America’s fear of terrorism has led to many American businesses responding to the needs of a more dangerous world. A New Madrid company – Kontek Industries – is among the American businesses playing a role. Kontek’s President, Don Utz, says the company now works with the U.S. Defense Department and owners of nuclear facilities throughout the country to install state-of-the-art critical infrastructure protection products. But it didn’t start out that way when the company began operations in 1986. It supplied barriers and stand-alone structures to protect telecommunications industry buildings. That evolved into Kontek providing barriers and guard house shelters for the military. Then came the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, and the need for homeland security. Kontek, which employs between 40 and 60 people at its facility in New Madrid, manufactures technologically advanced vehicle and delay access barriers, blast resistant barriers, and telecommuinication shelters.