Rehlko completes multi-million upgrade of Brest plant

Rehlko, formerly Kohler Energy, has completed the multi-million-dollar expansion of its production site at its Brest plant in Brittany, France. Initiated in 2021, the investment has helped increase production, storage, and transport capacity, meeting the rapidly increasing demand for generators in the data center market. This project builds on the successful expansion of the North American manufacturing facility in Mosel, Wisconsin, completed in 2022. The new expansion further strengthens our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs worldwide.

Over the past three years, the 42,800 m² Brest site has seen significant enhancements to support expanded manufacturing and logistical facilities - increasing the number of large generators it produces per annum, while also introducing a new range of walk-in enclosures to house >4,000 kW generators in outdoor environments.

With the completion of the most recent upgrade, which includes the installation of two 1,250 m² metal industrial buildings in a newly developed outdoor area, measuring 4,000 m², Rehlko has been able to increase production capacity, as well as grow the amount of storage for upstream and downstream products.

“The completion of our multi-million-dollar expansion at our plant in Brest is a major milestone in our ongoing commitment to improve production efficiency for both our team and our customers,” commented Lenaik Andrieux, General Manager of Power Systems EMEA & India, at Rehlko. “The work of the past three years will help to meet the challenges of tomorrow, boosting our capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the markets we work with.”

Phase one of the expansion took place in 2021 and saw the docking areas enlarged in order to accommodate larger generators for transport. This was followed by increased manufacturing, test, and warehouse floor space as well as additional improvements to handling spaces with new gantries, cranes and dock infrastructure including autonomous transporters to support higher-capacity shipment by sea.

“In addition to the changes to the physical footprint of the Brest site, we’ve also been improving the sustainability of our operations with a switch to testing exclusively using HVO fuels - meaning customers can be rest assured that we are aiming to reduce the carbon emissions of their gensets from the very start of production,” continued Andrieux. “Our test facilities are commissioned to best meet the requirements of customers in the data center markets, including 20 MVA of resistive/inductive load banks.”

Further developments are expected to support the company’s ongoing commitment to streamlining production operations including a one-way lane for trucks and cars and a new site exit, helping to secure improved road and pedestrian flows on site.

On September 17th, Kohler Energy has been officially rebranded Rehlko, marking a major milestone in the company’s 100-plus-year history delivering innovative, resilient energy solutions that provide independence, agility, and security to mission-critical infrastructure, facilities and residences. Rehlko continues to operate as an independent enterprise.