X-Ray Body Screening System | Godrej Security Solutions
Security that sees what metal detectors miss
The Godrej Persona-Scan is a transmission X-ray body scanner that finds objects hidden under clothing, on the body and inside it, in under 5 seconds per person. It is built for prisons, border crossings, state facilities and high-security zones where a walk-through metal detector or a pat-down is not enough.
Conventional screening has a blind spot. Metal detectors only react to metal, and pat-downs cannot reach what is swallowed or concealed internally. Ceramic blades, plastic weapons, powders, explosives and narcotics can slip through both.
Persona-Scan closes that gap. It passes a very low-dose X-ray beam through the person and builds a full-body image of everything inside, whatever the material. In this post we walk through every feature in the Godrej catalogue and explain what each one means for your security operation.
How transmission X-ray body screening works
Transmission X-ray means the beam passes through the body to a detector on the other side, much like a medical X-ray. Dense or foreign materials absorb the beam differently from tissue, so they stand out on the image.
This is what lets Persona-Scan see inside the body. Backscatter and millimetre-wave scanners only image the surface of the skin and clothing; a transmission system also reveals swallowed packets and internally concealed items.
A typical inspection runs like this:
The status light shows green: the system is ready.
The person steps onto the movable belt at the entrance of the scanning module.
The operator starts the scan. The light turns yellow while X-rays are on.
The belt carries the person past the full body-sized line detector, which captures the image line by line in under 5 seconds.
The image is transmitted automatically to the control computer.
The operator reviews it, using the built-in image enhancement tools to examine suspicious areas.
The person steps off, and the system is ready for the next one.
Four core design advantages
Godrej built Persona-Scan around four strengths, all of which come from the high sensitivity of its detector. A more sensitive detector needs less radiation to form a clear image, which in turn allows lower doses, deeper penetration and faster scans.
1. Nondestructive inspection
The scan is fully non-invasive. Nobody is touched, undressed or physically searched, and nothing being carried is opened or damaged. That protects the dignity of the person being screened and reduces friction and complaints at the checkpoint.
2. Low dose load
Each inspection delivers less than 0.25 µSv. That is a tiny fraction of everyday natural background radiation (see the safety section below). Low dose is what makes routine, repeated screening of staff, visitors and inmates practical.
3. High penetration
The beam penetrates up to 22 mm of steel. In practice, thick belts, shoes, heavy clothing and items deliberately wrapped or shielded do not hide what is underneath.
4. High productivity
With a scan time under 5 seconds and a rated throughput of 120 persons per hour, one unit can handle a steady queue at a facility entrance without becoming a bottleneck.
Hardware features explained
Persona-Scan is a complete system: a steel scanning module, a belt to move the subject, a dedicated control keyboard and a PC-based control unit.
Steel scanning module
The module is the booth-like cabinet the person passes through. Its steel construction makes it robust enough for continuous use in demanding environments like prisons and border posts. It houses the four components below.
Dual-energy collimated X-ray unit. Dual energy means the system images at two X-ray energy levels. Different materials absorb high and low energies differently, which helps distinguish organic substances (drugs, explosives, plastics) from metals and dense inorganic items. Collimated means the beam is shaped into a narrow, precisely aimed fan, so radiation goes only where it is needed. That keeps the dose low and the image sharp.
Full body-sized line detector. A single line detector spans the full height of a person. As the subject moves past, it builds the image one line at a time, covering head to toe in one pass. No body area is missed and no repositioning is needed.
Local X-ray protection. Shielding built into the module contains scattered radiation and shrinks the zone around the machine where radiation is present. Together with the system's additional internal protection, this means the system works with practically no exclusion zone, so operators and people waiting in line can stay close to it.
Integrated status lights. Coloured lights show the system state at a glance to operators and the person being scanned:
Light | Meaning |
Green | Ready for the next scan |
Yellow | X-ray on, scan in progress |
Red | Error |
Movable belt with steps
The person stands on a belt that moves them through the detector at a controlled speed, which is what produces a consistent, undistorted image. Steps at the entry make getting on and off simple and safe.
