Denyo to launch 'ultra silent' 100 kVA genset in 2011

Denyo Europe BV is to extend its range of ultra silent gensets next year with the launch of a 100 kVA unit to add to the 20 and 37 kVA units already available.

Yosuke Matsumoto, general manager, sales for Denyo Europe, told IRN that Denyo was "targeting a sound level around 85 LWA dB for the 100 kVA unit, and we're confident that we can achieve that."

The very low sound level - output is even lower at 80 and 82 LWA respectively for the 20 and 37 kVA models - is achieved by fitting an extra cooling fan driven by the alternator. This double fan arrangement allows Denyo to use a thick sound proofed canopy without overheating the engine.

Although more expensive than standard units - there is a price premium of around 30% - the lower noise is an enormous benefit for contractors working on city centre sites or for use at outdoor events. The 100 kVA unit is currently being developed in Japan and will use an Isuzu engine.

Denyo has a long history of selling generators in Europe. It has been selling welder units to UK dealer Arc-Gen for around 30 years and for a decade up to 1995 was producing gensets for Atlas Copco.

When that arrangement ended, Denyo sold to Europe via the Sumitomo trading organisation. However, it established its own European subsidiary in the Netherlands in 2007 and has been selling via a network of distributors ever since.

Mr Matsumoto acknowledges that the Denyo generators are at the upper end of the price spectrum, but he claims that the generators offer unique benefits. He says the Japanese build quality gives them a 10 year working life with good residual value, and the use of Denyo's own alternator brings technical benefits.

Its alternators have three patented features, says Mr Matsumoto. These are the use of open delta windings (which protects the windings when the genset is only partially used with a three phase supply); a skewed winding arrangement in the armature core (which creates a very stable voltage); and the use of damper windings (which ensures the genset achieves its full rated output).

"My job is to make sure that European companies and rental companies understand these benefits", said Mr Matsumoto. The company will have sales volumes of over €5 million this year, with one of its biggest rental orders being a 170 genset contract with French rental company Groupe Salti, who won a rental contract linked to French power distribution company ERDF.

Denyo, based in Japan, also makes compressors, although its main focus is generator sets and welding units. As well as its manufacturing plants in Japan it has production facilities in Kentucky (US), Jakarta (Indonesia) and Vietnam. Its US dealer is Multiquip.