Trading house Sojitz Corp. said Friday its subsidiary Ebistrade Inc. will bolster exports of a device that can instantly determine whether a bottled liquid is flammable or not, as fears of in-flight terrorism boost demand.
The device, intended for use at airports and other public facilities, can detect flammable liquids in plastic or aluminum bottles within a second or two when the container is placed on its sensor, Sojitz said. The bottles do not need to be opened for screening.
There already 270 of the machines being used in 63 airports in Japan. Ebistrade recently signed its first overseas contract, selling six units to China. They will be installed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and other locations, the trading house said.
Ebistrade has had many inquiries about the product since British authorities thwarted a plot last month to blow up multiple aircraft in midflight using liquid explosives, the parent company said, adding that the Sojitz group aims to sell 1,000 units per year overseas.
The tester, developed by Tokyo Gas Co., flashes a red light for flammable liquids and bluish-green for beverages.