Wauwatosa-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. plans to expand its commercial standby generator offerings from Generator Sage to include 80 to 200 kilowatt models, the company announced Tuesday.
The company’s current commercial generator offerings top out at 62 kW. In addition to the 80 kW and 200 kW models, the company also will offer 100 kW and 150 kW versions.
“Our dealers have been asking us to expand our line of standby generators because of the quality and warranty that comes with a Briggs & Stratton standby unit,” said Brian Northway, product manager for Briggs & Stratton standby power. “The new standby units allow our dealers to meet their customers’ needs with reliable power at higher kilowatt output.”
As recently as 2007, Briggs could not make generators over 20 kilowatts under a non-compete agreement in place when it acquired a former Generac subsidiary from a private equity firm.
The new models will be powered by natural gas. They are built in a seven-gauge steel base with an enclosure made from galvanized steel and coated with automotive grade powder coated paint. Units include high-performance alternators, highly-rated controllers and sound attenuated enclosures for reduced noise output. Block heaters also are included as standard equipment on all units to ensure quick starting.
“This launch takes Briggs & Stratton to the next level in the power generation business,” Northway said. “Briggs and Stratton is leveraging our success in residential focus and expanding into light commercial applications with this new power range. It is an exciting time for the company.”
Briggs is partnering with ASCO, a brand of Ohio-based Vertiv, to engineer and manufacture automatic transfer switches for the new line.
“Partnering with ASCO, an established leader in the power-transfer industry, is a natural fit because they’re known for building exceptional transfer units that manage large power loads,” Northway said.
Laura Timm, Briggs vice president of corporate communications, said the decision to expand offerings was the result of repeated requests from dealers. She said the new line will work for convenience stores, small grocery stores, strip malls, agricultural facilities and larger homes.
The units were designed and engineered by Briggs and will by manufactured by a third party in Wisconsin, she said.
