Cristanini answers decontamination challenges

David Donald

Thursday, 19 June, 2008

Decontamination expert Cristanini (Stand C255) is debuting two systems here at Eurosatory, in answer to clamours from military customers. The first – SX34 – has been developed for the decontamination of sensitive equipment such as avionics, while the second – DDMAS – allows decontamination to be undertaken directly in the zone where it is required.
Cleaning up sensitive equipment poses a considerable challenge: the decontaminants currently available are too harsh, and often damage the equipment. Powder agents can cause damage to intricate systems, and have low surface contact, whereas liquid agents can transport the aggressive agent into small gaps, leaving a residue of toxins.
SX34 has been developed to overcome these drawbacks. It is sprayed on as a liquid to ensure full coverage, and is left for 20 to 30 minutes. Toxic agents are lifted from the surface into the treatment, which dries to leave a white powder residue that is then vacuumed away. If any contamination remains, it leaves a white stain, indicating the need for a second treatment.
SX34 was tested in the Czech Republic, and has received considerable interest from many nations, including the US. Cristanini is also launching its Deep Decontamination Mobile Autonomous System (DDMAS) here this week. The vehicle-mounted system provides a fully mobile capability that can be deployed into contaminated areas, rather than having to ferry personnel and equipment to a rear area for treatment.
DDMAS includes a gantry-mounted spray system for treating up to 20 vehicles per hour and up to 20,000m2 per hour of contaminated terrain. It can also process between 80 and 120 personnel hourly, along with their kit. Included is a purification facility to provide 2,500 litres of drinking water on a daily basis. The spray system also provides a useful firefighting capability.

Cristanini is in discussions with the Italian armed forces for the supply of 42 DDMAS vehicles. The company has also received strong interest from a variety of NATO and non-NATO countries, including Croatia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia