Designer and manufacturer of industry-leading diesel power gensets, Cummins Power Generation dedicates itself to providing comprehensive energy solutions.

With offices on virtually every continent, Cummins Power Generation has built an unrivalled reputation for implementing performance power for businesses, utilities and hospitals worldwide.

Nowhere better exemplifies this commitment than Cummins Power Generations' recent projects in Al Khobar, located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

The first of these projects took place at the AB Building where Cummins Power Generation installed two standby generating sets in the contemporary office development.

"The AB Building towers over the Dammam to Khobar highway and is the headquarters of Ahmad N Albinali and Sons," says a company spokesman. "There, Cummins Power Generation sets provide extensive backup facilities and power all essential services including emergency lighting, a 24-hour security system and three hi-tech elevators.

He continues: "The sets are powered by QST30G2 Cummins diesel engines, while Cummins PowerCommand Paralleling Digital MasterControl provides digital paralleling and synchronising. This control panel provides system monitoring and control functions using a software-based design concept.

Also providing backup power in Al Khobar, Cummins Power Generation's second project supplied three standby gensets to the Saad Specialist Hospital.

The new establishment, which opened in February 2002, is one of the largest hospitals in Saudi Arabia and has been described as one of the most luxurious medical facilities in the Middle East.

The gensets are all 1270 DFLC models rated at 1,276 kVA at 60Hz and powered by KTA50G3 Cummins turbocharged and aftercooled diesel engines.

Powering operating theatres, lighting, x-ray departments and lifts, these gensets supply a much-needed lifeline to the lavish medical centre.

The hospital offers a full range of medical service, from general accident to plastic surgery. As well as top medical care, the building has also been designed to give the impression of a five-star hotel.

Its corridors, adorned with Arabic and Western art, provide entrance to VIP and royal suites and there is also a 24-hour catering service that includes cuisine from around the world.

Mohamad Shalabi, senior project manager at Cummins local distributor General Contracting Company (GCC) comments: "Reliability was top of the list for Saad Trading when deciding on which generating sets to install. With such high standards, we are proud that Cummins Power Generation units were chosen for this prestigious project."

Emad Aleem, generators manager of the hospital, adds: "We wanted three standby sets that would be 100 per cent reliable and guaranteed to work if and when needed."

Cummins' high standards were further recognised through its appointment to provide standby power to the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Opened in 1992, the building provides an important link between the region's government and private sector. The attractive glass-fronted structure cost SR70 million ($18.6 million) and is situated in a landscaped park. It is six floors high and covers an area of more than 15,000 sq m.

Standby power for this eminent building is generated by a 501DFED genset, rated at 625 kVA at 60 Hz which uses a KTA 19G4 turbocharged aftercooled diesel engine.

Again, these gensets are controlled by Cummins PowerCommand system that contains a microprocessor control designed to eliminate traditional control systems and provide sophisticated, yet cost-effective monitoring.

Further demonstrating dedication to its customers, Cummins Power Generation met specifications and provided immediate solutions for SEC-East (Saudi Electric Company, Eastern Region).

"Cummins successfully managed to tender and deliver eight 1270 DFLC KTA50G9 containerised mobile sets to SEC-East to be used for power reinforcement and emergency applications in remote areas," the spokesman says. "Along with other factors, Cummins won the tender based on the fact that it had the shortest delivery time amongst all of the tendering suppliers."

State-of-the-art 1270DFLC KTA50G9s each operate at 1,270 kW prime and are produced at Cummins Power Generations' Ramsgate plant in the UK.

All in all, Cummins Power Generation says it is building an impressive track record of successful projects in the Saudi region. Shalabi sums up these achievements: "Cummins Power Generation has a reputation in Saudi Arabia that is second to none, with a long list of prestigious projects already completed."