A Brief History

Western is a leader in developing new technologies and manufacturing products for the control, storage and transmission of high-pressure gases. The company provides a broad line of products to the industrial, medical, helium and specialty gas markets. Started as small, garage-shop operation in the early 1950's, the company has grown into a state-of-the-art manufacturer with worldwide distribution.

Western was founded by Richard Spiker in Lakewood, OH in 1952. The company started as a supplier of quality brass welding fittings and connections, and when it was acquired by the Scott Fetzer Company in 1972, it had 17 employees and one 25,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Avon Lake, Ohio. In the years following the acquisition, the company manufactured additional product offerings that included medical gas equipment, gas manifold systems, helium gas products and stainless steel specialty gas equipment. These products allowed Western to expand its market share and grow its business where today the company employs nearly 600 people in four separate manufacturing, assembly and distribution facilities totaling 120,000 square feet.

Founded as Western Enterprises, the company's growth and manufacturing capability have allowed it to serve many different markets with well-recognized brands united under the "Western" banner. Today, Western has the broadest product offering of manufactured equipment for the control, storage and transmission of high-pressure gases. The company's brands are highly regarded in their respective markets and are as follows:

• Enterprises--industrial/welding fittings, regulators and gas equipment manufactured for the welding gases market.
• Innovator--medical, industrial and specialty gas manifold systems and transfilling applications manufactured for the hospital, long term care, industrial and specialty gas/lab markets.
• Medica--medical regulators, fittings, hoses, cylinders and accessories, portable oxygen systems, oxygen conservers and transfilling systems for the hospital, home care, long term care, emergency, dental and aviation markets.
• WestWinds--helium balloon inflators, regulators, helium stations, aluminum cylinders and safety equipment, "all-in-one" portable helium systems, transfilling systems and accessories supplied to the party supply and entertainment markets.

In 1986, Western's parent organization, Scott Fetzer, was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Western continues to be a well-recognized contributor to Berkshire.