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To power the main convention center, Kohler Rental’s Technical Services and Design team customized three 2,000 kW KOHLER Rental power modules with transformers to meet the venue’s 4160V requirements.

THE APPLICATION: G-20 SUMMIT

In late September 2009, leaders from 20 nations gathered at the David L. Lawrence Convention center in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the G-20 Pittsburgh Summit. As leaders discussed continuing actions to assure a sound and sustainable recovery from the global financial and economic crisis, backup KOHLER Rental generators waited silently, prepared to automatically power the entire convention center in an emergency. Additional KOHLER generators powered security checkpoints and hospitality venues.

“The Pittsburgh Summit was our third Nationally Secured Special Event (NSSE) where we were the primary contractor,” says Ajay Patil, president of Showcall, the Maryland-based event firm called on to provide production for the event. “NSSE events require a vendor that is technically precise, cost-effective and — this is key — logistically flexible in a high-security environment.”

THE CUSTOMER: SHOWCALL

For the G-20 Pittsburgh Summit, event organizers again hit re-dial for Showcall, a long-trusted Maryland-based event firm accustomed to production and broadcast services for the most secure live events around the world — no learning curve required.

“In some ways, the Pittsburgh Summit wasn’t as large as other live events that Showcall and Kohler Rental have partnered on — events like the historic Obama Inauguration with record- breaking crowds or Pope Benedict’s mass to 47,000 faithful in National Stadium,” says Patil, “but it was no less demanding technically and was conducted in an arguably more secure environment. And while the actual summit was private and not broadcast, the press conferences, the internal video feeds and the closed circuit monitoring for security personnel were incredibly complex — some of the most sophisticated video work we have ever done.”

SOLUTION: FLEXIBILITY SECURITY

To power the main convention center, Kohler Rental’s Technical Services and Design team customized three 2,000 kW KOHLER Rental power modules with transformers to meet the venue’s 4160V requirements. To test the configuration, the convention center was taken entirely off-line late one night — Kohler generators kicked in and power the center without interruption. Kohler Rental also powered a dozen security sites, each with X-ray tents and magnetometers to provide airport-level security at every access gate, plus, two other venues for off-site hospitality events. After careful planning and preparation, security-cleared
Kohler Rental technicians hustled to set-up power at the Lawrence Convention Center in a very tight timeframe within the security perimeter. Then Kohler Rental personnel monitored and fueled generators 24/7 throughout the summit.

THE RESULT

The highlight was that there were no highlights — not a single hiccup. “That’s the norm for Kohler Rental,” says Patil. “We can talk about superior and well-maintained equipment, and Kohler certainly has it. But, frankly, so does the competition. It’s really the people who make the difference. Every business is ultimately a people business, and we’re very comfortable with the approach and attitude of Kohler Rental personnel. The selection process for a power partner is quite honestly not really a process … we’re very satisfied with Kohler.”

THE JOB

G20 Summit