Cheap imported genset?

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jeff43222

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Minneapolis, Minnesota
We have a client who is interested in saving lots of money by purchasing a genset from a low-cost country like China or Korea rather than sourcing it from one of the American manufacturers like we usually do. My boss wants me to look into this option, but I really don't know where to look. The genset would be 750 or 1250 kW @ 480V.

Basically, we need to find out things like cost and delivery times, service, support, EPA compliance, etc. If it's a bad idea, we need to be able to tell the client why.
 
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jeff43222 said:
Basically, we need to find out things like cost and delivery times, service, support, EPA compliance, etc. If it's a bad idea, we need to be able to tell the client why.
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I'd start by approaching the customer with a carefully-worded, attorney-approved disclaimer, stating that your concerns are his responsibility; you're only providing labor and materials to install his equipment, and have no responsibility for the performance, operation, or suitability of the equipment.
 
In this case, I'm not playing EC. This one is for my day job at an engineering firm. We're doing the spec for the job and will be involved with the procurement of the genset. The client wants to save money, so we are looking into the idea of sourcing the genset from abroad on his behalf.

My boss told me to spend some time researching the idea so he'd have some solid information to relay to the client. I just don't know how to go about finding information on gensets that are substantially cheaper than the ones we typically spec (established vendors with solid track records).
 
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Cheap imported genset

Cheap imported genset

Jeff,

I would ask my boss if I found a cheap generator:

A) Who do I go to when it doesn't start?

B) Who will service the generator?

C) Will the firm be held responsible for the generator, being that we made the recommendation?

Being that this a generator I think that selling the value of relialibilty will serve in the clients best interest.

Sorry, I could not be of any more assistance

Joe Villani
 
The only imports that I'm famaliar are SDMO from France, and Mitsubishi from Japan.

Here's a starting place, on Global Sources:
http://www.machinery.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Industrial-power-manufacturers/b/2000000024305/3000000183583/19565.htm
Surprisingly, many of these Chinese made large gensets have common engines, like Cummins. That would certainly be a plus, since somebody will need to do PM work on it. It would be nice if it was a famaliar engine.

My gut tells me that buying an oddball imported genset is a bad idea.
 
Yeah, my boss and I agree with you that there are some distinct disadvantages to buying an industrial emergency standby generator on eBay. But sometimes you have a client who really wants something, and he isn't just going to take our professional opinion at face value. We need to be armed with solid facts to back up our position.

For example, if we could show that only generators from vendors x, y, and z have certified service technicians in the area in case of breakdown, or only y and z meet the strict EPA requirements we have to follow, etc.

Maybe my research would be easier if I called the established vendors I deal with and ask them why it's a bad idea to buy a no-name generator. I'm sure they could think of a few reasons. :D
 
Here in NZ cheap Chinese generators are almost the norm for both standby and temporary power, certainly in sizes of below 100KVA. Everything all our tool hire places have above small petrol things are Chinese diesels. And theres no doubt they work. But.... there are companies that import these things here, so they are available as an off-the-shelf item. To import one from scratch sounds hard.
 
Service and parts are a major issues (mostly parts) see if there is a local service rep or parts supplier. Actually the service should not be an issue any good mechanic should be able to sevice assuming the unit does not use software for programing settings.

Is this an emergency generator or a stand by unit. Libabilities change depending on the type.

For me with a standby unit I might consider the cheaper unit. To me it is a prime mover and generator, controls would be the issue.
 
I spent hours today trying to even find one. It seems that for a generator of that size, meeting the EPA Tier 2 standards is a big hurdle, one that few gensets meet. I also talked to some of the company's senior engineers, and they all told me the same thing -- there's no way to go cheap and still meet the EPA regs. I also had one engineer tell me that there are even certain established domestic vendors he'd avoid because of past problems he's had with options and controls.

This generator is going to be used for emergencies (Art. 700 and 702), so it seems to me that reliability is important.
 
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