DHS searches for a Secure Carton System

WASHINGTON--GE and Siemens aren't the only ones searching for a way to enhance shipping security (see related story, page 1). In June of last year, the Department of Homeland Security awarded five grants for private companies to research and design a "Secure Carton System," which would track the openings and closings of the cartons inside the containers. The companies that were awarded the grants, according to documents found on the DHS web site, are Essential Systems Integration, Physical Optics Corp., Pharad LLC, Mariner Container Corp., and Mide Technology Corp. The grants were awarded through the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Small Business Innovation Research Program, both of which encourage new technology.