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THANKS TO MY DAD
While driving down I-94 in Wisconsin last week on my way to meet with the executives at Generac, I started thinking about how far Gen/Tran has come. After all, my dad invented the first Gen/Tran switch in our family's basement.
As a teenager, I had no idea that 30 years later my dad's idea would have grown into a thriving business with a brand reputation at the top of our industry. I'm sure he had no idea he was pioneering the compact manual transfer switch "industry" at all. Who knew our name would become synonymous with our product; we're the Kleenex® of the transfer switch market.
My dad, Paul Schnackenberg, just wanted to solve a problem ---to put a stop to unsafe generator hookups that were (and still are) prevalent during power outages.
Since he started the company in 1982, our focus has been to build high-quality, consumer-friendly transfer switches and accessories for backup power applications. Over the years, we've introduced many solutions for different applications because no two houses are wired alike, and no two people have the same priorities when deciding what they want to run during a power outage. But our message of generator safety along with the NEC requirement for transfer switches has only reached a fraction of consumers today.
Although we've been in business for 30 years, most consumers still don't understand the need for a transfer switch. When the power goes out, they invest in a generator thinking it's going to solve 100% of their power outage problems. When they get it home, they realize they can't plug in their furnace or well pump with an extension cord (which leads to creative and dangerous wiring schemes).
Yes, the key component of any backup power solution is always the generator, but the transfer switch makes the installation safe. And that's why it makes sense for our two companies to join forces because we're tying the two pieces of the equation together. We'll have access to greater resources to deliver our combined message of generator safety which will result in better informed consumers.
So as we move into the next chapter of Gen/Tran under new ownership, I want to personally thank you for helping make Gen/Tran the best transfer switch brand on the market. I especially want to thank my dad for teaching me three important business lessons:
- Do the right thing that helps the most people.
- The customer's always right.
- And never give up.
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PO AND PAYMENT DETAILS:
Please continue to send all new purchase orders to sales@gen-tran.com or via fax 770-552-7756.
Please remit payment to "GenTran" or "Generac" and mail to 1335 Ridgeland Pkwy, Suite 150, Alpharetta, GA 30004.
Please do not send payments to our PO box. Thank you! |
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We have some exciting news to share!
Generac Acquires Gen-Tran
Acquisition of complementary transfer switch products broadens residential product offering
February 1, 2012, Waukesha, WI - Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC), a leading designer and manufacturer of generators and other engine powered products, announced today that its Generac Power Systems subsidiary has acquired Gen-Tran Corporation, a leading transfer switch and portable generator accessory manufacturer located in Alpharetta, GA. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
As you know, Gen-Tran is a market leader in the manual transfer switch industry with a diverse product offering and broad customer base. Our product offering fits strategically between Generac's existing portable generator and home standby product offering, providing a broader set of solutions for consumers and allowing the combined companies to capture additional accessory sales.
Steve Goran, Vice President of Business Development for Generac, commented, "Adding Gen-Tran products to our offering will better position our portable products as safe, reliable backup solutions while complementing our fully automatic home standby solutions. By merchandising our products together across broadened distribution channels, we believe we can capture incremental sales opportunities through a more informed consumers, further building on our position as the leader in residential backup power."
BUSINESS AS USUAL
Gen-Tran will accept purchase orders as usual (via email at sales@gen-tran.com or fax at 770-552-7756) and will continue to ship orders from its Alpharetta facility. Gen-Tran President, Jack Mandula, will continue to manage Gen-Tran's operations. Our current management team and staff have joined Generac upon closing and will help lead the integration of our products and operations.
"As we transition under Generac's ownership, we will continue to provide the high-quality products and support to our customers," said Jack Mandula. "We are excited to be a part of a well-resourced company whose broad product offering and distribution channels offer tremendous opportunities for our products and customers."
ABOUT GENERAC (NYSE: GNRC)
Since 1959, Generac has been a leading designer and manufacturer of a wide range of generators and other engine powered products. As a leader in power equipment serving residential, light commercial, industrial and construction markets, Generac's power products are available through a broad network of independent dealers, retailers, wholesalers and equipment rental companies. Generac markets and distributes its products primarily under its Generac and Magnum brand names. For more information on Generac, please visit www.Generac.com. Follow Generac on Twitter @generacpowersys. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/generacpowersystem.
ABOUT GEN-TRAN CORPORATION
Family owned and operated since 1982, Gen-Tran is a leading manufacturer of generator transfer switches for residential and light commercial backup power applications. The Company's products are distributed through national and regional retail and wholesale companies, electrical distributors as well as online. For more information on Gen-Tran, please visit www.gen-tran.com.
We hope you are as excited as we are about this transaction!
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As we embark on a new journey, I want to personally thank you for your continued interest in GenTran products. Customers like you recognize that our reputation wasn't built overnight. It took 30 years of consistently delivering quality products and superior customer service to establish GenTran as a household brand. Our mission is still the same - to promote safe, easy-to-use backup power solutions, and we're looking forward to an exciting future!
Beth Johnson
Director, Business Development
Gen/Tran Products
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