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Executive Report : Total power

Generator specialist SDMO continues to develop the range of temporary power equipment it offers to the hire market.

Demand for electricity is increasing much more rapidly than overall energy use, according to figures from the World Nuclear Association. Indeed, demand is projected to almost double from 2004 levels by 2030, growing at an average rate of 2.6% per year. This will inevitably lead to greater demand for temporary generation machinery and equipment for backup power to cope with potential mains failures.

SDMO is typical of the specialist manufacturers that are developing new products to serve this growth market, including machines specifically
for the hire industry. Based at Brest, in Brittany, the company’s distribution network covers more than 150 countries and has seven overseas subsidiaries, including SDMO Energy Ltd, based in Middlewich, serving the UK.

“We are one of the few companies offering a complete range of generators, from small portable 0.9kVA sets right up to products for permanent 3MW installations,” says Wayne Steele, Director of SDMO Energy, which offers products in three categories. “Portable Power Equipment covers generators and welding sets from 0.9-13kVA. The Rental Power portfolio includes mobile power equipment suitable for hire fleets, from 2-2200kVA, while our Power Products operation provides machines for permanent installation as backup in facilities like banks and hospitals.”

A new addition to the range, which was displayed at SDMO Energy’s recent annual open day, is the Power Box, a compact 10kVA generator with a Mitsubishi engine, designed for welfare units and smaller equipment. It is targeted particularly at meeting on-site Health & Safety requirements in the UK.

The single-phase machine can run for 17 hours at 75% generating capacity and has a noise level of 79 Lwa. “We have successfully had the product on trial with several UK hirers to assess its performance and robustness,” says Wayne Steele. The Power Box will be amongst new products being shown on the company’s stand at the Executive Hire Show at the Ricoh Arena in February.

New also is the highly portable iNeo 2000 2kVA inverter generator, a larger brother to the iNeo 1000 1kVA model launched earlier this year. The petrol-engined machines are seen as ideal for hire to people following leisure pursuits like camping and sailing, and who require electricity away from home. SDMO also continues to expand its range of hire-specification generator sets up to 700kVA, designed to meet the latest environmental standards in terms of noise and emissions, and with options such as socket packs and road trailers.

As we mentioned in our Heating & Lighting Market Report last month, SDMO has just introduced a range of mobile lighting towers, which can also provide auxiliary electrical power. The 6kVA RL6 offers a maximum mast height of 7m and has four 1,000watt tungsten halogen lamps. The 12kVA and 16kVA RL12 and RL16 incorporate four 1,000watt metal halide lamps and have 8.5m masts. On the smallest unit, the mast is raised manually, while on the larger models operation is effected via a joystick control. All three can be separated quickly from their trailers. SDMO’s Rental Products Manager, Grégoire Girard, says that a balloon light option might be introduced.

Currently under development at the Brest headquarters is a range of generators specifically designed for the event hire market and featuring particularly low noise levels. “We plan to offer machines with output capacities of 60, 100, 200, 350 and 500kVA,” says Grégoire Girard. “We expect that we will be able to launch them towards the middle of next year, and they should also be attractive for use by contractors undertaking construction tasks in sensitive urban environments.” •

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