Used Caterpillar Generators for Sale

Caterpillar was formed on April 15, 1925, through the merger of the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C. L. Best Tractor Company, incorporating as the Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Illinois. The company expanded its product lineup in the early 1930s, adopting its signature yellow color scheme and adding electrical generator sets alongside its established line of tractors and motor graders. By the mid-twentieth century Caterpillar had grown into one of the world's foremost industrial manufacturers, and its Electric Power division has been producing generator sets continuously for more than ninety years.

Caterpillar organizes its generator portfolio into several distinct families. The C-Series covers commercial and light industrial applications from roughly 150 kW up to 1,100 kW, with models such as the C9, C18, C27, and C32 featuring ACERT emissions technology and integrated EMCP digital controls. The 3500 Series — in continuous production since 1977 — is the heavy-industrial workhorse, spanning 800 kW to 3,500 kW across the 3508, 3512, 3516, and 3520 platforms. The C175 is Caterpillar's modern high-density platform, available in 16- and 20-cylinder configurations producing up to 4,000 ekW for mission-critical and prime power applications. Across all families, generator ends including the SR4B four-pole alternator are paired directly with Cat engines, and both diesel-fueled and natural gas variants are offered throughout the lineup.

Caterpillar generator sets serve an exceptionally broad range of end markets. Data centers — from hyperscale cloud facilities to enterprise colocation sites — rely on the 3500 Series and C175 for N+1 standby redundancy. Hospitals and healthcare campuses depend on Cat gensets for life-safety backup power. The oil and gas industry uses Cat units for prime power at remote drilling and production sites, while mining operations, utilities, and manufacturing plants round out the core customer base. Caterpillar also supplies combined heat and power solutions for industrial operations and rental power modules for temporary or emergency applications worldwide.

Buyers consistently seek used Caterpillar generators because the machines are engineered for decades of service — a well-maintained 3512 or 3516 can reach 30,000 to 50,000 hours between major overhauls. Caterpillar holds approximately 30 percent of the North American industrial generator market by installed capacity, which means parts, trained technicians, and service documentation are available virtually everywhere. Strong resale values, straightforward maintenance on the mechanical 3400-series platforms, and the availability of Cat dealer extended-service agreements make used Caterpillar generator sets one of the most liquid and supportable assets in the industrial power market.

Meadoworks is your trusted source for used Caterpillar equipment. As third-generation industrial equipment dealers and AMEA-certified appraisers with over 50 years of experience, we offer quality-inspected Caterpillar machines at competitive prices. Browse the 1 used Caterpillar machine listed above, or call 800-323-0307 for equipment not yet listed.

Every machine includes detailed specifications and high-resolution photos, and inspection visits are available for most equipment. We ship worldwide with experienced rigging partners and offer financing for qualified buyers. Have Caterpillar equipment to sell? Get a free valuation or contact our team.