Rehlko and Liebherr Expand Strategic Partnership to Advance Next-Generation KD Series™ Generators
Driving innovation and sustainability for energy resilience in mission-critical applications
MILWAUKEE, Wis - May 8, 2025: Rehlko, formerly Kohler Energy, is reinforcing its long-standing collaboration with Liebherr’s components product segment to push the boundaries of advanced engine technology for the KD Series™ of large industrial generators. This strengthened partnership underscores a shared commitment to delivering reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions. The co-developed Rehlko G-drive engine, manufactured by Liebherr, enhances the ability to meet the growing demands of data centers.
As an independent enterprise focused on energy resilience, Rehlko will strengthen and grow its relationship with Liebherr. The collaboration will result in the continued enhancement of compact and highly efficient combustion engines and improve production efficiencies to set new industry benchmarks and improve lead times. The partnership marks a pivotal milestone in accelerating Rehlko’s data center product offering to meet increasingly high market demands.
“Our recent rebrand brings continued momentum to our nearly two-decade partnership with Liebherr,” said Brian Melka, Rehlko Chief Executive Officer. “Together, we’re not only advancing mission-critical power but also significantly expanding our capacity to support the industry's growth, positioning Rehlko and Liebherr as leaders in industrial engine innovation for years to come.”
"Our collaboration with Rehlko has consistently delivered groundbreaking advancements in power solutions,” said Andreas Bogner, Member of the Board of Directors in the business unit combustion engines. “We deeply value this strong partnership and remain committed to leading the next wave of advanced engine innovation. Together, we will continue to deliver reliable, high-performance energy solutions for the industries that depend on us."
The KD Series features a broad range of the G-drive engines, with outputs between 700 and 4,000 kW and between 800 and 4,500kVA. The latest generators, the KD700 and KD750, are equipped with an advanced 18L Liebherr diesel engine (KD18L06). The new engine enables the KD700 and KD750 generators to provide the highest power density in a compact footprint, optimized fuel consumption, and ease of maintenance.
Liebherr produces engines for Rehlko in Colmar (France). Liebherr-Components Colmar SAS specializes in the development, design, assembly and testing of powerful diesel engines. With decades of experience in mining and its expertise in engine manufacturing, Liebherr has developed a new line of diesel engines, the D99. The latter is available in three displacements: V12, V16 and V20. The state-of-the-art test benches and an automated assembly line allow for the production of best-in-class combustion engines.
The G-drive engines are integral to Rehlko’s recent program of sustainability innovations. They support the Conscious Care™ package of maintenance protocols that help customers save fuel, lower Greenhouse Gas emissions and reduce their carbon footprint. The engines are also compatible with renewable fuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which can deliver a reduction in overall CO2 emissions of up to 90% across the fuel’s lifecycle.
Rehlko has also introduced the first certified environmental declaration for a generator set in mission-critical markets. This PEP ecopassport® provides transparent environmental impact data for the KD Series™ throughout its lifecycle, initially for the KD Series 2000kVA and above backup generator with a G-drive engine produced in France.
"This long-standing partnership strengthens our ability to advance innovation while ensuring a more sustainable and resilient energy future for our customers and the industry as a whole," said Melka.
Learn more at https://www.powersystems.rehlko.com/ or Combustion engines - Liebherr
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About the Liebherr Group
The Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a highly diversified product programme. The company is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world. It also provides high-quality, user-oriented products and services in a wide range of other areas. The Liebherr Group includes over 150 companies across all continents. In 2024, it employed more than 50,000 staff and achieved combined revenues of over 14 billion euros. Liebherr was founded by Hans Liebherr in 1949 in the southern German town of Kirchdorf an der Iller. Since then, the employees have been pursuing the goal of achieving continuous technological innovation, and bringing industry-leading solutions to its customers.
About Liebherr-Components
In this segment, the Liebherr Group specialises in the development, design, manufacturing of high-performance components in the field of mechanical, hydraulic and electric drive and control technology. Liebherr-Component Technologies AG, based in Bulle (Switzerland), coordinates all activities in the Components product segment.
The extensive product range includes combustion engines, injection systems, engine control units, axial piston pumps and motors, hydraulic cylinders, slewing bearings, gearboxes and winches, switchgear, electronic and power electronics components, and software. The high-quality components are used in cranes and earthmoving machinery, in the mining industry, maritime applications, wind turbines, automotive engineering or in aviation and transport technology. Synergy effects in other product segments of the Liebherr Group are used to drive continuous technological development.
About Rehlko
A global leader in energy resilience, Rehlko delivers innovative energy solutions critical to sustain and improve life across home energy, industrial energy systems, and powertrain technologies, by delivering control, resilience and innovation. Leveraging the strength of its portfolio of businesses – Power Systems, Home Energy, Uninterruptible Power, Clarke Energy, Curtis Instruments, and Engines, and more than a century of industry leadership, Rehlko builds resilience where and when the grid cannot, and goes beyond functional, individual recovery to create better lives and communities, and a more durable and reliable energy future.
