SWANSON RINK AIDING SECURITY

Denver firm bags airport work - Swanson Rink aiding security
By Greg Griffin, Denver Post Business Writer. ggriffin@denverpost.com  

Thursday, August 14, 2003 - A small Denver engineering firm has emerged as a leading designer of airport baggage systems equipped with sensitive explosive-detection machines.

Swanson Rink, a 54-year-old company that employs 59 people in its downtown offices, won a contract this week to redesign the baggage system at Salt Lake City International Airport, beating out several larger rivals.

The firm has done similar airport work in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Oakland, Calif. Swanson Rink bid for the job at Denver International Airport last year but lost to German engineering firm Logplan.

All major U.S. airports were required after Sept. 11, 2001, to begin screening passenger luggage for explosives. Most implemented temporary solutions - placing massive screening machines in lobbies or conducting hand searches.

But now airports want to integrate the machines into their outbound baggage conveyor systems. The costly and complex process involves rerouting the flow of luggage, improving how bags are tracked and, often, adding new terminal space.