UK technology vital for forensic science labs
Ever since the company’s first product (the ESDA electrostatic detection apparatus) became the industry standard method of visualising indented writing on paper, Foster + Freeman products have been a mainstay of forensic science and document examination laboratories worldwide, with the company having established a global reputation for innovation and a consistently high standard of engineering.
Export demand
With 90% of its business export, Foster + Freeman Managing Director Bob Dartnell says that demand for British technology and forensic expertise is stronger than ever.
“Forensic scientists and criminal investigators appreciate products that provide them with evidence that can be used to solve crimes.Foster + Freeman is one of several British manufacturers that continue to produce new and innovative technologies that are able to do that better than anyone else.”
He explaimned that it is this simple fact that has seen Foster + Freeman products continue to penetrate new and emerging markets, and that enables the company to flourish despite the unstable economc climate of recent years: “Our core markets have traditionally been in Europe and the USA,however in the past 5 years we have seen increasing sales of equipment to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Exports to China alone now count for more than % of our annual turnover”.
Global demand for forensic expertise
It’s not only Foster + Freeman’s unique line of forensic scienceequipment that is in demand, the company has a team of dedicated experts that provide training on the companies innovative equipment.
A recent project in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia has seen a delegation of Foster + Freeman staff travel out to Riyadh to provide intensive training on a large number of VSC document examination systems purchased by the country’s immigration authority.
By the end of the year, over 50 immigration officials will have completed extensive training in the use of the VSC systems which are destined to be deployed to all of the major cities (including Jeddah, Medina, and Dammam) and border crossing ‘hotspots’ elsewhere within the Kingdom.
Exporting UK technology
Being involved in such projects clearly demonstrates that innovative hi-tech forensic products and forensic science expertise are being exported from the UK; with Foster + Freeman continuing to lead the expanison into new territories 35 years after the company released its first product.
