45 Throughout the history of Western States, two factors have been the biggest contributors to the company’s reputation. The first of these has been an unwavering devotion to helping the company’s customers, and the second is a direct outgrowth of that commitment: a constant focus on making products and processes better, faster, and more efficient. Starting with the 16-year-old boy who was convinced that there had to be a better way to scrape sugar crystals off centrifugals, innovations and inventions from Western States have continually transformed sugar production and other industries. However, it hasn’t been a one-way street. Western States has been able to create better ideas and approaches for the sugar industry because the industry has been proactive about sharing its knowledge and challenges with the company. From Walter D. Child (Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association) to Graham Vidler (Metric Manufacturing in Australia), many advances and innovations we’ve brought to reality resulted from direct conversations with our customers. That’s an example of how our personal and intentional relationships have been at the heart of the Company's success. Making Progress Possible: Innovation, Inventions and Patents