3rd Aug 2026|Written by Sam Dexter
Standby power for new automated packaging lines
Automated packaging lines run to tight cycle times. Fillers, conveyors, baggers and palletisers all work in sequence, so a sudden loss of mains power can halt the whole line, spoil product mid-cycle and cost hours of output.
A manufacturer of bespoke automated packaging systems, based in Wales, came to us for that reason. The company designs and builds turnkey packaging machinery for industrial clients, and wanted standby power supplied as part of the package rather than left to chance.
We supplied 3 x 110 kVA Cummins generators for the project. Each set accompanies a new packaging system, ready to keep the machinery running through mains power outages at the end user's site.
The equipment supplied
We supplied 3 x Cummins C110D5Q diesel generators, each a 3 phase set housed in a weatherproof acoustic canopy.
Specification:
- Model: Cummins C110D5Q
- Standby rating: 110 kVA / 88 kW
- Prime rating: 100 kVA / 80 kW
- Output: 400V 3 phase, 50Hz at 1500rpm, 159 amps per phase
- Engine: Cummins 6BTA5.9-G5
- Alternator: Stamford UCI274C
- Controller: Cummins PowerStart 0600
- Fuel tank: 400 litre base tank, giving up to 14.7 hours at full standby-rated load
- Fuel up-fit: 3-way fuel valve plus feed and return connections, fitted by our team before dispatch
- Build: canopied, 79 dB(A) at 1m / 68 dB(A) at 7m
- Application: standby power for automated packaging machinery
Ready for bulk fuel tanks before they left us
All 3 generators were up-fitted at Global Generators prior to dispatch. We fitted each set with a 3-way fuel valve, along with feed and return connections, so the generator can draw from a larger external bulk fuel tank as well as its own base tank.
The 3-way valve lets the engine's fuel source be switched manually between the two. On the internal 400 litre base tank, a set gives around 14.7 hours at full standby-rated load. Running from a bulk tank instead stretches the interval between refuelling considerably, which matters when an outage is long or the site is difficult to reach with a fuel bowser at short notice.
Having the connections in place from the outset also keeps things simple at the far end. The fuel arrangement is decided once, at the point of supply, rather than becoming a later modification.
Why packaging machinery needs backup power
Modern packaging systems are full of motors, drives and control gear. Lose the supply mid-cycle and the line does not simply pause. Part-filled packs are wasted, the machine has to be cleared and reset, and production schedules slip.
A 110 kVA standby set suits this duty well. The rating leaves useful headroom for the high inrush currents drawn when motors and drives restart together, so the line comes back up cleanly. The PowerStart 0600 controller supports automatic mains failure operation, remote start and Modbus communications, with fault logging and maintenance reminders built in. As standby sets, all 3 are backed by Cummins' 2 year / 500 hour standby warranty.
Why customers choose Global Generators
- Authorised Cummins CPG reseller - the UK's best pricing on Cummins diesel generators, backed by our Best UK Cummins Diesel Generator Prices guarantee
- A leading stockist - a wide range of generators held in our own physical inventory, so multiple matching sets can be supplied together without waiting on a factory build slot
- Up-fits handled in house - bulk fuel connections, 3-way valves and similar additions carried out by our team before the sets leave us
- Over 50 years of combined experience - we help machinery builders and OEMs match the right set to the loads their equipment actually draws
- Fast delivery from the UK and efficient global export - one set or a full batch, within the UK or overseas
Supplying machinery that cannot afford to stop?
Packaging lines, process plant, material handling or bespoke automation: if your equipment needs guaranteed power behind it, our team will help you specify the right diesel generator to match it. We supply OEMs and machinery builders with single sets or matched batches, delivered from stock quickly across the UK and exported worldwide.
Talk to our power generation experts today. Call us, message us on WhatsApp, or send us an email, and we will be happy to assist.

