X-RAY Full Body Scanning Systems for diamond mining sector

Xscann Technologies, a South African company, has demonstrated the significance of diamond mining companies to invest in effective methods of safeguarding the invaluable diamonds they produce. Recently, the company helped a local diamond producer (client) to curb what was then an endemic problem of theft.

Previously, the client had been incurring losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential revenue. However, noticeably, there has been a huge change in the situation after Xscann Technologies installed its flagship integrated X-ray full body scanning solution. Now, management at the diamond producer is rest assured of the safe custody of their diamonds.

This is what the company has established, based on the post-installation relationship which it has maintained with the client.

Meticulous planning and execution

Xscann Technologies relates to Mining Business Africa that the delivery entailed meticulous planning and execution. There had to be attention to detail and every element had to be accommodated, in the words of Rudzani Ramovha, the director, “We are talking about a company that produces diamonds, an invaluable, rare resource that has to be safeguarded at all costs. Thus, there was no stone unturned taking into account all key aspects in the company’s security system.”

‘Traditional’ approach – challenges experienced

The client approached after frustratingly noticing the shortcomings of the traditional technique of physical searches (hand part) and hand-held metal detectors. Using this method, a number of challenges were encountered, particularly:

• It was not easy to find stolen diamonds hidden in difficult-to-reach areas to search, including swallowed diamonds.
• Physical searches and metal detections equipment could only reach limited areas of the body;
• Longer time taken to search people exiting the plants, causing long queues; during peak times;
• Unidentified people were going into the plants and coming out undetected; and
• Collusion between searching personnel and the workforce.

Identifying problems and devising a solution

Every diamond mining company has unique challenges, thus needs solutions tailored to its conditions. And the client was no exception, for this reason, the team at Xscann Technologies had to identify the common problems encountered and devised a particular, suitable solution. “We highlighted different scenarios, specifically possible areas where diamonds could be hidden and difficult to reach with the conventional way of searching. Then based on this, we established that a suitable solution could be an x-ray body scanner able to identify object concealed both internally and externally,” Ramovha explains.

Additionally, the company suggested that all personnel entering the plant could be recorded, technological systems could be used for this as a solution.   After identifying that the work force always complained about the long queues on exit points, it was deemed that quicker electronic systems could be a suitable solution.

An integrated screening solution

Ultimately, an integrated technological screening solution that includes the following was recommended:

• An X-ray body scanner for security screening
• Electronic access controlled environment for personnel identification and process flow control; and
• Management software that manages the whole screening environment, with capabilities of generating reports.

Tangible Return On Investment

Tangibly, the return on the investment the client made in the X-RAY Full Body Scanning Systems has helped the client curb the challenge of diamond theft, mainly in the following areas:

• enabled detection of objects concealed both internally and beneath clothing;
• Much quicker screening people;
• Eliminates the collusion possibilities between searching personnel and workforce;
• Provides records of previous searches for re-checks; and
• Enables technological use of searching as a solution, reducing the need of reliance on people.

Guaranteed outcomes

In general, Ramovha guarantees the diamond producers of the following outcomes, through utilising the X-RAY Full Body Scanning Systems:

• Improved working environment for searching personnel as they become system operators;
• Less human contacts element as screening procedure is electronically controlled;
• Availability of all data for the entire scanning process – all scans can be rechecked in future for evidence;
• Less waiting time to be searched;
• Recovery of diamonds before they leave the plant –  subjects can be retained in the system until dealt with by security personnel; and
• All activities are time-stamped, different reports can be generated with names, dates and times of activities.