American Science and Engineering
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing, X-ray technology |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Founder | Martin Annis, Ph.D., George W. Clark |
| Headquarters | Billerica , United States |
| Products | Transmission and backscatter X-ray systems, 4th generation CT scanners, body scanners, mobile backscatter X-ray vehicles |
| Parent | OSI Systems |
| Website | www |
American Science and Engineering Inc. (AS&E) is a U.S. manufacturer specializing in advanced X-ray technology, established in 1958 by Martin Annis, Ph.D., in collaboration with George W. Clark. The company’s early efforts were centered on creating technology for NASA, with guidance from Chairman Bruno Rossi, Ph.D., a leading figure in cosmic ray studies. Rossi brought Riccardo Giacconi on board to design X-ray detectors, resulting in the identification of the first extra-solar X-ray source, Scorpius X-1. This achievement earned Giacconi the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics. AS&E played a significant role in the development of the Einstein Observatory, which launched the inaugural fully imaging X-ray telescope in 1978.
Throughout Annis’s tenure as leader until 1993, AS&E pioneered several crucial innovations such as backscatter X-ray technology for detecting plastic explosives and the body scanner, initially created for correctional facility security but now widely adopted for airport screening globally. Additionally, the company introduced the first commercially available 4th generation CT scanner in 1976.
AS&E’s advancements in focusing optics for soft X-rays propelled rocket-based solar research and supported missions including Skylab, Yohkoh, and Hinode (satellite), contributing to enhanced insights into the solar corona and plasma astrophysics.
The firm provides transmission and backscatter X-ray solutions for airports, seaports, border checkpoints, and vital infrastructure protection. It also engineered a mobile backscatter X-ray vehicle (ZBV) designed for scanning while in transit.
In June 2016, OSI Systems agreed to purchase AS&E for $269 million, with the acquisition finalized by the end of that year following regulatory clearance and shareholder consent. For the fiscal year ending March 31, AS&E reported revenues of $278 million alongside $64 million in net income.
External links
- X-ray equipment manufacturers
- Manufacturing companies based in Massachusetts
- Companies based in Billerica, Massachusetts
- American companies established in 1958
- Manufacturing companies established in 1958
- 1958 establishments in Massachusetts
- Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq
- 2016 mergers and acquisitions