In 1952, in response to requests from Hawaiian producers, the company unveiled the G-8 centrifugal with the first automatic loading device. This two-wheel, water-driven centrifugal used a larger basket and operated at 1800 rpm. European sugar plants were eager to adopt the new technology. In 1954, a French manufacturer, Maison Breguet became the continental licensee for Western States. 87 above: The Savannah Sugar Refining Corporation was the first customer to install the new fully automatic G-8 centrifugal, and after some refinements, the new model became wildly popular.