Patrick Heller of Thermodyne is pictured next to part of a Mail Defender machine. The Elkhart research and engineering firm produced technology that kills toxins like anthrax on delivered mail. (WSBT photo)
Story Created:
Aug 26, 2009 at 5:44 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Sep 1, 2009 at 12:01 PM EDT
ELKHART — More than 100 new jobs could be headed to Elkhart in the coming years because of efforts to stop bio-terrorism. Thermodyne, an Elkhart research and engineering firm, produced technology that kills things like anthrax on delivered mail.
Patrick Heller, like millions of other Americans, lives in a post 9/11 world.
Since those attacks he's been hard at work as a product design engineer in Elkhart.
"At Thermodyne, we do a lot of aerospace work," Heller said.
Now the company has its hands in anti-terrorism with the Mail Defender.
"This is only the core of the machine that uses three major technologies that eradicates anthrax, ricin, botulism, AIDS and any other pathogen that could be harmful through the mail system," Heller explained.
It's been seven years of research, development and failures.
"It never works the first time," said Heller.
But with the third-generation machine, the kinks have been worked out and removing toxins is as simple as using a microwave oven.
"You put the letter in," Heller said, "then you take it out."
The machine's combination of heat, microwave and ultraviolet technology makes harmful pathogens non-existent.
"It doesn't detect anything," said Heller. "If there is something in there, it kills it."
It comes at a time when federal mandates from HSPD-7 (Homeland Security Presidential Directive) demand all federal buildings find and develop methods of protection against bio-terrorism threats.
Threats U.S. Representative Mark Souder believes to be very real.
"It becomes like a smoke alarm — it's just another level of protection for us," Souder said.
And the source of new jobs if production picks up.
The mandate could bring hundreds of jobs in the coming years if the client pool — 9,000 federal buildings/agencies — purchases one of these products.
Heller said the price tag is less than $100,000, an investment less expensive than similar products on the market that use gamma rays and take days before mail can be handled.
Officials at Thermodyne declined to give WSBT-TV cameras a tour of the facility, but a video from the BioDefense presentation showed levels of humidity and heat kill the pathogens and protect mail.
