Smiths Group PLC

Smiths Group plc is a diversified company that provides advanced technical solutions to four core markets: safety & security, general industry, energy and aerospace.

It has built up a very strong and rapidly growing position in the detection of chemical, biological and nuclear threats. That position straddles both Europe and the United States and both the military and civil markets.

The company continues to look for acquisitions that can further strengthen it in its core markets. With the disruption in key markets such as aerospace due to the pandemic and its strong financial position, Smiths may have the potential to make larger acquisitions in coming years.

The diversity of the business, with its units serving energy, aviation, space, industrials and a broad set of customers requiring optical data transmission offers stability at times when individual product lines may be off.

Detection’s new ultraviolet light kits can destroy up to 99.9% of microorganisms present on baggage trays at the security checkpoint. Demonstrating improved hygiene standards will be important, as airports work to re-store the confidence of travelers and staff during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to looking at viral concentrations in areas, the company is interested in breathalyzer technologies to see if individuals are infected with COVID or other highly transmittable viruses. Smiths continues to work with a major customer on a viral load detector that would effectively measure the viral load in an aircraft cabin, either on arrival or pre-departure. It basically sniffs what is in the air. PathSensors has experience in the area. It developed a working SARS application.