[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 136 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING HARBOR TECHNOLOGIES

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as we emerge from this lengthy 
recession, companies small and large are seeking to grow their 
businesses and become increasingly more innovative. Many are seeking to 
be leaders in some of the world's foremost emerging technologies. I 
wish to recognize a small firm in my home State of Maine that has been 
at the cutting edge of the composites industry since its founding 6 
years ago, positioning itself well for continued future success.
  Harbor Technologies, located in Brunswick, was founded during the 
summer of 2003 to fill the demand for environmentally friendly 
composite building products used for marine infrastructure. In 
particular, Harbor Technologies' composites are utilized in the 
manufacturing of docks, piers, marinas, sea walls, pilings, and other 
similar structures. Additionally, Harbor Technologies is using its 
composites to build bridge beams as an alternative to heavy steel. As 
we seek to improve and upgrade our Nation's roads and bridges, Harbor 
Technologies' distinctive fiberglass bridge beams should be at the 
forefront.
  What makes composites so unique is its durability. While steel rusts 
and wood is subject to rotting, composites last longer and are easily 
maintained, leading to huge cost savings for both the supplier and the 
purchaser. Composites are also lightweight and compact; a large 
composite beam weighs 4,000 pounds, while similar concrete beams weigh 
63,000 pounds. This allows Harbor Technologies to save on shipping 
costs, and reduce its carbon footprint in the process.
  Just last year, Harbor Technologies tripled the size of its 
manufacturing space to 30,000 square feet, and added state-of-the-art 
pultrusion machinery to produce pilings of any length. This has allowed 
the company to take on considerable new work and hire additional 
employees, even during these difficult economic times.
  Significantly, Harbor Technologies has played a critical role in 
developing an advanced composites cluster in the Maine midcoast region. 
Additionally, Harbor Technologies' president Martin Grimnes, is the 
founder of the Maine Composites Alliance, an organization that seeks to 
promote the State's leadership in several composites industries, 
including marine, aerospace, and automotive. Clusters, which are 
geographic concentrations of companies and organizations that 
collaborate to create specific products, represent proven tools in our 
Nation's innovation agenda, and Mr. Grimnes is to be commended for his 
steadfast determination to advance their effectiveness and utilization 
throughout Maine.
  As a national leader in the composites industry, Harbor Technologies 
has made a name for itself as a reliable and trustworthy company that 
produces innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally sound 
products. And it is small businesses like Harbor Technologies that 
represent the brightest lights for our economy's future. I congratulate 
president Martin Grimnes and everyone at Harbor Technologies on their 
outstanding work and wish them continued success.

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