Could bioterrorism fears be a boon to Elkhart's economy? That's the hope of a local firm that on Tuesday announced plans to manufacture a new piece of high-tech equipment designed to kill any dangerous biological pathogens -- such as anthrax -- sent in the mail.

ThermoDyne of Elkhart is partnering with BioDefense Corp. of Boston to manufacture the device -- the Mail Defender III -- and hopes to hit the ground running by selling the units to the federal government, which is under congressional mandate to provide some sort of bioterrorism protection for 9,000 buildings. But the companies also hope to crack the corporate market, noting in marketing materials that it takes "$12.1 million to open new offices ... 42 cents to shut them down."

The unit uses microwaves, ultraviolet and broadbeam light and infrared energy to essentially cook any biological pathogen contained in an envelope or package during a 45 minute cycle. It doesn't harm the mail, though envelopes do come out with a slight tan, said Jonathan Morrone, senior vice president of BioDefense Corp.

The device, which will sell for $89,000, uses ThermoDyne's microporous insulation technology to keep the unit from overheating. And, if orders are forthcoming, it would be manufactured at ThermoDyne's plant in Elkhart, potentially creating hundreds of jobs.

That promise drew both Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore and U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., to attend Tuesday's press conference to lavish praise on the new product. And Souder might be in a position to give the Mail Defender a boost, as he serves on the House Homeland Security Committee and is the ranking Republican on the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism.

Click here to read more about the new technology on the Elkhart Truth's Web site.