Aircounter: Japan Gets Mini Radiation Detector

Serkan Toto

Dr. Serkan Toto is an independent consultant and advisor focusing on Japan’s web, mobile and social gaming industries. Based in Tokyo, he works together with financial institutions and startups worldwide. Serkan has been the Japan contributor for TechCrunch.com since 2008. He is sept-lingual, holds an MBA and is a PhD in economics. → Learn More

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011
rsz_t0931

The nuclear crisis in Fukushima has yet to come to an end, and most of the radiation meters out there are expensive and usually sold in special-interest stores only: reason enough for Japan-based chemicals company S.T. Corp decided to bring the so-called Aircounter [JP] to market.

The device, developed in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan University, is essentially a handheld radiation detector that’s cheaper, looks nicer and is easier to use than most radiation detectors out there.

S.T. says they are using their existing distribution channels, i.e. drugstores and similar retailers, to make it easy for potential buyers to get the device (the company’s core business is sales of deodorizers and other products). Starting October 20, the Aircounter will be sold for just $190, which is less than 50% of the price similar counters carry, according to the company.

The device is able to detect radiation levels between 0.05 to 9.99 microsieverts per hour at a height of about 1m above the ground (the process takes about 10 minutes to complete). It’s sized at just 82×62×34mm (LCD: 40mm×25mm), weighs 105g and needs two AAA batteries to run (which are enough for about a month when used daily for one hour).

S.T. expects to sell 50,000 Aircounters in Japan by the end of the year.