diff --git a/examples/SimpleDetector/compact/Simple_CLIC.xml b/examples/SimpleDetector/compact/Simple_CLIC.xml
index eeeff58ccdff36e5d534f43788a1bd81772d4fa0..8202df80cdbc16c43c0c11a824eabafd898bd0ec 100644
--- a/examples/SimpleDetector/compact/Simple_CLIC.xml
+++ b/examples/SimpleDetector/compact/Simple_CLIC.xml
@@ -58,55 +58,60 @@
     <detectors>
       <comment>Trackers</comment>
       
-      <detector name="VXD" type="ZPlanarTracker" vis="VXDVis" id="1" limits="Tracker_limits" readout="VXDCollection" insideTrackingVolume="true">
+      <detector name="AirTube" type="AirTube" vis="VXDVis" id="42" insideTrackingVolume="true">
+      	<dimensions rmin="10.*mm" rmax="11.*mm" zhalf="6.250000000e+01*mm"/>
+      </detector>
 
+      <detector name="VXD" type="ZPlanarTracker" vis="VXDVis" id="1" limits="Tracker_limits" readout="VXDCollection" insideTrackingVolume="true">
         <layer nLadders="10" phi0="-1.570796327e+00*rad" id="0">
-          <ladder distance="1.600000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="1.150000000e+01*mm" length="6.250000000e+01*mm" offset="-3.406041308e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
+          <!-- <ladder distance="1.600000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="1.050000000e+01*mm" length="6.250000000e+01*mm" offset="-3.406041308e+00*mm"    material="Lead" /> -->
+          <ladder distance="1.600000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="1.050000000e+01*mm" length="6.250000000e+01*mm" offset="-3.406041308e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
           <sensitive distance="1.595000000e+01*mm" thickness="5.000000000e-02*mm" width="1.100000000e+01*mm" length="6.250000000e+01*mm" offset="-3.156041308e+00*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
         </layer>
         <layer nLadders="10" phi0="-1.570796327e+00*rad" id="1">
-          <ladder distance="1.700000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="1.150000000e+01*mm" length="6.250000000e+01*mm" offset="-3.406041308e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
+          <!-- <ladder distance="1.700000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="1.0500000000e+01*mm" length="6.250000000e+01*mm" offset="-3.406041308e+00*mm"    material="Lead" /> -->
+          <ladder distance="1.700000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="1.0500000000e+01*mm" length="6.250000000e+01*mm" offset="-3.406041308e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
           <sensitive distance="1.800000000e+01*mm" thickness="5.000000000e-02*mm" width="1.100000000e+01*mm" length="6.250000000e+01*mm" offset="-3.156041308e+00*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
         </layer>
         <layer nLadders="11" phi0="-1.570796327e+00*rad" id="2">
-          <ladder distance="3.700000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="2.250000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-3.502631742e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
+          <ladder distance="3.700000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="2.150000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-3.502631742e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
           <sensitive distance="3.695000000e+01*mm" thickness="5.000000000e-02*mm" width="2.200000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-3.252631742e+00*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
         </layer>
         <layer nLadders="11" phi0="-1.570796327e+00*rad" id="3">
-          <ladder distance="3.800000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="2.250000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-3.502631742e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
+          <ladder distance="3.800000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="2.150000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-3.502631742e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
           <sensitive distance="3.900000000e+01*mm" thickness="5.000000000e-02*mm" width="2.200000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-3.252631742e+00*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
         </layer>
         <layer nLadders="17" phi0="-1.570796327e+00*rad" id="4">
-          <ladder distance="5.800000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="2.250000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-5.128151357e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
+          <ladder distance="5.800000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="2.150000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-5.128151357e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
           <sensitive distance="5.795000000e+01*mm" thickness="5.000000000e-02*mm" width="2.200000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-4.878151357e+00*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
         </layer>
         <layer nLadders="17" phi0="-1.570796327e+00*rad" id="5">
-          <ladder distance="5.900000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="2.250000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-5.128151357e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
+          <ladder distance="5.900000000e+01*mm" thickness="1.000000000e+00*mm" width="2.150000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-5.128151357e+00*mm"    material="CarbonFiber" />
           <sensitive distance="6.000000000e+01*mm" thickness="5.000000000e-02*mm" width="2.200000000e+01*mm" length="1.250000000e+02*mm" offset="-4.878151357e+00*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
         </layer>
       </detector>
 
