Chongqing - Europe’s 2026 summer heatwave has pushed temperatures above 40°C, causing more than 10,000 heat-related deaths by July 13, according to the WHO. The extreme heat has disrupted transport, increased power demand and tested public infrastructure across the continent.

From Middle Eastern construction sites to remote farms, reliable generators are helping tackle power challenges in areas with limited electricity infrastructure or harsh conditions, providing a stable backup power source.

A Chongqing-based Chinese manufacturer, KEMAGE, has developed generators built for extreme environments, including Saudi Arabia’s deserts, where temperatures can soar to 60°C and strong winds carry heavy sand.

Building a generator for extreme environments

The project began in May 2024, when a Saudi customer approached KEMAGE with a strict requirement: develop a generator within 60 days that could operate in high temperatures, heavy sand and long working hours.

In Saudi Arabia, large-scale construction projects often face a power supply challenge before buildings are connected to the municipal electricity network. Contractors need independent power sources to support construction activities, making generators a key piece of equipment at many sites.

"The customer needed the order quickly and also wanted to seize the market first," said Jiang Yong, KEMAGE's chief engineer. "Before local buildings are completed, there is no electricity supply. Builders have to solve the power problem themselves, so they can only rely on generators."

Jiang said conventional generators are generally designed for operating temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius. However, the equipment developed for Saudi Arabia needed to withstand measured ground temperatures of about 60 degrees, strong winds carrying sand and more than eight hours of daily operation.

To meet these requirements, KEMAGE redesigned its thermal management and sand filtration systems.

"The most difficult problem was solving the critical technical issues within a very short delivery period," Jiang said. "The team worked continuously. Put simply, we develop the products the world needs."

Engineers then conducted field tests in China's Taklimakan Desert, where environmental conditions provided a reference for extreme heat and sand exposure.

"We continuously observed and tested every parameter for 70 hours," Jiang said. "Finally, we developed a solution that could meet the customer's requirements."

The desert generator represents KEMAGE's broader strategy of developing products based on different regional demands. The company has designed anti-freezing generators for Russia, quiet power systems for Mexican households, corrosion-resistant pumps for Southeast Asia, off-grid power equipment for African markets and new-energy products for Europe.

Founded in 2002, KEMAGE operates industrial bases in Chongqing and Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. The company employs more than 1,200 people, including more than 100 research and development professionals, and holds more than 120 patents. Its products are exported to more than 120 countries and regions, with overseas sales accounting for more than 80% of its business.

Chongqing's manufacturing ecosystem behind global expansion

Behind KEMAGE's expansion into global markets is a manufacturing ecosystem developed around Chongqing's general machinery industry.

KEMAGE was originally founded in Zhejiang but established its Chongqing operation in 2012. Xu Chaqing, founder of KEMAGE, said the decision was closely connected with Chongqing's industrial advantages.

"When we were producing in Zhejiang, the better components were already in Chongqing, and the whole industrial chain was here," Xu said. "If we wanted to improve product quality and increase speed, we had to come to Chongqing."

Chongqing's general machinery industry has grown from the city's long-established motorcycle manufacturing sector. The city produces about 14 million general machinery units annually, accounting for around half of China's total output. In 2025, Chongqing's exports of mechanical and electrical products reached about 730 billion yuan (about 107.85 billion U.S. dollars), with general machinery products representing an important part of the sector.

"The biggest factor is the talent reserve," Xu said. "Chongqing is now developing toward the high-end segment."

For KEMAGE, manufacturing capability is also supported by Chongqing's international logistics network. The city connects global markets through the Yangtze River shipping route and rail links to Ningbo Port in the east, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor to Qinzhou Port in the south, and China-Europe freight trains reaching Central Asia and Europe.

For a company with more than 80% of its products sold overseas, these transport routes have become an important part of its supply chain.

"In the past, when we used the Yangtze River, the dry season made timing difficult to control. Sometimes it took half a month, sometimes more than a month," Xu said. "Now it is basically 15 to 20 days. For the five Central Asian countries, rail is the fastest. It can reach Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in about half a month."

KEMAGE's development also reflects Chongqing's broader effort to integrate technological innovation with industrial growth. At the Ninth Plenary Session of the Sixth Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held on July 13, the city introduced the "203060" innovation framework, which includes more than 20 strategic innovation platforms, more than 30 key technological breakthrough areas and more than 60 major innovation outcomes.

According to city officials, Chongqing's research and development spending increased 48.2% compared with the beginning of the previous five-year planning period. The city's R&D intensity rose from 2.11% to 2.65%, and the number of high-tech enterprises reached 10,400.

The city is also promoting the upgrading of manufacturing industries, including intelligent equipment, new energy equipment, motorcycles and artificial intelligence-related sectors.

KEMAGE is continuing to expand its product portfolio. The company is developing lightweight diesel inverter generators, with four new products expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and mass production planned for 2027.