Smiths Group Deploys 22-License IRBS and Celebrates 50 Years of Dry Gas Seals
Smiths Detection deployed SecurePort-IRBS-K with 22 licenses and HI-SCAN 10080 XCT CT units at Incheon Terminal 2, cutting US-bound connections by 20 minutes and enabling expansion. John Crane marks 50 years of Type 28 dry gas seals, supporting thousands of installations with 425 barg and cutting CO₂ emissions by 278,000 tonnes.
1. Smiths Detection Launches Automated Remote Baggage Screening
Smiths Detection has enabled Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) to inaugurate the world’s first fully automated International Remote Baggage Screening System (IRBS) between South Korea and the United States. Under this new model, checked baggage from Terminal 2 at Incheon is screened remotely by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before arrival in the U.S., eliminating the traditional reclaim-and-recheck process. Initial deployment on the Seoul–Atlanta route has reduced connection times by up to 20 minutes and is slated to expand to Minneapolis, Seattle, Los Angeles, Detroit and Salt Lake City. The system runs on SecurePort-IRBS-K with 22 software licenses integrated with HI-SCAN 10080 XCT 3D CT X-ray units, exporting imagery via the DICOS V3.0 standard into a data-exchange environment compliant with Korean Personal Information Protection Act and U.S. CBP cybersecurity protocols. Certification involved six agencies including CBP, TSA, Korean Air, Delta Air Lines and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, with operational service commencing in August 2025.
2. John Crane Celebrates 50 Years of Dry Gas Seals
John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is marking the 50th anniversary of its Type 28 dry gas seal, first introduced in 1976. Since that landmark innovation, the company’s dry gas seals have evolved to handle pressures up to 425 barg (6 164 psig) and a wide range of temperatures, supporting applications in oil and gas, petrochemicals, power generation and hydrogen/carbon-capture. Retrofit programmes converting wet seals to dry designs have cut CO₂ emissions by around 278 000 tonnes per year for select customers, while modern seals reduce methane and fugitive emissions by up to 95%. The global installed base now numbers in the thousands, backed by over 200 manufacturing, sales and service centres—including 12 dedicated turbo service hubs. Looking ahead, John Crane plans technical papers, customer case studies and multimedia content throughout 2026 to showcase advances in materials, digital diagnostics via John Crane Sense® Turbo and next-generation seal designs.