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Frost & Sullivan Recognizes Ahura Corporation for Outstanding Contribution to Chemical Detection Market

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 September 2006, 09:00 CDT

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan selected Ahura Corporation as the recipient of the 2006 Chemical Detection Industry Innovation & Advancement of the Year Award for its development of the revolutionary FirstDefender Handheld Chemical Identification System.

Based on Raman Spectroscopy, the FirstDefender boasts of a wide range of capabilities, greater than that of any other product on the market today, and is clearly leading the way in the immediate identification of unknown and potentially dangerous substances.

"The FirstDefender can detect chemical warfare agents, explosives, narcotics, toxic industrial materials and chemicals as well as hazardous materials, even when mixed with or dissolved into other chemicals," says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Matthew Farr. "The innovation needed to bring this product to market is truly a testament to the technical acumen of Ahura's team of scientists and engineers."

Specifically designed for first responders, FirstDefender uses Raman spectroscopy to identify unknown chemical substances in a rapid, non- destructive manner. It is distinguished by its rugged and lightweight form factor, making it easy to use when wearing heavy gloves and multi-layered HAZMAT protective gear. Further, FirstDefender was built to military standards for ruggedness, including shock, vibration and full functionality in a range of weather conditions.

Ahura's strong technical background and recognized excellence in optical technology helped the company identify the tremendous unmet need for a product with the capabilities and design features of the FirstDefender. The company also recognized the need to continuously identify and penetrate promising new markets, and it is perhaps this factor that truly sets it apart from the competition. Leveraging its success in the military and first responder markets, Ahura is now bringing its expertise in chemical identification to several other industries including aviation security, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. FirstDefender has the ability to identify chemicals through glass and plastic containers, making it the ideal tool for airport bottle screening.

Ahura is gearing up for rapid growth with novel applications such as inspection of incoming raw materials, in-line/at-line verification of chemical processes and even authentication of gems, art and antiques. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the company has seen exceptional year over year growth, won numerous grants and consistently added new customers.

"Thus, Ahura's outstanding technological innovation, combined with its sound business strategy, has ensured that it is well-positioned for rapid growth in the years to come," says Farr. "The company has played a defining role in shaping the chemical detection market with its FirstDefender, making it the deserving recipient of the Frost & Sullivan Industry Innovation & Advancement of the Year Award."

Each year Frost & Sullivan presents this Award to a company that has proven itself a leader in the industry through its pioneering technology, strong business strategy and dedicated research efforts. The Award recognizes

the recipient company for its broader, more comprehensive participation in the industry and for its contributions to the overall advancement of the market.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About Ahura Corporation

Ahura Corporation develops rugged, ultra-compact, field-enabled optical systems for the detection, identification and authentication of unknown and suspect substances. Customers include the homeland security, life sciences, industrial and medical markets. Manufactured in the USA in an ISO 9001 certified operation, Ahura's products offer superior performance at competitive prices. Ahura has been recognized with a number of awards, including awards from Red Herring, Frost & Sullivan and IDSA. More information at http://www.ahuracorp.com/ .

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.awards.frost.com/ or http://www.aerospace.frost.com/ .

Frost & Sullivan

CONTACT: Stacie Jones of Frost & Sullivan, +1-210-247-2450, orStacie.jones@frost.com

Web site: http://www.frost.com/http://www.ahuracorp.com/http://www.awards.frost.com/http://www.aerospace.frost.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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