August 5, 2026 - For decades, Cummins has been synonymous with reliable power. Founded in Columbus, Indiana, the global power solutions company designs and manufactures diesel and alternative fuel engines, generators, and power systems for some of the most demanding applications, from deep-sea vessels and underground mines to the data centers powering critical digital infrastructure. Today, Cummins is focused on delivering dependable power while advancing a broad portfolio of solutions that meet customers where they are and support their evolving needs. Within Cummins’ global footprint, the Daventry plant holds a quietly significant place as the home of the UK power systems plant, UK logistics center and service training school.

Roy Free, Plant Manager at Daventry

Established in 1972 after Cummins acquired the site from Herbert Ingersoll, the Daventry plant was heralded in the local press at the time as a business that one day could create 400 jobs. Today, the site has evolved into a 260,000-square-foot manufacturing space that employs around 1100 people, and has delivered strong performance in recent years, supported by demand across its end markets. Every product that leaves Daventry is built for off-highway applications, serving power generation, mining, oil and gas, marine, and rail markets. The plant produces engines ranging in capacity from 38 liters to 78 liters and generator sets from 38 liters to 95 liters, serving customers across key markets as part of Cummins’ broader manufacturing strategy to serve local demand while benefiting from global scale.

As the world awakens to the concept of AI and computing power, data center construction has surged, and this has created increased demand for the high-capacity generators Cummins’ Daventry site specializes in. To respond to this increasing demand, the Daventry site is part of a broader strategic investment plan across sites, focused on expanding capacity in line with customer demand and improving operational efficiency. To learn more about these investments, we speak with Roy Free, Plant Manager at Daventry, who has worked at Daventry for 38 of the site’s 54 years in operation.

“With the world’s demand for energy constantly increasing, there’s continued opportunity for growth in Cummins’ markets,” Roy opens. “The ongoing investments at Daventry are volume driven and will expand capacity to meet sustained customer demand. We’re focusing investment on four key areas: a block line extension, new computer numerical control (CNC) machines that use software to precisely machine engine components, a new assembly line and retooling. Our new assembly line will be run entirely on autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) with embedded safety protocols. Lastly, we will also retool our test cells and trim lines, and although we’ve focused investment on these four areas, there are also several enabling projects underway. We have also made targeted investments to improve the employee experience and support operational performance.”

Having worked at the Daventry plant for 38 years and spent the last three as Plant Manager, Roy has seen the site evolve significantly over the course of his career. “It seems as though each decade brings a huge shift in technology, and Daventry has always been able to adapt to these new ways of working,” he reflects. “When I first started here, all the parts to build an engine would arrive at a workstation and each person would complete their stage before the engine moved on again. This quickly progressed to using S-shaped flow lines, then moving tracks, and now we have an AGV-driven assembly line under development, which will enhance both our safety and efficiency.”

In fact, Daventry is often the home of innovation across Cummins, with many of its processes implemented in other sites around the world. “We installed a state-of-the-art genset manufacturing line in 2017, and the line has now been replicated in our plants in India and Fridley, Minnesota,” Roy explains. “We share innovation across the company’s global footprint, and our current focus is on how we can utilize AI to streamline our processes and make us even more efficient.”

Alongside technological progression and manufacturing advances, Daventry has also evolved in terms of sustainability. “We’re really proud of our onsite solar farm, which supplied a meaningful portion of the site’s 2025 power consumption,” Roy shares. “Beyond solar, we’ve shifted from solvent-based paint to water-based alternatives, which reduced emissions by 80 percent while also decreasing hazardous waste from paint sludge and filters, and reusable packaging has become standard across new production lines and supplier onboarding.

“We’ve also conducted a two-year engineering program to test and validate the entire Daventry engine range to run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The engines don’t require any additional storage or hardware modifications, and when run on HVO, emissions fall significantly compared with conventional diesel.”

Moving to the people side of the business, Roy explains that one of his priorities when he became Plant Manager three years ago was to reconnect with the shop floor. “Following the Covid-19 pandemic, I wanted to strengthen our culture and engage our employees,” he reflects. “We’ve implemented several things as a response, such as new workwear including a specific range for female employees, an onsite gym, and a peer recognition platform called Kudos that allows employees to earn awards and redeem points for gifts. We also remain committed to supporting our local communities, and we’re passionate about supporting the small local businesses that rely on us for growth.”

With investment flowing in both its infrastructure and people, Daventry is confidently entering a new chapter. Looking ahead, Roy plans to build on its momentum, strengthening its foundation for future growth while meeting current demand. He notes that the team is focused on executing its investment program to ensure everything is in place over the coming years. As these investments come to fruition, the site expects gains in productivity and capacity, with the full potential realized in the years that follow.

“Daventry’s legacy has only been possible because of our willingness to evolve in line with market and customer demands, and the future will require the same flexibility and adaptability,” Roy concludes. “Today, we’re a Power Systems manufacturing site aligned with Cummins’ broader portfolio across multiple power solutions, which will ensure Daventry remains a strong and relevant plant for years to come.”