       <detector name="SIT" type="ZPlanarTracker" vis="SITVis" id="2" limits="Tracker_limits" readout="SITCollection" insideTrackingVolume="true">
-	<layer nLadders="14" phi0="0.0" id="0">
-	  <ladder distance="228.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="104.524099097*mm" length="430.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
-	  <sensitive distance="229.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="104.980586046*mm" length="430.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
-	</layer>
-	<layer nLadders="33" phi0="0.0" id="1">
-	  <ladder distance="533.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="101.976860567*mm" length="742.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
-	  <sensitive distance="534.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="102.167837412*mm" length="742.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
-	</layer>
-	<layer nLadders="52" phi0="0.0" id="2">
-	  <ladder distance="838.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="101.497276026*mm" length="1053.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
-	  <sensitive distance="839.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="101.618253738*mm" length="1053.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
-	</layer>
-	<layer nLadders="71" phi0="0.0" id="3">
-	  <ladder distance="1143.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="101.302838172*mm" length="1365.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
-	  <sensitive distance="1144.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="101.391391539*mm" length="1365.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
-	</layer>
-	<layer nLadders="91" phi0="0.0" id="4">
-	  <ladder distance="1448.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="100.085681927*mm" length="1676.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
-	  <sensitive distance="1449.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="100.154755363*mm" length="1676.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
-	</layer>
+      	<layer nLadders="14" phi0="0.0" id="0">
+      	  <ladder distance="228.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="104.524099097*mm" length="430.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
+      	  <sensitive distance="229.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="104.980586046*mm" length="430.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
+      	</layer>
+      	<layer nLadders="33" phi0="0.0" id="1">
+      	  <ladder distance="533.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="101.976860567*mm" length="742.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
+      	  <sensitive distance="534.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="102.167837412*mm" length="742.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
+      	</layer>
+      	<layer nLadders="52" phi0="0.0" id="2">
+      	  <ladder distance="838.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="101.497276026*mm" length="1053.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
+      	  <sensitive distance="839.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="101.618253738*mm" length="1053.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
+      	</layer>
+      	<layer nLadders="71" phi0="0.0" id="3">
+      	  <ladder distance="1143.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="101.302838172*mm" length="1365.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
+      	  <sensitive distance="1144.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="101.391391539*mm" length="1365.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
+      	</layer>
+      	<layer nLadders="91" phi0="0.0" id="4">
+      	  <ladder distance="1448.975*mm" thickness="1.0*mm" width="100.085681927*mm" length="1676.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="CarbonFiber" />
+      	  <sensitive distance="1449.975*mm" thickness="0.05*mm" width="100.154755363*mm" length="1676.0*mm" offset="0.0*mm" material="G4_Si"/>
+      	</layer>
       </detector>
 