Remote control keyboard with Power On / Emergency Off
A dedicated keyboard lets the operator power the system on and, crucially, cut it instantly with an Emergency Off button. Having this on a separate control keyboard keeps critical safety functions within the operator's reach at all times.
PC-based remote control unit
The system is run from a personal computer on the Windows operating system with a 21-inch TFT screen. Operators work in a familiar environment, which shortens training, and the large screen gives enough detail to inspect images closely.
Software and image processing
Persona-Scan ships with integrated software that stores every image and enhances it so operators can spot concealed objects quickly.
Image storage. Each scan is saved on the control computer. Stored images support incident investigations, audits, evidence trails and supervisor review of operator decisions.
Image enhancement with all known filtering. The software includes the standard image filters used in X-ray inspection. Typical tools of this kind include contrast and brightness adjustment, edge enhancement, zoom and colour inversion; each makes a different kind of hidden object easier to see. Your Godrej representative can demonstrate the exact filter set.
Pre-programmed functions. Common processing sequences are built in, so the operator can apply them in a click rather than adjusting settings manually for every scan. This speeds up decisions and keeps throughput high.
Automatic operation. The inspection runs automatically and images are sent straight to the control computer. The operator focuses on reading images, not on running the machine.
High-resolution output. Thanks to the sensitive detector, the system delivers high-resolution images while keeping the radiation dose to a minimum. The catalogue's sample image shows a clear black-and-white view of the full body, from skull to feet.
What Persona-Scan detects
Persona-Scan detects metal, ceramic, plastics, powders, explosives and narcotics, whether they are hidden under clothes, strapped to the body or concealed inside it.
Material | Examples of threats | Why other methods struggle |
Metal | Knives, firearms parts, blades, tools | Metal detectors catch these, but not the items below |
Ceramic | Ceramic knives and blades | Invisible to metal detectors |
Plastics | 3D-printed or polymer weapons, phones in plastic casings | Invisible to metal detectors |
Powders | Concealed drug or chemical powders | Not detectable by metal detectors; easily missed in pat-downs |
Explosives | Body-worn or concealed explosive material | Non-metallic, often flat against the body |
Narcotics | Swallowed or internally concealed drug packets | Unreachable by any surface search |
Fine detail: 36 AWG wire. The system can resolve a wire just 0.12 mm thick (36 AWG, about the thickness of a coarse human hair). That matters because detonator leads and improvised device wiring are often extremely fine. Detecting them is a strong indicator of image quality.
General specifications, explained
Every figure below is from the Godrej catalogue; the right-hand column explains what it means in practice.
Specification | Value | What it means for you |
Technology | Low-dose transmission X-ray | Sees through the body, not just the surface, at minimal dose |
Material detectability | Metal, ceramic, plastics, powders, explosives, narcotics etc. | Covers threats metal detectors cannot see |
Detection area capability | Objects hidden on and inside the body | Finds swallowed and internally concealed items |
Scan time | Less than 5 seconds | Quick for the person, minimal queueing |
Warm-up time | 120 seconds | Ready to scan about 2 minutes after power-on |
Throughput | 120 persons per hour | One person every 30 seconds, including stepping on and off |
Penetration (steel) | 22 mm | Sees through thick, dense layers and attempts at shielding |
Wire detectability | 36 AWG (0.12 mm) | Resolves very fine wires such as detonator leads |
Dose per inspection | < 0.25 µSv (< 0.025 mRem)* | Very low exposure per scan; see safety section |
Dimensions (L × W × H) | 2450 × 1842 × 2470 mm | Compact footprint, roughly 2.5 m × 1.8 m, under 2.5 m tall |
Tunnel width | 720 mm | Comfortable passage for an adult |
*The catalogue marks the dose figure with an asterisk; the associated footnote is not shown on the catalogue page, so ask Godrej for the measurement conditions.
Safety: how small is 0.25 µSv?
A Persona-Scan inspection delivers less than 0.25 microsieverts (µSv), roughly what everyone receives from natural background radiation in about an hour of ordinary life.
