Generators are a great addition to any home, whether they are portable or stationary. There are many types of generators to choose from, and they come in a variety of qualities. If you want an American-made generator, it will likely cost more, but it will also be of higher quality. However, many brands of inverter generators are made in China. Generac is one of the world's leading manufacturers of inverter generators, but unfortunately, they have a bad reputation for product quality and work environments.
In recent years, there has been an increasing desire to move away from products made in China due to factors such as Covid-19, child labor in China, and the poor working conditions that exist in Chinese factories. Therefore, it is essential to know which companies and brands manufacture outside of China. Although the generator brands listed below are not based in China, many of them still produce some components overseas. Here is a look at some of the most well-known generator companies and where they make their machines. Briggs and Stratton generators are produced in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
Briggs and Stratton was founded in 1908 and is one of the world's leading generator manufacturers. They have 13 facilities in the United States and eight worldwide, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, China, and the Netherlands. Additionally, Briggs and Stratton recently signed a contract with China stipulating that they would manufacture some of their small engines in factories located there. So while your Briggs and Stratton generator may say that it was produced in the United States, there is a chance that China or another country produced at least part of it. At the very least, some components such as the engine were probably manufactured in China or elsewhere.
Kohler generators are another company based in the United States in Wisconsin; the city of Kohler is actually named after this generator company. Kohler is a reliable American brand that produces high-quality generators. Honda is one of the world's largest and best manufacturers of small engines and generators. Even though Honda does not make its generators in the United States, you can't go wrong with a generator manufactured by this brand. The first generator made entirely in China is the Gentrax generator; because Gentrax generators are produced in China, they are one of the cheapest generators you can buy but also have lower quality. Most components related to Dewalt generators are produced in the United States; Dewalt is one of the leading tool manufacturers in the United States and their base of operations is still located there.
In addition to small motors, generators, and other appliances, Dewalt is a trusted American brand. Champion generators are an American brand designed by American engineers but their motors are produced in China. It seems that there is a common thread with many brands of generators; many components and designs are produced in the United States but most motors are produced in China. It is up to you to decide if it is worth taking a risk with this type of generator or not. Pulsar generators are not manufactured in China but by our neighbors to the north; Ontario, Canada is the base of operations for Pulsar generators and they are one of the leading manufacturers. Pulsar markets their generators similarly to Honda and Generac but at lower prices. Some of Westinghouse's main generators include iGen2200, iGen4500, WGen9500DF, and Wgen15000E.
Westinghouse is renowned for producing high-end durable reliable powerful and compact 50-amp generators for recreational residential and commercial vehicles. Craftsman generators are produced and distributed by the same company that produces Generac generators; both Generac and Craftsman are produced in the United States. Craftsman generators were initially only made for large companies such as Sears but over time they have been manufactured on a larger scale and are now easily available to everyone. Firman generators are another popular generator brand that is produced in China; their headquarters are located in Nanjing, China and they are part of the largest SUMEC company located there. Although Wen's headquarters are located in Illinois most of their generators are produced in China; originally founded to manufacture carpentry products Wen seized the opportunity to produce generators. Predator generators are manufactured in the United States by Harbor Freight Tools; Harbor Freight produces affordable but sometimes low-quality tools and appliances to help produce goods and services. Predator generators are American-made and manufactured but they are not the highest-quality generators on the market. Like many other brands on this list Duromax is a company founded in the United States with its base of operations still here; Ontario California is where their headquarters are located but most parts and designs can be found in factories located in China.
The company was founded in 2003 so they are relatively new to the generator game when it comes to longevity and history; because of this fact as well as being produced in China Duromax generators tend to be relatively affordable. Yamaha generators are another brand that is produced in China; if you're looking for a high-quality generator made in China Yamaha could be your best option. They have an excellent reputation both publicly and privately and produce some of the best generators available worldwide. Yamaha is very comparable to Dewalt as their products are manufactured in China but they have a reputation for being reliable; however unlike Dewalt Yamaha does not have its base of operations located within the United States. Sportsman generators along with their motors and other components are produced within China; Sportsman is another shining example of a Chinese based brand with a reputation for manufacturing high-quality sound equipment. Sportsman generators come in nearly every desirable size and application as well as having an excellent reputation for excellence. In conclusion there seems to be a common thread among many brands of generators; many components and designs may be produced within the United States but most motors tend to be produced within China.
It is up to you to decide if it's worth taking a risk with this type of generator or not.
