Bertin Environics
Company Overview
Bertin Environics is the dedicated Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) business unit of the French industrial group Bertin Technologies. The entity was formally established following Bertin Technologies' acquisition of the Finnish company Environics Oy in late 2022.
This strategic merger combined Environics Oy's decades of expertise in chemical detection and system integration with Bertin?s existing portfolio of biological and radiological monitoring solutions. Today, Bertin Environics operates as a leading European provider of proprietary CBRN detection capability, headquartered in Mikkeli, Finland, while functioning as a core division of the French parent group.
Continue…The company?s primary focus is "Early Warning." Its systems are designed to detect invisible threats?toxic gases, radioactive isotopes, and biological pathogens?rapidly enough to allow military forces and first responders to take protective action.
Core Mission and Markets
Bertin Environics aims to ensure the safety of people, nations, and critical assets by providing sovereign European technology for crisis management. The company serves three primary sectors:
- Defense & Military: Providing ruggedized equipment for land forces, navies, and air forces (e.g., vehicle-mounted detectors and handheld units).
- Civil Security & First Responders: Equipping fire brigades, police, and hazmat teams with portable detection tools.
- Critical Infrastructure: Protecting government buildings, borders, and industrial sites from accidental releases or intentional attacks.
Product Portfolio
Bertin Environics offers a "one-stop-shop" for CBRN intelligence, merging legacy products from both the French and Finnish lineages into a unified catalog.
1. Chemical Detection
The company is a world leader in handheld chemical detectors, utilizing Open-Loop Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) technology.
* ChemProX: The flagship handheld chemical detector. It is distinct in the market for having built-in GPS and wireless communication, allowing commanders to see the location and status of every detector in the field in real-time. It also features a built-in simulation mode for training without the use of actual simulants.
* ChemProX-DS: A fixed-mount version of the ChemProX designed for integration into vehicles, naval vessels, or critical infrastructure monitoring systems.
* Second Sight MS: A standoff gas cloud detector (originally a Bertin product). Unlike handheld "sniffers" that must be inside the gas to detect it, this device acts like a camera, visualizing gas clouds from a distance (up to 5km) to identify chemical warfare agents or toxic industrial leaks before they reach the operator.
2. Biological Detection and Identification
Biological threats are notoriously difficult to detect in real-time. Bertin Environics approaches this with bio-aerosol monitoring and sampling.
* Coriolis Compact: A portable biological air sampler. It uses cyclonic technology to concentrate airborne particles into a liquid sample, which can then be analyzed in a laboratory to identify specific pathogens (viruses, bacteria, toxins).
* ENVI BioScout: A ruggedized bio-aerosol detector that continuously monitors ambient air. It triggers an alarm when it detects a sudden increase in biological particles, prompting the operator to take a sample for further analysis.
3. Radiological and Nuclear Monitoring
The company offers solutions for detecting ionizing radiation, ranging from finding small smuggled sources to measuring high-dose fields in nuclear accidents.
* SaphyRAD MS: A multi-probe survey meter designed for military use. It can measure gamma dose rates and, with external probes, detect alpha and beta contamination on equipment or personnel.
* RanidX: A stationary spectroscopic radiation monitoring system designed to detect and identify radioactive isotopes.
* RanidPro200: A backpack-sized radiation detector used for searching for orphan sources or radiological threats in public areas (e.g., during major sporting events).
4. Integrated Systems (The "X-System")
Beyond standalone devices, Bertin Environics specializes in System Integration. They connect various sensors into a cohesive network known as the EnviScreen system.
* EnviScreen Operix: The central software platform that aggregates data from chemical, biological, and radiological sensors. It provides a single "Common Operational Picture" (COP) on a map, showing hazard plumes, sensor status, and weather data.
* Naval & Vehicle Solutions: The company engineers complete sensor suites for armored vehicles (CRBN reconnaissance variants) and naval vessels (destroyers, patrol boats), ensuring that the vehicle's filtration systems are automatically triggered if an external threat is detected.
Technology and Innovation
Bertin Environics differentiates itself through the combination of Orthogonal Detection and connectivity.
* IMS Technology: Their chemical detectors use an aspiration-type Ion Mobility Spectrometry cell that is resistant to humidity and temperature changes, reducing the false alarm rate common in older detectors.
* Connectivity: The "Internet of Things" (IoT) approach is central to their modern lineup. Devices like the ChemProX form a mesh network, allowing data to flow from the hot zone to the command center without bulky external radios.
Services
- Training: They provide extensive operator and maintenance training, often utilizing the built-in simulation capabilities of their devices.
- Life-Cycle Support: The company offers calibration, maintenance, and upgrade programs to ensure equipment remains operational over 10-20 year service lives.
