Allied Universal®, a provider of security and facility services, announced the granting of a patent for its K9-Comply® platform.
Developed by the Enhanced Protection Services division, this proprietary compliance and documentation system is crafted to satisfy and exceed the requirements set by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 3PK9 program for air cargo canine screening. The platform utilises a mobile workflow to document canine inspections, linking them with vital inspection data such as shipment identifiers, forming an audit-ready evidence package.
Ensuring compliance in security operations
"This patent signifies a pivotal development in regulated security operations within critical environments," stated Glen Kucera, President of Allied Universal Enhanced Protection Services. "Integrating industry-specific processes into a single platform, we've created a tool that effectively aids clients in over 500 TSA audits. This accomplishment highlights K9-Comply’s capacity to uphold full regulatory compliance and guard against potential adverse outcomes."
K9-Comply, operational since 2020, extends support across more than 160 locations nationwide. Managed by Allied Universal's canine handlers and operations personnel, the platform alleviates administrative tasks for air cargo clients, enhancing operational efficiency and aiding seamless cargo transfer. Allied Universal's compliance team worked closely with industry participants to ensure adherence to evolving TSA regulations in canine air cargo screening.
Innovation in air cargo screening
K9-Comply ushers in a significant advancement for regulated canine air cargo screening
Steve Jones, Allied Universal Global Chairman and CEO, remarked, "Innovation is critical to our expansion, and this patent underscores our commitment to progress in the air cargo screening sector. As technology transforms the security field, we persist in crafting solutions that empower clients to operate with assurance in a complex environment, adhering to the highest canine air cargo security criteria."
K9-Comply ushers in a significant advancement for regulated canine air cargo screening, featuring a cloud-based system that consolidates and disseminates all necessary documentation under the Certified Cargo Screening Program-K9 (CCSP-K9) process. The platform supports cargo screening, document creation, and transfer processes, ensuring complete TSA compliance for both Allied Universal and its clients.
Expanding the patent portfolio
Expanding Allied Universal's portfolio in explosives detection technology, the K9-Comply platform builds upon earlier innovations such as SmartTech®, introduced in the early 2000s. This prior platform connected on-site screening with real-time support.
Upon detecting a suspicious X-ray, the image is dispatched to the company's Emergency Operations Centre through SmartTech, where bomb technicians issue an alert or non-detect assessment. In 2018, a further patent was granted for Alarm Resolution capabilities, integrating SmartTech with canine screening. An initial canine sweep is conducted, and if a potential threat is identified, the findings are confirmed using X-ray screening and SmartTech to assess the presence of an explosive threat.
Allied Universal®, a security and facility services provider, today announced it has been issued a patent covering methods used in its K9-Comply® platform, developed by its Enhanced Protection Services business unit. The proprietary compliance and documentation platform is designed to meet and exceed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 3PK9 program requirements for air cargo canine screening processes.
K-9 Comply uses a mobile workflow to record canine inspections and associate it with key inspection data such as shipment identifiers and screening events, resulting in an audit-ready evidence package.
Potential adverse actions
“This patent represents an important step forward in how regulated security operations are managed in critical environments,” said Glen Kucera, President of Allied Universal Enhanced Protection Services. “By integrating processes required in this important regulated industry into one platform, we’ve created a powerful tool that has successfully supported clients through more than 500 TSA audits. This achievement underscores the platform’s effectiveness in maintaining full regulatory compliance and protecting clients from potential adverse actions.”
Allied Universal’s compliance team worked closely with industry stakeholders to ensure K9-Comply remains aligned with evolving canine air cargo screening (and other TSA) regulations. The solution was launched in 2020 and currently supports clients daily across more than 160 locations nationwide. The technology is managed entirely by Allied Universal canine handlers and operations personnel and focuses on reducing administrative burdens for air cargo clients. Clients have reported improvements to operational efficiency, and the seamless cargo transfer processes supported through K9 Comply enhances all regulatory TSA Compliance efforts.
Major industry advancement
“Innovation is key to our growth and this patent reflects our dedication to advancements in the air cargo screening industry,” said Steve Jones, Allied Universal global chairman and CEO. “As technology continues to reshape the security landscape, we remain committed to developing solutions that enable our clients to operate with confidence in an increasingly complex world with solutions that help meet the highest canine air cargo security standards.”
K9-Comply represents a major industry advancement in regulated canine air cargo screening operations, offering a cloud-based, fully integrated system that centralises and distributes all documentation required under the Certified Cargo Screening Program-K9 (CCSP-K9) process. The platform facilitates all required cargo screening tracking, document creation, and document transfer processes to ensure full TSA compliance for AUS and our clients.
Explosives detection technology
K9-Comply expands the company’s patent portfolio in explosives detection technology. Its first platform using patented explosive detection technology, SmartTech®, was launched in the early 2000s and connects on-site screening with real-time support.
Upon identifying a suspicious X-ray image, an on-site screener sends the image to our Emergency Operations Centre via the SmartTech solution, where specialised bomb technicians analyse the image, issuing an alert or non-detect. In 2018 the company was awarded a patent for Alarm Resolution capabilities, combining SmartTech with explosive detection canine screening. A trained canine detection team conducts an initial sweep and if a potential threat is detected, X-ray screening and SmartTech are deployed to confirm and evaluate the presence of a true explosive threat.
