The Global Movement of High-Energy Commercial Radioactive Materials (Cobalt-60)

Since the establishment in 1946, Nordion International Inc. has grown from a three-person, departmental operation of a Canadian Government-owned corporation into an international, profit-making, private corporation employing more than 500 people at facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Nordion serves customers in three major markets; industrial radiation processing, research and nuclear medicine. Nordion's Canadian operation has designed and installed approximately 1,000 irradiation systems (which include high-energy radioactive sources) in over 100 countries. Annually it makes more than 200 export shipments involving high-energy commercial radioactive materials (RAM). The company also serves (in Part) its European customers from its subsidiary, Nordion Europe S.A. located in Fleurus Belgium, while its Asia Pacific Sales office in Hong Kong provides sales and customer support services to the growing Pacific Rim market. (Nordion International Inc., Corporate Profile, 1994). In addition, Nordion uses its extensive network of authorized sales agents and distributors to help ensure prompt and efficient service for Nordion's customers worldwide. The Company is the world's leading supplier of Cobalt-60, the radioisotope most commonly used as a high-energy source in commercial radiation processing operations.