[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S7543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING LAITRAM, LLC

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I wish to acknowledge Jay Lapeyre 
and Laitram, LLC, of New Orleans for receiving the Recognition of 
Excellence in Innovation certificate from the Louisiana Technology 
Council. I would also like to take a few moments to expand on Laitram, 
LLC, and their continued success.
  The Louisiana Technology Council recently hosted their third annual 
awards council and the first since Hurricane Katrina. This certificate 
awards local and regional leaders in new technology throughout the 
United States who have created a new industrial advance or service in 
the last 12 months, operated a new, original manufacturing process, or 
have received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark office for a 
recent technological discovery. More than 60 nominations were submitted 
from public and private sectors, institutions, and individuals.
  J. M. Lapeyre, the designer of the original shrimp-peeling machine in 
1946, founded Laitram, LLC, and completely transformed the shrimping 
industry. Since its inception, his descendants have continued to carry 
on this tradition of improvement and modernization. Over the past 5 
years, Laitram has patented more than 60 new inventions, including 16 
in 2006, illustrating Laitram's commitment to innovation and the best 
quality for its customers and the State of Louisiana. Specifically, the 
Intralox Series 400 Angled Roller conveyor belt has revolutionized the 
industry, allowing the replacement of older technology and maintaining 
Louisiana's package handling applications not only in food but in other 
industries as well. Therefore, I congratulate Jay Lapeyre and Laitram 
LLC on being an inspiration to business owners everywhere, and I wish 
them success.

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