InVision Technologies
Corporate brand
UnclaimedInVision Technologies was a United States airport-security equipment company best known for CT-based explosive-detection systems for checked baggage.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
InVision Technologies, Inc. was a United States security-technology company that developed and sold equipment for detecting explosives and other threats in airline baggage. Its best-known product family was CTX, a line of computed-tomography explosive-detection systems that used rotating X-ray technology to create three-dimensional images of luggage contents. The systems were designed to identify suspicious materials and highlight them for operator review, bringing medical-imaging concepts into airport security screening. The company emerged in the aftermath of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 and began producing bomb-detection equipment around 1990. It was initially based in Foster City, California, and later moved to Newark, California. Europe was an important early market, while the United States became its central commercial market after federal authorities began requiring more extensive screening of checked baggage. In 1992, the company developed the CTX-5000 for use at airline check-in and baggage-screening facilities. The system was eventually certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in December 1994 after development difficulties and a missed federally established target for deployment. InVision became a publicly traded company in 1996. During the late 1990s it installed CTX systems at major airports, including Chicago O'Hare and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. In 1998, it and Vivid Technologies supplied equipment for the opening of Terminal 1 at Kennedy Airport. The company expanded rapidly as aviation authorities sought automated explosive-detection technology, although its systems also attracted criticism over false alarms, testing performance, production capacity, and the possibility of damage to photographic film. The September 11, 2001 attacks and the resulting Airport and Transportation Security Act sharply increased demand. The legislation required checked baggage on United States flights to be screened with explosive-detection equipment. At the time, InVision and L-3 Communications were the principal certified suppliers. In early 2002, InVision received a United States government order valued at approximately $169.8 million, and by the end of that year hundreds of United States airports had installed systems supplied by the two companies. The accelerated timetable exposed constraints in manufacturing capacity and raised questions about system performance and false-alarm rates. General Electric agreed to acquire InVision in 2004 for approximately $900 million, completing the transaction on December 6 of that year. The business was renamed GE InVision and incorporated into GE's infrastructure and security activities. GE subsequently combined it with the Ion Track trace-detection business to form Homeland Protection. The business later moved through a series of corporate owners: GE sold a controlling interest in Homeland Protection to Safran in 2009, sold its remaining stake in 2012, and Safran renamed the operation Morpho Detection. Smiths Group acquired Morpho Detection in 2016 and integrated it into Smiths Detection. Accordingly, InVision Technologies no longer operates as an independent company or current standalone brand.
History
InVision Technologies was established in California around 1990 in response to the growing demand for more capable aviation-security systems after the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. The company focused on automated explosive detection for checked baggage, adapting computed-tomography and rotating-X-ray concepts to produce three-dimensional views of luggage. It was first based in Foster City and later headquartered in Newark. The company's principal development was the CTX-5000. In the early 1990s, InVision worked with Imatron Federal Systems on a version intended to satisfy United States Federal Aviation Administration requirements for computerized explosive-detection systems. Congress had directed the FAA to develop and deploy improved equipment, but the original timetable proved unrealistic because of technical and design challenges. The CTX-5000 was ultimately certified by the FAA in December 1994. InVision went public in 1996, with Sergio Magistri serving as president and chief executive officer during that period. Commercial deployment expanded during the second half of the decade. On February 6, 1997, the company installed its first two CTX 5000 SP systems at Chicago O'Hare and New York Kennedy airports. In 1998, InVision and Vivid Technologies supplied systems for Kennedy International Airport's new Terminal 1. The technology was marketed internationally, with Europe an important early region and systems eventually operating at airports in multiple countries. The products also generated operational and technical criticism. In 1998, tests reported by the Photographic and Imaging Manufacturers Association indicated that the CTX-5000 damaged film placed in checked baggage. The FAA worked to warn travelers to remove photographic film before screening. Later scrutiny focused on false alarms and the ability of systems to detect explosives in government tests. These issues did not prevent InVision from becoming the dominant supplier in the United States: by the end of 2001 it reportedly held about 90 percent of the domestic market for bomb-detection machines. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks transformed the company's commercial environment. The Airport and Transportation Security Act required comprehensive explosive screening of checked baggage on United States flights by December 2002. InVision and L-3 Communications were the two certified suppliers available for the national expansion. InVision won a government order valued at approximately $169.8 million in early 2002. By the end of that year, 325 of 429 United States airports had screening machines supplied by one of the two companies. The program encountered capacity and scheduling problems: InVision's historical production rate was approximately 50 million-dollar systems per month, making the target of installing at least 2,000 systems under federal supervision difficult to meet. Performance concerns also remained, including reported false-alarm rates and instances in which testing identified missed explosives. Demand for airport-security equipment increased InVision's market valuation between 2003 and 2004. General Electric agreed to acquire the company for approximately $900 million, and the deal closed on December 6, 2004. InVision became GE InVision and was combined with GE's infrastructure activities. Around the acquisition period, the company also received a separate Department of Homeland Security contract valued at approximately $108 million. The company became involved in an important Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement matter. The United States Department of Justice used a non-prosecution agreement to resolve issues associated with third-party distributors and the company's handling of warning emails during the period leading up to the GE acquisition. InVision voluntarily disclosed the results of internal investigations. The agreement included an $800,000 penalty and enhanced compliance obligations. In February 2005, the SEC issued a cease-and-desist order concerning alleged FCPA violations, and GE agreed to pay approximately $1.1 million to settle the allegations without admitting or denying them. GE combined InVision's operations with its Ion Track trace-detection business to create Homeland Protection. GE agreed in 2009 to sell 81 percent of that business to Safran, with the transaction closing in September after regulatory approval. GE disposed of its remaining 19 percent interest in 2012. Safran later renamed the business Morpho Detection. In 2016, Smiths Group purchased Morpho Detection and incorporated it into Smiths Detection. In 2017, the explosive-trace-detection activities associated with the former Morpho business were sold to OSI Systems. InVision therefore survives only through successor operations, technologies, and product lineages rather than as an independent company.
