Winco Generators info

Winco Generators

Located in Le Center, Minnesota, Winco Generators is an American Generator Manufacturing Company. Le Center is the county seat of Le Sueur County with a population of approximately 2500 people. Founded by John and Gerhard Albers in 1927 when they invented the Wincharger to power their farm. The wincharger was a simple propeller that drove a car generator to charge storage batteries. They later incorporated as Wincharger in 1935 and moved manufacturing from Cherokee Iowa to Sioux City. Winco became a subsidiary of Zenith Radio and before long Wincharger Generators were found all over the world. The name was changed to Winco in 1968 and the company moved again to Le Center, Minnesota. Ralph Call became President of Winco, in 1989 and purchased the company six years later. 

John and Gerhard Albers with a Wincharger. 
Popular Science Monthly, May 1938

Today. Winco Generators manufactures portable generators, commercial and residential standby generators, prime power generators, and PTO generators at their factory in Le Center. 

Residential/Commercial Standby models start with the air-cooled 8kW, 12kW, and 18kW units that run on  propane or natural gas. The 8kW and 12kW generators also come with a prime power rating with an optional factory installed Off-Grid package that includes a 12-volt solar panel. Powered by Vanguard or Honda engines, these generators provide years of reliable standby power with all the features you expect from a commercial backup power unit. Norwall offers a range of Winco accessories from maintenance kits to battery and oil heaters to keep your generator running in sub-freezing temperatures.

Standby Generators are for use during power outages at a property connected to the electric utility. Prime power provides the “primary” source of power. Winco Prime Power Generators provide stationary and towable generators up to 162 kW with diesel, LP/NG, and gasoline powered engines. Diesel models can provide up to 30 years of service when properly maintained.

Portable Genertors go wherever you need power. Winco manufactures portable diesel, gasoline, and LP/NG portables with rated capacities of up to 18kW (18000 running watts). Single phase generators operate at 120 volts or 120/240 volts. Winco 3-phase generators are available in standard voltages from 120/240 volts up to 277/480 volts. Also available is the 132/230-volt 3 phase “Big Dog”.