Generac Power Systems is partnering with the Green Bay, Wis., location of the American Red Cross to help maintain ongoing operation of essential blood donor equipment so it can continue functioning through an outage. Generac, Wolter Power Systems and Stiegler electrical contractors worked together to supply and install a Generac Industrial Power 50 kW diesel emergency generator that meets NEC and NFPA requirements.

The American Red Cross - Green Bay location supports the collection of nearly 28,000 blood donations annually and delivers a variety of resources and training programs to the community. “It’s imperative that the Red Cross is always prepared to support off-site blood drives and on-site storage,” said Steve Hansen, chapter executive of the Northeast Wisconsin American Red Cross. “People depend on our organization to be there for them, for a safe and reliable blood supply and for disaster services, whether it’s relief from house fires or larger natural disasters.”

Having a reliable generator helps ensure the Red Cross will be able to live up to the services that are needed and heed heating and cooling regulations mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Red Cross takes pride in being reliable and seeks out partners that are equally prepared. This Red Cross location could also be used as a disaster relief site, as this new generator could carry the facility through a long-term outage with seamless operation. Such disasters include tornadoes that can cause major power damage in the areas where they touch down, and ice buildup in winter months can lead to long power outages.

“Wolter Power Systems worked together with the American Red Cross, Stiegler and Generac to ensure the supply and installation of a Generac Industrial Power emergency generator was done correctly and in a timely manner,” said Joe Rubens, vice president of sales at  Wolter Power Systems. “The number one benefit of this new unit is its reliability. It’s a top-quality product, which is important to the cause of the Red Cross.”

Generac is a leading designer and manufacturer of backup power generators with a focus on dependability and affordability. At this Red Cross location, the generator ensures blood and platelet treatment equipment can operate through an outage. In as little as 20 to 30 minutes, platelets will coagulate if machinery stops moving, so this generator is essential.

Generac and the Red Cross opted to replace the existing diesel generator with a newer 50 kW diesel generator that provides on-site fuel storage, meeting the requirements of NFPA-110. The solution was designed and manufactured to meet the building’s 120/208v 3-phase application requirements. To support the building’s electrical infrastructure and meet local code requirements, a single 225-amp automatic transfer switch and an additional 110-amp switch were also specified for installation.

During the installation, considerations were made by Wolter Power Systems and Stiegler so the generator would start in under 10 seconds and was anchored on a level concrete pad. The final location was chosen to allow proper air intake and discharge for the engine. Quarterly inspections and annual oil and filter changes by Wolter Power Systems help ensure the generator will look and function just as well in 10 years’ time.

Generac Industrial Power generators are designed to maintain power when it is needed most, at this Red Cross location as well as other lifesaving facilities.

“We’re committed to providing seamless disaster relief even before a disaster hits,” said Laura Derpinghaus, senior marketing manager, Generac Commercial & Industrial Power Products. “This collaboration allows the Green Bay Red Cross to be confident in their backup power so they can focus on the important work they are already doing, 100% of the time.”

Watch a video that provides more insights into this collaboration, and visit the Generac Industrial Power website to see the full line of business standby generators and for specific details about the 50 kW diesel generator.