In October 2025, Smiths Detection partnered with Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) to commission the world’s first fully automated International Remote Baggage Screening System (IRBS) between South Korea and the United States. Using the SecurePort-IRBS-K remote screening platform integrated with 22 software licenses and 10 HI-SCAN 10080 XCT computed tomography scanners, checked baggage from Terminal 2 is X-rayed in Incheon and data is securely transmitted via DICOS V3.0 to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Initial deployment on the Seoul–Atlanta route has cut average connection times by up to 20 minutes, eliminated baggage reclaim at U.S. arrival airports and set a blueprint for expansion to Minneapolis, Seattle, Los Angeles, Detroit and Salt Lake City by mid-2026. This project involved eight agencies, including TSA, CBP, the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korean Air, Delta Air Lines, Leidos and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and complies with both Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act and U.S. cybersecurity protocols.

On January 20, 2026, John Crane—a key business unit of Smiths Group plc—celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Type 28 dry gas seal, a technology that transformed compressor reliability in 1976. Since its launch, John Crane has introduced bi-directional spiral-groove designs, ultra-high-pressure capability up to 425 barg (6,164 psig) and advanced materials such as Carbon LF™. The company’s John Crane Sense® Turbo digital diagnostics now monitor real-time seal health across a global installed base of thousands. Retrofit programmes converting wet seals to dry gas seals have cut CO₂ emissions by an estimated 278,000 tonnes per year, while modern designs reduce methane and fugitive emissions by up to 95%. Supported by over 200 service centers—including 12 turbo service facilities—John Crane is preparing to release next-generation technical papers and multimedia content throughout 2026 to underscore its leadership in sustainable sealing solutions.