Generac – The Company

Generac Power Systems

Generac began life in 1959 and became the first to bring to the market affordable home standby generators, developing an engine specifically designed for that use along the way.

Today, Generac offers the widest range of generators, from portable, residential, and commercial to industrial models for operation in a variety of industries and in the toughest of environments. It has seen an increasing demand for its technologically advanced PWRcell® energy storage systems. The company believes this trend will continue because of rising utility rates, grid instability and power quality issues, environmental concerns, and rapid innovation in renewable energy and battery technology.

The company has been so successful that it is now the top manufacturer of home backup generators. They are to further increase production with the expansion of their manufacturing, assembly, and distribution facility in Trenton, South Carolina in order to boost their distribution capacity in the southeastern United States. 

Generac’s products are available in over 150 countries through a network of independent dealers, distributors, retailers, e-commence partners, wholesalers and equipment rental companies, and are sold directly to certain end user customers.

The company leads the field in designing and manufacturing manual and fully automatic transfer switches and accessories for backup power applications up to two megawatts.

Besides a major involvement in generators, Generac was the first to introduce power washers specifically for the general public, and now has an extensive range of advanced power washers, such as this one, for most uses including the toughest commercial and industrial applications.

Generac is responding to the public’s growing concern over the need to protect the environment and understands the importance of developing products and processes that minimize their environmental impact. To this end, the company seeks to evolve into an Energy Technology Solutions company, partnering with organizations and stakeholders as a demonstration of leadership in the development of innovative technologies that contribute to the sustainable growth of the power generation industry.

The company is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as GNRC, and publishes an annual report. Here is the annual report for 2020. As of the end of 2020 Generac employed about 6,800 people. Revenue for 2020 amounted to US$2.5 billion, a 13% increase over the previous year.

Where are Generac Portable Generators made?

Generac has a global network of manufacturing and distribution facilities. While you can ask the company for information on the specific provenance of the model you are interested in, US import records indicate that at least some of their generators have been supplied by the Chinese companies United Power Equipment Co., Ltd, and Chongqing Dajiang Power Equipment Co., Ltd.

Generac’s website Global Locations (accessible below) also shows that the company has a relationship with the Chinese subsidiary – Pramac Fu lee Foshan Power Equipment Co Ltd – of an Italian group called Pramac, which has a global presence and includes various types of generators in their large portfolio of products. 

Note: Our research shows that Generac holds a non-controlling interest in Pramac, which is the the holding company of POWERMATE generators (and other equipment). This from Generac’s 2020 explains more:

“On March 1, 2016, the Company acquired a 65% ownership interest in PR Industrial S.r.l. and its”subsidiaries (Pramac). The 35% noncontrolling interest in Pramac had an acquisition date fair value of $34,253, and was recorded as a redeemable noncontrolling interest in the consolidated balance sheet, as the noncontrolling interest holder had within its control the right to require the Company to redeem its interest in Pramac. In February 2019, the Company amended its agreement with the noncontrolling interest holder of Pramac, extending the agreement by five years, allowing the Company to exercise its call option rights in partial increments at certain times during the five year period, and providing that the noncontrolling interest holder no longer holds the right to put its shares to the Company until April 1, 2021. The put and call option price is based on a multiple of earnings, subject to a floor and the terms of the acquisition agreement, as amended”.

Generac Portable Generators

We have a selection of Generac generators for you to see.

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