotely controlled and monitored from a safe distance together with CCTV surveillance and audio communications links and should a suspect device be detected the person can be directed to a separate 'safe' blast controlled search area.
Typical deployment would be some distance from the main building, such as an airport terminal, so that potential blast damage is minimised in a controlled environment. The system can in addition be deployed together withΒ Westminster's vehicle scanning solutions for applications such as border checkpoints etc.
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