Smiths Detection

The story of Smiths Detection begins long before the company itself was formed, rooted in a London jewellery shop founded by Samuel Smith in 1851. This business, S Smith & Sons, evolved into Smiths Group, a major supplier of clocks, automotive instruments, and eventually, a diversified engineering powerhouse listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1914. Decades later, as the world's security needs changed, Smiths Group strategically positioned itself to meet new demands. In 1984, the company reorganized into divisions including Aerospace and Defence. This set the stage for the formal creation of Smiths Detection as a dedicated division in July 2002, specializing in sensors to find weapons, explosives, and other contraband. A key moment in its journey was the 2017 acquisition of Morpho Detection, a US-based subsidiary of Safran. This move significantly expanded its capabilities and integrated a major player in the trace detection market into its operations, which were then absorbed into the Smiths Detection division. Continuing to evolve, the company recently acquired Med Graphix Inc. in August 2025, a long-term partner specializing in component repair and refurbishment. This acquisition enhances Smiths Detection's service and sustainability, aiming to extend the lifecycle of its critical security equipment deployed worldwide.