Exploring The History Of Lafayette Instrument
In the United States, there are many respectable companies that manufacture lie detector tests. It is undeniably true that the Lafayette Instrument Company just happens to be one of the most popular and most trusted. This company has been in business for a lengthy period of time. Today, the company is based out of Lafayette, Indiana. They make a wide variety of products that are specifically designed for the administration of lie detectors. For instance, they make portable chairs, laptops and software for lie detector machines. Below, you will develop into the history of this company.
Company Founded In 1947
Lafayette Instrument just happens to be one of the longest running manufacturers of polygraph machines in the United States. The company was actually officially founded in 1947. The company was founded by Max Wastl. Wastl was just 16-years-old, when he immigrated to New York from Germany. This youngster lost his father in the late 1930’s and his family believed that moving to the United States would help him find an opportunity to thrive and become wealthy. Shortly after arriving in the United States, Max obtained a job with Sound Apparatus. A short time later, he enrolled in Purdue University to study Electrical Engineering.
While Max struggled due to his poor English and lack of formal education, he managed to excel in the classroom. Max went on to acquire a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1947. Then, he eventually began working for a national firm. Thanks to his education and experience, Max gained great confidence. He eventually decided to branch out on his own and become an entrepreneur. Max officially founded Lafayette Instrument Company or LIC in 1947.
During the time of its inception, the company had just one employee and it was operated out of an 8 by 10 foot shed.
The Company Expands
Despite being small and having limited capital, LIC quickly became a smashing success. It expanded rapidly and shifted to larger facilities. Thanks to Max’s excellent guidance and strong leadership, the company established itself as a market leader in the field of psychophysiological instrumentation. At the time, these machines were primarily utilized by schools and university laboratories. The company published its very first promotional catalog in 1954.
Lafayette moved to a brand-new headquarters in 1965. The company still uses the same building, which is conveniently located at 3700 Sagamore Parkway in Lafayette, Indiana. From 1965 and 1975, the company was forced to expand several times to keep up with demand, new machines and new workers. Around 1968, the company was forced to delve into the sports editing market, because the sale of physiological recording instruments began to decline. Nevertheless, the market picked back up a few years later.
That allowed Lafayette to remain dedicated to its roots.
Examiner’s Polygraph
Lafayette introduced its “Examiner’s Polygraph” to the public in 1972. The instrument was designed and created specifically for examiners who performed field tests. The premise of the instrument was to offer examiners convenience and portability, while ensuring accuracy on all levels. The Lafayette Polygraph is still just as popular today, as it was in the late 1970s. In fact, the company continues to hold its state-of-the-art lie detector machine to the highest level of esteem.
Computerized Polygraph
As technology evolved, so did Lafayette’s lie detector tests. As soon as the computer was released on the market, Lafayette began to design a computerized polygraph. In 1997, the company accomplished a major milestone, when it sold its first computerized polygraph machine.
Around the same time, the company began attracting international clients, looking for ways to detect deception in the law industry. The computerized polygraph was a success, drawing even more international attention over the years.
2004 And 2006
In 2004, Lafayette took major steps to expands its business. During this year, it acquired a controlling interest in the Ohio-based MindWare Technologies. This Ohio company is best known for making software. Thanks to the acquisition, Lafayette was able to acquire a dedicated group of researchers to accommodate the company’s growing need for data acquisition and analytics. In late 2006, the company decided to purchase another company. This time, they purchased Acumar Technology, which was based out of Portland, Oregon.
They also acquired the rights to the Acumar product line. This is vitally important, since Acumar is the only digital inclinometer approved by the American Medical Association’s 5th edition guide. The two acquisitions helped to strengthen Lafayette’s portfolio, while further establishing the company as a leader in the market.
2015 And Onward
Lafayette Instrument has not looked back. During the past few years, the company has consistently taken steps to improve their products, while ensuring they’re able to best serve their clients. In 2015, the company entered into a formal partnership with Plexon Inc. This company is best known for being a leader in the data acquisition, analysis and behavioral research fields. Together, the companies are able to deliver excellent data acquisition software, as well as behavioral research hardware.
In April of 2016, Lafayette Instrument opened a brand-new training facility in Cape Coral, Florida. The PEAK Credibility Assessment Training Center has proven to be vitally important for the company. It is managed by Ben Blalock. The company’s training center is designed to ensure that students are able to understand the best practices and scientific procedures for detecting deception.
In September of 2016, the company was given the Greater Lafayette Commerce Small Business of the Month Award. With over 75 years of experience in this field, there is no doubt that the Lafayette Instrument Company is and always has been one of the best manufacturers of lie detector machines and similar software!