Cummins targets Europe with new rental generators

Cummins is launching four generator sets in the 150 to 300 kVA range as part of new effort to target the European rental market with specially designed products, IRN can exclusively reveal.

The company has marketed generators to European rental companies in the past, but has used modified industrial products rather than dedicated rental gensets. It believes that the new products will help it emulate its US business which is a well-established rental supplier.

The rental-specific sets, which have been created by a new Cummins design team led by former A-Plant power rentals director Richard Mellard, include many rental-friendly features, such as a very robust build, 24 hour fuel tank as standard, the option of paralleling with other gensets, and gel batteries. The sets use Cummins-made engines, alternators and controllers in a pre-integrated pack.

“It’s a very well specified rental genset”, said Mr Mellard, sales and marketing manager, rental products for Cummins, Europe, Middle East and Africa, “It has very well proven, robust primary components, plus Cummins comprehensive warranty and parts support in the region and worldwide.”

The sets will be made available in markets including Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australia.

Scott Strudwick, business director for Cummins’ Global Rental segment, acknowledged that the company was playing “catch-up” in Europe with its new sets, but said the new range would provide the rental market with what it needs; “We have been widely recognized in the past for our engines' reliability in the rental industry worldwide - and we are now happy to bring that same industry knowledge and superior product quality to the rental genset market in Europe.”

Although the focus now is on the 150-300 kVA sizes, Mr Strudwick said the rental range would be further expanded, with launches of sub-150 kVA units by the end of 2013 or the start of 2014, and larger units following in 2014/15.

The four gensets come in 150, 200, 250 and 300 kVA sizes, with the smaller two using Cummins QSB7 engine and the two larger models equipped with the QSL9 power unit.

The gensets come equipped with Cummins’ PowerCommand controllers, although Mr Mellard said that in the future Cummins plans to offer third-party controllers for rental companies who want commonality across their fleets.

The sets are also “generously rated”, said Mr Mellard, “We’re looking to make these products as acceptable to as wide a market as possible. They could go to the Middle East or Australia, so the cooling system has been sized to the demands of ambient temperatures.” The 150 kVA unit can be used in temperatures up to 50 degrees C without any derating and the 200/250/300 sets up to 40 degrees C with no derating.

Other features of the gensets, which are made at Cummins facility in Kent, UK, included an integrated structural shell with zinc core canopy, integral lifting frame and fork lift pockets, power receptacles with 125 A, 63 A, 32 A and 16 A options, 4-pole main circuit breaker, and heavy-duty air and fuel filters.