Rental Ready: How Leading Fleets Improve Uptime with Refurbishment

From hurricanes to heavy industry, rental generators take a beating. Between powering disaster response to driving round-the-clock operations on remote job sites, these units rarely get a break. Eventually, even the most advanced equipment starts to show its age. 

Rather than invest in new units, many rental providers are turning to refurbishment to stretch budgets, improve uptime, and keep their fleets field ready. Alfonso Rodriguez III, PowerGen Refurbishment Program Manager at Cummins, says the demand placed on rental generators is often underestimated. 

“These units aren’t just sitting around waiting for emergencies,” said Rodriguez. “They’re in constant rotation. After a hurricane, a unit might be rushed to restore power in Florida, then get shipped to another disaster zone two states over. That’s usually how units accrue hours so rapidly.” 

Instead of retiring the equipment, the Cummins Refurbishment Program is the perfect option to extend the life of the unit. With options to refresh engines, alternators, radiators and controllers, rental groups can extend asset life while staying within budget and avoid pulling new units from active rotation.

While Rodriguez sees the day-to-day demand for these units, Brian Hargrave, Director of National Account Sales at Cummins, focuses on the bigger picture — where performance, cost and long-term fleet strategy intersect.

“These engines aren’t being worn out over decades. They are often hitting end-of-life conditions in 5-7 years because of duty cycle and amount of hours run,” said Hargrave. “We see units come in with multiple tens of thousands of hours on them. At that point, refurbishment isn’t just an option, it’s the most practical way to keep them in rotation without the cost and lead time of buying new.”

With 30 years of experience, Hargrave knows exactly how far a generator can be pushed before it’s time to replace it. He says the industry's tipping point for replacement comes when repairs approach 50% of the cost of a new unit.

“If you can refurbish for less, keep the unit in the same Tier rating, reduce downtime, and still walk away with a factory warranty, it’s a no-brainer,” said Hargrave.

Refurbishing technology is far from a new concept, but Rodriguez believes it's more relevant than ever for rental providers looking to stay competitive. With rising equipment costs, longer lead times and increasing pressure to meet sustainability goals, many are rethinking how they manage aging assets.

For customers balancing tight budgets with high uptime demands, refurbishment offers a practical, proven path forward.

“We're helping customers get more life out of the equipment they already own,” said Rodriguez.  “It’s not just about saving money. It's about keeping fleets ready, avoiding unnecessary downtime, and staying ahead in a market that doesn’t slow down.”

To learn more about tailored options to repower, refurbish or update your genset, contact your Cummins representative or visit: https://www.cummins.com/na/sales-and-service/generators-and-power-systems/refurbishment-program