Generac Power Systems (NYSE: GNRC) is a manufacturer of backup power generation products for residential, light commercial and industrial markets. The company is headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, with manufacturing facilities in Eagle and Whitewater, Wisconsin. Founded in 1959 by Robert Kern, Generac applied new silicon diode technology to generators. By the next year, the company had developed its first revolving field alternator. Soon after, Generac began producing portable generators for Sears, Roebuck and Co. under the Craftsman brand. During the 1970s, Generac expanded its offerings in the portable and recreational vehicle markets, but the company shifted its focus to the commercial and industrial markets (specifically backup power generation systems) in the 1980s. During that time, Generac was also developing automatic transfer switch technology. By end of the 1980s, the company was manufacturing residential, commercial and industrial generators and in 1989, Generac introduced the first gaseous-fueled automatic home standby system. In the early 1990s, the company created an air-cooled overhead valve industrial (OHVI) engine that was followed by larger and more advanced models. Today, Generac sells more automatic home standby generators than all of its competitors combined.[citation needed] In 1992, Generac began private labeling generator sets for Caterpillar, Inc. As the partnership grew between the two companies, they discussed a potential acquisition of Generac by Caterpillar, although a deal was never finalized. In June 1996, Caterpillar decided to terminate the private labeling agreement. Generac fought back with a suit under the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law ("WFDL"), the Sherman Act, the Wisconsin common law concerning restrictive covenants, and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. The federal district court, in two separate orders, disposed of the action in Caterpillar's favor. Generac then challenged the lower court's rulings in the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that Generac's claims were properly dismissed by the lower court.. Generac continued to supply some transfer switches to Caterpillar until 2002, when Caterpillar changed suppliers.