Generac has snapped up a factory in Belvidere, Illinois, aiming to beef up assembly and final packaging for its large megawatt backup generators as data center demand keeps climbing. The company says the site should open in the first quarter of 2027 and will add more than 100 jobs. The acquisition is the latest step in a nationwide buildout of Generac's commercial and industrial footprint intended to speed delivery of shipment ready units.
As outlined by Generac, the Belvidere facility will complement the Enercon Engineering acquisition by expanding enclosure assembly and final packaging capacity for megawatt class gensets. “Expanding our capacity to deliver large megawatt solutions is essential,” Erik Wilde, Generac’s EVP and president of Domestic C&I, said in the release.
The move was reported by Milwaukee Business Journal, which noted Generac expects to add roughly 100 roles at the plant and said the site will help relieve packaging bottlenecks for large generators. Reporter Rich Kirchen framed the acquisition as part of a string of recent factory and enclosure investments the company has been pursuing to keep pace with data center demand.
Data Center Orders Are The Driver
Generac has been moving to secure larger data center contracts. The company signed a global supply agreement with a hyperscale data center operator in early June, according to Generac, and its first quarter filing showed Commercial & Industrial sales climbed roughly 28 percent as backlog expanded, per Generac. The Belvidere site is intended to speed production of shipment ready units for those customers.
What It Means For Belvidere
Belvidere has been back on the radar for industrial investment since Stellantis committed to reopen its nearby assembly plant in 2027, a turnaround that has refocused local workforce and economic development efforts. AP reporting shows local leaders see Generac’s move as another sign the region can attract factory work beyond auto assembly.
Generac said it expects to bring the Belvidere facility online in the first quarter of 2027 and to hire more than 100 people. The company did not disclose purchase terms, as noted in Generac, and directed media inquiries to [email protected].
