The 15+ zones’ Marketing Gimmick in the Walk through Metal Detectors’ Industry Whether you are a professional who deals with access-control security equipment or whether you are searching for the right walk-through metal detector (WTMD) to meet your personal requirements, you would be well aware of the widely-advertised “30 zones” or even “60 zones”in certain walk-through metal detector (WTMDs) . After having spoken to various experts from the field and after having tested the products of various WTMD manufacturers, I am quite convinced that all WTMDs which boast of having more than 15 zones, mean something different from how it is obviously perceived. Allow me to explain it here. To begin with, the basic criteria for a good WTMD are the following: 1. A sensitivity-level adjustment that can be made by the buyer to allow metallic objects of no threat to pass through 2. Ability to detect all potential metallic threat objects at the same sensitivity-levelas in the above criteria 3. Zero interference from electromagnetic noises present in the usual external environment of their operation 4. Ability of the metal detector to distinguish between the detection zones when a threat object is detected All WTMDs with more than 15 zones, fail to meet at least one of the above-mentioned basic criteria. After having tested products from various reputed global manufacturers at several international exhibitions, I have concluded that 1. The WTMDs by Chinese manufacturers are unable to meet the first two criteria at the same sensitivity-level. This is a basic criterion that should be met by even the low cost models of any WTMD manufacturer or it is just a piece of furniture with a motion-sensor alarm which beeps whenever someone passes through it. The third and fourth criteriado not even need to be checked with such WTMDs because they require more sophisticated engineering which can be assumed to not be within the reach of manufacturers of such WTMD models. Hence, I will not be using the ChineseWTMDs as examples hereon. 2. Mostmulti-zone (less than 15 zones) WTMDs byinternationally-reputed manufacturers are able to meet the first two criteria but fail to meet criteria 3 or 4 (or both). You will be surprised to know that a well-known American manufacturer of metal detectors does not allow visitors to test their equipment at most international exhibitions saying that “the external electromagnetic noise” present at such exhibitions does not allow their WTMD to operate at full efficiency! This is even more unbelievable considering that similar models (less than 15 zones) of some less-known manufacturers are able to meet the four criteria at the same exhibitions. 3. All multi-zone (more than 15 zones) WTMDs by any manufacturer are unable to meet the fourth criteria. Any WTMD operator or security guard who is positioned next to a WTMD will agree to this. Even the most famous international Italian, German or American brands which boast of a WTMD with 30+ detection zones are not able to effectively distinguish between separate zones. WTMDs work on an electromagnetic field which is highly sensitive to minor fluctuations or changes in the external environment. A high-power bulb, a computer running close-by, vibrations of a distant motor, they all affect the efficiency of any sensitive WTMD. The WTMD is even more likely to give alarms in false detection zones when the number of zones in it is over 30. It is merely a marketing gimmick at attracting the unaware buyer who would consider a “pin point” WTMD synonymous with a high number of detection zones.The area of one detection zone decreases significantly insuch WTMD models and, apart from the virtual sub-divisions of the major detection zones, these models do not have any significant hardware change as compared to WTMDs with 9 or 15 zones. Dividing the human body in more than 15 zonesand then the failure to pinpoint the right zone by the WTMD makes it harder for the concerned security guard to pin-point the location of any common metallic threat object like a pistol or a gun. There is a Turkish manufacturer by the name of Elektral A.S. whose WTMDs I tested at the Intersec 2012 exhibition in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). Their ThruScan® range of metal detectors can be found in various parts of the globe. It is a 35-year old company and exports the ThruScan® metal detectors to over 60 countries. There representatives at the booth welcomed the idea of letting me test their WTMD models on display and suggested I compare it with WTMDs from other famous manufacturers at the same exhibition. Their model ThruScan®sX with 9 detection zones seems to be most effective in detecting the exact zone where I carried a small metallic test object while passing through it. It not only succeeded in detecting the right horizontal location by blinking of the corresponding LEDs on the side panels but also managed to efficiently detect the exact vertical zone in which I carried the threat object! Not just this, I even passed through the WTMD with my watch, belt, and metallic sunglasses but it did not give a positive alarm at the same sensitivity settings! I was pleasantly surprised by their WTMD as none of the WTMDs at the exhibition managed to meet the four basic criteria as ThruScan® sX . Another model sX-i by ThruScan® has 9 horizontal overlapping detection zones without any dead zones throughout the passage and worked perfectly fine even at the most sensitive security settings with all the external electromagnetic noise present at the exhibition. Elektral A.S. even offers a unique Real Time Video Prosecution Unit which can be attached with premium ThruScan® WTMD models and is capable of capturing the image/video of every passer who gives an alarm. These are stored on a SD card which is supported by the DVR unit that is part of the real-time video prosecution unit. security equipment, walk-through metal detector, metal detector, WTMDs, Chinese manufacturers, Chinese WTMD, multi-zone, 15 zones, Elektral, ThruScan Ankush Anand International Sales and Marketing Elektral A.S Elektral