MINNEAPOLIS - Power systems manufacturer Cummins Onan has formed Cummins Power Rent, a new business unit that will go after the rapidly growing power rental market with "trailerized" generators for industrial and commercial customers.

Cummins Power Rent joins GE Energy Rentals this year as significant new competitors in the power rental segment that has been dominated by Aggreko and Caterpillar.

Initially, the new business unit will rent generators between 750 kw and 1,500 kw through 15 distributors across the country, expanding to 31 distributors by year's end, according to the company.

Smaller generators from 60 to 250 kw will soon be available through about 150 rental dealers who will maintain local fleets for immediate delivery. All the units will be set up by Cummins Onan technicians.

Acknowledging that it will compete against well-established names, Cummins Onan, based here, will emphasize its control over the manufacturing process, said Cummins Power Rent general manager Pat O'Farrell.

"Since Cummins Onan is the only manufacturer that builds its own engines, generators, switchgear and paralleling equipment, all our units are pre-integrated for ease of setup and high reliability," O'Farrell said.