A Brief History of Generac:

Founded in 1959, Generac Power Systems started out building portable generators for Craftsman and Sears. Over the years, they expanded their product inventory to include generators intended for industrial and light commercial as well as residential use. They were the first to introduce a gas-powered generator in the 1980s and have been growing ever since. Today, Generac is an American owned company based out of Waukesha, Wisconsin and their primary manufacturing facilities are still located in the Midwest.

While the Generac product line has grown over the years, their emphasis on home backup generators has not changed much. Their primary emphasis is on the residential homeowner and they offer their Guardian, CorePower, QuietSource and EcoGen Series generators to that market. For commercial and industrial customers, Generac sells their Commercial Series, a QuietSource Series developed for larger applications, and Modular Power Systems.

Like any company, Generac has had its ups and downs. It was nearly bought by Caterpillar some years ago, then entered into a protracted legal battle with the same company over a contract dispute. It sold its portable generator division in 1998, but reacquired the rights to such products in 2008. CCMP Capital in New York acquired Generac in 2006, but took a write-off in 2009 against their purchase of Generac to the tune of $583.5 million. In 2011, Generac went public on the NYSE under Generac Holdings, Inc and received over $200 million in public offerings.

It is, of course, impossible to predict what the future holds for Generac, but given their strong commitment to quality and respected product line, it is likely they will continue to be a major force in the backup generator industry for some years to come.