ECHO Incorporated has been busy expanding its footprint beyond residential lawns and into the heavy-duty industrial sector. The Lake Zurich-based manufacturer is currently transitioning its professional portfolio to meet the demands of large-scale worksites while maintaining its local conservation efforts in Illinois.
ECHO Rebrands and Expands Industrial Power Equipment
The most significant shift for the company involves the rebranding of legacy Shindaiwa mobile diesel generators and welders. These products now fall under the ECHO Industrial Power Equipment (IPE) banner, a move designed to streamline the brand's professional identity. The current lineup offers a broad range of power options, with generator models starting at 7kVA (DGK7F) and reaching up to 180kVA (DGK180F/P).
What stands out visually on the job site is the Simul-Phase technology integrated into these units. According to ECHO, this system allows operators to access dual-voltage, single-phase, and three-phase current simultaneously. This eliminates the need for external transformers, which often clutter worksites. For environments where noise is a factor, the DGK180F/P models are rated at 65dBA under a full load, roughly equivalent to the volume of a normal conversation.
To address environmental standards, all models meet EPA Tier 4 Final emissions requirements. The company also includes S.E.T. Smart Emissions Technology on the DGK70F, DGK125F, and DGK180F models. This feature protects the engine during underloaded operation, a common cause of equipment wear. For larger projects requiring redundant power, the DGK125FP and DGK180FP models support paralleling capabilities.
New Mobile Light Towers and High-Capacity Generation
The new range includes three specific models: the DLT3 (3 kW), DLT6 (6 kW), and DLT8 (8 kW). These towers feature masts with near-360-degree rotation, allowing precise light placement across a dark site.
Spec-wise, the DLT3 model is designed for long-term endurance, offering up to 300 operating hours on a single tank of fuel. These towers include shore power standards, which means you can run them on 120V grid power without engaging the engine to reduce local emissions. For transport, the units come equipped with DOT-approved lights for public road towing and integrated autostart sensors that trigger at sunrise and sunset.
In related news, the company introduced the DGK400F, a massive 400 kVA generator. Powered by an Isuzu 6WG1X engine, this unit is both Tier 4F and CARB emissions compliant. Despite its size, the manufacturer lists noise levels at approximately 68 dBA at no load and 69 dBA at full load. This expansion is supported by a network of over 40 service centers and a new in-house service training center.
Supporting Local Ecosystem Restoration
On a different front, ECHO is utilizing its professional-grade tools for environmental preservation closer to home. The company recently donated 27 pieces of outdoor power equipment to Friends of the Forest Preserves. This donation supports three field crews working in Cook County to remove invasive species like honeysuckle and buckthorn, which currently occupy nearly 80 percent of Chicago-area forests.
The detail that matters for local residents is the scale of the restoration; the recipient organization has already protected over 10,000 acres of land. ECHO’s involvement follows its own internal sustainability efforts at its Lake Zurich headquarters, where it has operated since 1985. The facility uses one of the largest solar panel installations in Illinois, which provides about 38% of the headquarters' energy needs.
Whether these new industrial machines can maintain their performance in the rigorous rental market will be determined as they roll out to North American worksites. For now, ECHO appears focused on bridging the gap between heavy industrial utility and environmental compliance.