- 2016
Morpho Detection sold to Smiths Group
[1]Smiths Group acquires Morpho Detection, continuing the corporate succession of InVision's security business.
- 2009
Homeland Protection majority stake sold to Safran
[1]Safran acquires an 81 percent interest in GE Homeland Protection, the successor business containing InVision operations.
- 2004
Acquired by General Electric
[1]General Electric completes its approximately $900 million acquisition of InVision on December 6, 2004.
- 2002
Receives major government order
[1]InVision wins an approximately $169.8 million United States government order following new checked-baggage screening requirements.
- 2001
Reaches dominant United States market position
[1]By the end of 2001, InVision reportedly holds approximately 90 percent of the United States market for bomb-detection machines.
- 1998
Kennedy Terminal 1 deployment and film-damage controversy
[1]InVision supplies equipment for Kennedy International Airport's new Terminal 1, while independent testing raises concerns that CTX screening damages photographic film.
- 1997
First CTX 5000 SP airport installations
[1]The first two CTX 5000 SP systems are installed at Chicago O'Hare and New York Kennedy airports.
- 1996
Initial public offering
[1]InVision becomes publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
- 1994
FAA certification
[1]The CTX-5000 is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration as a computerized airport explosive-detection system.
- 1992
CTX-5000 developed
[1]The company develops the CTX-5000 computed-tomography explosive detector for airline baggage-screening operations.
Products and positioning
A specialist airport-security technology company positioned around automated computed-tomography screening for explosives and other dangerous materials in checked baggage.
Computed-tomography explosive-detection system · 1992
CTX-5000
The CTX-5000 was InVision's principal airport-security product. It used rotating X-ray technology to generate three-dimensional images of checked baggage and assist operators in identifying objects associated with explosives or other threats. The system was developed for airline check-in and centralized baggage-screening environments and became one of the best-known commercial applications of computed tomography in aviation security.
Airport checked-baggage screening system · 1997
CTX 5000 SP
The CTX 5000 SP was an airport-deployment version of InVision's computed-tomography explosive-detection technology. Two of the earliest systems were installed at Chicago O'Hare and New York Kennedy airports in 1997. The equipment was designed to screen baggage automatically and provide enhanced imaging compared with conventional two-dimensional X-ray inspection.
Controversies
2005
SEC FCPA cease-and-desist order
The SEC issued a cease-and-desist order concerning alleged FCPA violations. General Electric agreed to pay approximately $1.1 million to settle the allegations without admitting or denying them.
2004
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act non-prosecution agreement
The Department of Justice resolved an FCPA matter involving conduct by third-party distributors and the company's failure to investigate certain warning signs promptly. InVision voluntarily disclosed internal-investigation findings and agreed to an $800,000 penalty and stronger compliance controls.
Brand decisions
2016
Smiths Group acquisition of Morpho DetectionM&ABackground
Morpho Detection retained the airport-security operations descended from InVision after their transfer from GE to Safran.
Action taken
Smiths Group acquired Morpho Detection and integrated it into Smiths Detection.
Aftermath
InVision's product and technology lineage continued under Smiths Detection rather than as a standalone InVision company.
Acquisition value. Approximately US$710 million (2016)
2009
Sale of GE Homeland Protection majority stake to SafranM&ABackground
GE reorganized its security operations after the InVision acquisition and sought a new owner for Homeland Protection.
Action taken
GE agreed to sell 81 percent of GE Homeland Protection to Safran, with the transaction closing in September 2009.
Aftermath
The business was placed under Safran's security activities and later renamed Morpho Detection. GE sold its remaining 19 percent stake in 2012.
Transaction value for 81 percent stake. Approximately US$580 million (2009)
2004
General Electric acquisitionM&ABackground
Demand for automated airport explosive-detection equipment rose sharply after the September 11 attacks and the resulting United States baggage-screening mandate.
Action taken
General Electric acquired InVision Technologies for approximately $900 million and placed the business within its infrastructure and security activities.
Aftermath
The company became GE InVision and was later combined with Ion Track to form GE Homeland Protection.
Acquisition value. Approximately US$900 million (2004)
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