908 Devices, a pioneer of purpose-built analytical devices for chemical analysis, today announced that the State of Massachusetts’ Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division has purchased eight of the Company’s flagship product, M908^TM. The devices will be used for routine response and large-scale events throughout the state such as the Boston Marathon, Fourth of July celebration and other city-wide events, arming response teams with enhanced chemical threat detection capabilities. This month HazMat Responders from across the entire state of Massachusetts gathered for operational training and mission readiness.

“As a Boston-based company, this deployment hits home for those of us here at 908 Devices,” said Dr. Kevin J. Knopp, President and CEO of 908 Devices. “With their recent purchase of M908, the State of Massachusetts’ Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division is leading the community in recognizing the need to expand the first responder toolkit by incorporating new and innovative technologies.”

The Regional Hazardous Materials Response Division is an innovative response system designed to provide specialized response of personnel and equipment to the 351 communities of the Commonwealth; enabling them to protect the public, the environment, and property during incidents involving a release or potential release of hazardous materials. Six Regional Response Teams are strategically located for a maximum response time of 30-minutes from anywhere in the Commonwealth. The Regional Teams also support local fire departments with technical information and specialized equipment. By adding M908 to their toolkit, Regional Response Teams will now have the capability to detect and identify a targeted list of high-priority threats in seconds, with confidence and at extremely low false alarm rates. Regional Response Teams can utilize the device to quickly and safely monitor for priority chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial materials, and precursors to discern threats. The device will improve teams’ overall situational awareness enabling faster reaction and event neutralization in the hotzone.

“The unfortunate onset of extremist activity domestically and abroad indicates the increasing need to continuously evolve technology to protect our first responders and communities,” said John Kenneweg, Vice President of Sales, 908 Devices. “The powerful capabilities of M908 will provide the confidence, speed, power and fidelity required for today’s first responders, civilian support teams and military at the point of need. The ability to identify priority threats, or rule them out at the scene, makes M908 a critical tool for downrange operation.”