    </detectors>
diff --git a/examples/SimpleDetector/src/AirTube_geo.cpp b/examples/SimpleDetector/src/AirTube_geo.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..980f9053305495d7d186538eb88d307db49cd610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/SimpleDetector/src/AirTube_geo.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+// $Id: $
+//====================================================================
+//  // Simple tube filled with air 
+//  // used for tracking purposes ...
+//  
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------
+//
+//  Author     : F.Gaede
+//
+//====================================================================
+#include "DD4hep/DetFactoryHelper.h"
+
+#include "DDRec/Surface.h"
+#include "DDRec/DetectorData.h"
+
+
+using namespace DD4hep;
+using namespace DD4hep::Geometry;
+using namespace DD4hep::DDRec ;
+using namespace DDSurfaces ;
+
+static Ref_t create_element(LCDD& lcdd, xml_h e, SensitiveDetector sens)  {
+  
+  xml_det_t    x_det = e;
+  std::string  name  = x_det.nameStr();
+  
+  DetElement airTube( name, x_det.id()  ) ;
+  
+  PlacedVolume pv;
+  
+  // ----- read xml ----------------------
+
+  xml_dim_t dim = x_det.dimensions();
+
+  double inner_r    =  dim.rmin() ;
+  double outer_r    =  dim.rmax() ;
+  double z_half     =  dim.zhalf() ;
+  double tube_thick =  outer_r - inner_r ;
+  
+  //--------------------------------------
+
+  Tube   tubeSolid (inner_r, outer_r, z_half ) ;
+
+  Volume tube_vol( name+"_inner_cylinder_air", tubeSolid ,  lcdd.material("Air") ) ;
+  
+  Vector3D ocyl(  inner_r + 0.5*tube_thick , 0. , 0. ) ;
+  
+  VolCylinder cylSurf( tube_vol , SurfaceType( SurfaceType::Helper ) , 0.5*tube_thick  , 0.5*tube_thick , ocyl ) ;
+  
+  volSurfaceList( airTube )->push_back( cylSurf ) ;
+  
+
+  //--------------------------------------
+
+  Volume mother =  lcdd.pickMotherVolume( airTube ) ;
+
+  pv = mother.placeVolume( tube_vol ) ;
+  
+  pv.addPhysVolID( "system", x_det.id() )  ;
+  
+  airTube.setPlacement( pv );
+       
+  return airTube;
+}
+
+DECLARE_DETELEMENT( AirTube,create_element);
diff --git a/examples/SimpleDetector/src/ZPlanarTracker_geo.cpp b/examples/SimpleDetector/src/ZPlanarTracker_geo.cpp
index 0fe1bea9535d20e3b615aaecdc7f7358d210e0fe..84f5e640f4a4e793b0aa575e2b95b34bf7946767 100644
--- a/examples/SimpleDetector/src/ZPlanarTracker_geo.cpp
+++ b/examples/SimpleDetector/src/ZPlanarTracker_geo.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ static Ref_t create_element(LCDD& lcdd, xml_h e, SensitiveDetector sens)  {
   
   DDRec::ZPlanarData*  zPlanarData = new DDRec::ZPlanarData ;
 
+
+  double minRadius = 1e99 ;
+  double minZhalf = 1e99 ;
+
   //=========  loop over layer elements in xml  ======================================
 
   for(xml_coll_t c(e, _U(layer) ); c; ++c)  {
@@ -88,6 +92,11 @@ static Ref_t create_element(LCDD& lcdd, xml_h e, SensitiveDetector sens)  {
     double phi0           = x_layer.phi0() ;
 
 
+    if( sens_distance < minRadius ) minRadius = sens_distance ;
+    if( supp_distance < minRadius ) minRadius = supp_distance ;
+    if( sens_zhalf < minZhalf ) minZhalf = sens_zhalf ;
+    if( supp_zhalf < minZhalf ) minZhalf = supp_zhalf ;
+
     //-----------------------------------
     //  store the data in an extension to be used for reconstruction 
     DDRec::ZPlanarData::LayerLayout thisLayer ;
@@ -190,6 +199,7 @@ static Ref_t create_element(LCDD& lcdd, xml_h e, SensitiveDetector sens)  {
 
     }
     
+
     //    tracker.setVisAttributes(lcdd, x_det.visStr(),laddervol);
     
 
@@ -198,6 +208,28 @@ static Ref_t create_element(LCDD& lcdd, xml_h e, SensitiveDetector sens)  {
 
   }
 
+#if 0  //-------- add an inscribing cylinder of air for tracking purposes -----------------
+       //  this screw up the geometry and the material scan does not work anymore !!!!!?????
+
+  double tube_thick =  1.0 * dd4hep::mm ;
+  double inner_r    =  minRadius - 1.1 * tube_thick ;
+  double outer_r    =  inner_r + tube_thick ;
+  double z_half     =  minZhalf ; 
+  
+  Tube   tubeSolid (inner_r, outer_r, z_half ) ;
+  Volume tube_vol( name+"_inner_cylinder_air", tubeSolid ,  lcdd.material("Air") ) ;
+  
+  assembly.placeVolume( tube_vol , Transform3D() ) ;
+  
+  Vector3D ocyl(  inner_r + 0.5*tube_thick , 0. , 0. ) ;
+  
+  VolCylinder cylSurf( tube_vol , SurfaceType( SurfaceType::Helper ) , 0.5*tube_thick  , 0.5*tube_thick , ocyl ) ;
+  
+  volSurfaceList( tracker )->push_back( cylSurf ) ;
+  
+#endif //----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
 
   tracker.addExtension< DDRec::ZPlanarData >( zPlanarData ) ;