254 1926 First large order – 22 electric motor driven machines for Central Vertientes in Cuba (Vertientes Sugar Company Inc.) Eugene Roberts Hawaii Trip Starts with a Quest for High Speed Drive 19 27 EUGENE ROBERTS INVENTS SCREEN FOR CENTRIFUGAL BASKETS SPEEDEX DISCHARGER DEVELOPED 19 30 19 32 VARIABLE SPEED GEAR DRIVE INVENTED GEORGE STEVENS, SUGAR TECHNOLOGIST JOINS WESTERN STATES 19 33 1934 Agreement to build Western States machines in England with Gimson Co. Patents obtained on Stevens Mingler 1935 Western States Purchases Columbia Machine Tool Company 19 36 FIRST STEVENS MINGLER INSTALLED Walter D. Child (Pahala facility in Hawaii) With technical data that supported the theory that higher centrifugal speeds would increase efficiency and productivity, Child convinced Roberts of the necessity to increase speeds by 200 rpm in order to increase throughput 1927 1932 Improved Syrup Separator developed 1933 The first safe, higher speed centrifugals installed in the Hawaiian Islands at the Waialua Plantation and then later at Pahala, Kaiwiki and Laupahoehoe.)