For perspective, using widely cited approximate reference figures:
Exposure | Approximate dose |
One Persona-Scan inspection | < 0.25 µSv |
One hour of natural background radiation (world average ~2.4 mSv/year) | ~0.27 µSv |
One hour of flying at cruising altitude | ~3–5 µSv |
A standard chest X-ray | ~20 µSv |
On these figures, a person would need around 80 Persona-Scan inspections to match one chest X-ray. Comparison values are general approximations, not Godrej data.
Safety is also built into the hardware:
Collimated beam: radiation is confined to a narrow fan aimed at the detector.
Local and internal scatter protection: shielding contains stray radiation, so there is practically no exclusion zone around the machine.
Status lights: everyone nearby can see when X-rays are on (yellow).
Emergency Off button: the operator can stop the system instantly.
As with any radiation-generating equipment, installation and use must follow local regulations. In India this falls under the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB); confirm licensing requirements with Godrej during planning.
Where Persona-Scan is used
Godrej positions Persona-Scan for anti-terrorism, state facility protection, border crossings, prisons and access control for special security zones.
Prisons and correctional facilities. Contraband such as phones, drugs and improvised weapons is often smuggled in on or inside the body by visitors and returning inmates. Persona-Scan finds these without invasive searches, and stored images support disciplinary and legal processes.
Border crossings and customs. Drug couriers frequently swallow or internally conceal narcotics. A transmission scan reveals these packets, which no surface scanner or pat-down can find.
State and government facilities. Ministries, courts, legislatures and defence installations need to stop weapons and explosives of any material at the gate, including non-metallic ones.
Anti-terrorism screening. At high-threat venues and checkpoints, the ability to detect explosives, plastics and fine wiring in seconds is critical.
Special security zones and access control. Facilities handling valuables or sensitive material, such as mints, mines, gem processing units and data centres, can screen staff entering and leaving to prevent theft and leakage.
Installation and 24/7 operation
Persona-Scan can be installed anywhere a power supply is available and is designed to run 24/7, all year round.
Flexible siting: because scatter protection is built in and there is practically no exclusion zone, it fits into existing entrances and guard rooms without a dedicated shielded room.
Compact footprint: at 2450 × 1842 × 2470 mm (L × W × H), plan for a floor area of roughly 2.5 m × 1.9 m plus space for the queue and the operator's desk, and ceiling clearance above 2.5 m.
Fast start-up: a 120-second warm-up means the system is ready about 2 minutes after switching on.
Continuous duty: built for round-the-clock operation, suited to prisons, borders and other sites that never close.
Remote operator station: the PC and control keyboard let the operator sit at a workstation and review images away from the scanning module itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can Persona-Scan detect items swallowed or hidden inside the body? Yes. As a transmission X-ray system, it images objects hidden on and inside the body, including swallowed narcotics packets.
Will it detect non-metallic weapons? Yes. It detects ceramics, plastics, powders and explosives as well as metal.
How long does a scan take? Under 5 seconds. Total throughput is 120 people per hour.
Is it safe to scan people regularly? The dose is below 0.25 µSv per inspection, about an hour's worth of natural background radiation. Use should follow local radiation regulations.
Does it need a special shielded room? No. Built-in protection against scattered radiation means there is practically no exclusion zone. It only needs a power supply.
How quickly is it ready after power-on? Warm-up takes 120 seconds.
Can images be saved? Yes. The integrated software stores and enhances every image on the control computer.
How large is it? 2450 × 1842 × 2470 mm (L × W × H), with a 720 mm wide tunnel.
Complete body screening in one pass
The Godrej Persona-Scan combines what security teams need most: detection of any material, on or inside the body, in under 5 seconds, at a dose below 0.25 µSv. Dual-energy imaging, a full-body line detector, 22 mm steel penetration and 36 AWG wire resolution give operators clear, detailed images. Built-in scatter protection, a compact footprint and 24/7 duty make it practical to install almost anywhere.
For prisons, borders, government buildings and high-security zones, it replaces guesswork and invasive searches with a fast, dignified and evidence-ready process.
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