Generac Holdings Inc. is a Fortune 1000 American manufacturer of power generation and energy storage solutions ranging from 800 watts to 9 megawatts for residential, light commercial and industrial markets. Robert Kern founded Generac Holdings in 1959, headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Generac began producing portable generators in the 1970s for the Craftsman brand for Sears Roebuck and Co. Generac expanded its offerings during the 1970s to include the portable and recreational vehicle markets. Generac entered the commercial and industrial markets in the 1980s with its backup power generation systems. Generac introduced the first gaseous-fueled, automatically engaging home standby system for residential usage in 1989.
Generac has made several acquisitions, including Ottomotores, Tower Light, Pramac, Motortech, Selmec, Deep Sea and Off Grid Energy. Generac's domestic segment includes the legacy Generac business, and these acquisitions are based in the United States and Canada. The company's international segment consists of Generac's Latin American export operations.
Generac designs and manufactures portable, stationary and mobile generators that produce between 800 watts and 3,250 kilowatts from a single-engine output. Generac also offers industrial-grade mobile energy storage systems, batteries, electronic controls, engines, alternators, steel enclosures, and more.
In 2006, CCMP Capital of New York purchased Generac. In 2008, Aaron Jagdfeld was appointed president and chief executive officer. Generac Holdings Inc. began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GNRC on February 11, 2010. The initial public offering provided Generac with $224 million in proceeds.
Over the years, Generac has earned several honors and awards. It has received the Milwaukee Magazine's "Best Places to Work" award in southeastern Wisconsin. In 2010, Generac's industrial sizing application, Power Design Pro, received a "product of the year" award from Plant Engineering. Generac's Guardian Series home standby generator system has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Generac was honored with the Natural Gas Generator Company of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan in 2014 for its natural gas generator.
Generac manufactures diesel-fueled, gasoline-fueled and bi-fuel power generation equipment. Generac also produces modular paralleling systems, automatic transfer switches and small engines for use in various other types of equipment. Generac introduced Generac Industrial Power in 2009, which included new enclosures, new engines and ergonomic and aesthetic changes to current systems. In 2009, Generac partnered with Fiat Powertrain Technologies to supply Generac with industrial diesel engines used in industrial generators and industrial power systems.
Generac's products are available through independent dealers, retailers and wholesalers. Generac Holdings Inc. is committed to innovation and quality and provides power generation and energy storage solutions for residential, light commercial and industrial markets. The company also sells aftermarket service parts and product accessories to dealers. It distributes its products through industrial distributors and dealers, independent residential dealers, e-commerce partners and national and regional retailers.