Meeting demand for off-grid power generation

Adelaide business Big Chief Hire deals in dry hire machinery (that is, machinery that doesn’t come with personnel to operate it) as well as a truck fleet.

Recently, the decade-old company has experienced a growing demand for off-grid power generation.

“At Big Chief Hire, we hire out heavy earthmoving machinery, trucks, scissor lifts and more,” said Dry Hire Sales Manager Mark Foley.

“We never like to say we can’t supply something just because it isn’t in our core fleet just yet.

“Power generators are in high demand for civil engineering, as many locations have site huts or demountable buildings that require remote power with no grid in the area yet,” Foley said.

To meet this need for generators, Big Chief Hire teamed up with Isuzu Power Solutions (IPS) to expand its hire offering.

“Isuzu Power Solutions generator sets are the first remote power solution product we’ve stocked,” Foley said.

“The Isuzu name is well known in the industry and is popular with our customers, so it seemed like a safe bet to meet customer demand with IPS product when enquiries came in about remote power.”

One of Big Chief Hire’s IPS GS020PTY 20 kVA/16 kWe (Prime) generator sets. Image courtesy of Isuzu Power Solutions.

From its South Australian roots, Big Chief Hire has expanded into Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, with further locations planned, including a depot in Perth flagged for the near future.

The business currently has a number of compact IPS GS020PTY 20 kVA/16 kWe (Prime) generator sets available for hire at hubs in Adelaide and on the Gold Coast.

Addressing weather and noise

Powered by the Isuzu 4LE1 engine and with a rated voltage of 415 VAC/50 Hz, these 20 kVA generators sets are suited for use in powering construction sites and other mobile applications such as trade services.

The IPS generator sets feature all-weather canopies constructed from thick gauge steel with a powder-coated finish for heavy-duty, long-life operation.

“When we plan for our fleet procurement there is a strong research stage to gather information on viable OEMs and ranges of equipment — we also forecast as to what we may need to add to or remove from the fleet, which is vital to our procurement model,” Foley said. “The generators need to be dependable enough to power the site without fail.

“The 20 kVA generator sets began as a bit of an experiment for us but have proven to be very popular.”

To mitigate worksite noise pollution, IPS has designed its generator sets with sound-suppressant technology, redirecting both incoming and outgoing air through a series of sound-attenuated baffles.

This acoustic insulation throughout the canopy and crafted exhaust housings works to reduce noise, balancing high and low frequencies for a sound output rating of 51 dB at 7 m — quieter than the average conversation, according to Isuzu.

“We are now in the testing stage at the moment for trailer-mounted IPS generators, making them mobile from the get-go and broadening the range of purposes they can be used for,” Foley said.

“We will also be expanding our offerings in the future with 37 kVA and 50 kVA IPS generators for more heavy-duty requirements.”

Preventing breakdowns

Foley said preventive maintenance was key to ensuring that equipment performs at peak efficiency, and vital to the smooth running of the company’s hire process, which requires up-to-date service histories for regulatory compliance.

Much of Big Chief Hire’s fleet and machinery is maintained by in-house technicians at its own depots, but the new generator sets are serviced by technicians at Northeast Isuzu in Adelaide.

“The most important thing customers look for when selecting dry hire equipment is the reliability of the product, because they want to access it quickly, do their job and not worry about it breaking down on them,” Foley explained.

“When a customer rings to book equipment we coordinate with the workshop to have it cleaned and inspected before it can be handed to the customer, and ready to go.

“Our IPS generators are brand new and there’s been nothing but positive feedback on them,” he said.

Top image caption: Dry Hire Sales Manager at Big Chief Hire Mark Foley. Image courtesy of Isuzu Power Solutions.