Lister Petter’s story is the coming together of two legendary British engineering brands, united by a shared commitment to reliability, durability and performance. In Dursley, Gloucestershire, R.A. Lister built a global reputation from the late 19th century for robust industrial and agricultural machinery, becoming world-famous for slow-running diesel engines that delivered dependable power in the most demanding environments. From off-grid rural electrification to large-scale irrigation schemes, Lister engines became trusted workhorses across farms, factories and remote communities worldwide.
In Yeovil, Somerset, Petters developed an equally strong legacy, producing dependable stationary and marine engines relied upon by operators who demanded simple maintenance, long service life and absolute reliability. These two proud engineering houses were brought together under the Hawker Siddeley group and, in 1986, formally united as Lister Petter – creating one of the most respected names in global power solutions.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Lister Petter engines powered success across agriculture, construction, telecommunications and power generation markets. On farms, they drove irrigation pumps, mills and agricultural machinery, helping increase productivity and food security. In power generation, Lister Petter became synonymous with prime and standby power for telecom towers, hospitals, factories and remote infrastructure projects. Renowned for their toughness, long service intervals and low running costs, these engines earned the trust of customers who simply could not afford downtime.
As global markets evolved, so too did Lister Petter’s ambition. In 2017, Sleeman & Hawken stepped in to revitalise the brand, investing in people, processes and customer support. Their leadership stabilised operations, strengthened the global distributor network and enhanced aftersales support, ensuring customers received the service and reliability expected from a world-class engine manufacturer.
By 2021, a bold new chapter began. New ownership brought significant investment, accelerating the development of a modern, emissions-compliant engine range designed for today’s power demands. This marked the start of Lister Petter’s “new range” era – combining heritage engineering with cutting-edge technology.
Today, Lister Petter stands stronger than ever: a trusted global power partner delivering efficient, reliable solutions for agriculture, industry and power generation – proudly built on over a century of engineering excellence.
Focused on the future
The Venus Engine Range
The Lister Petter Venus range represents a new generation of compact, high-performance diesel engines engineered specifically for demanding power generation applications. Designed for both prime and standby duty, Venus engines deliver exceptional reliability, fuel efficiency and long service life, making them a trusted choice for OEMs and operators worldwide.
Proven across telecommunications, commercial buildings, construction sites and critical infrastructure, the Venus range has achieved widespread global acceptance. From Africa and the Middle East to Asia and Europe, these engines power generator sets in some of the world’s harshest environments. Extreme heat, dust, humidity and remote operating conditions are no challenge for Venus, it is built to perform where reliability is the driving factor.
Importantly, the Venus range is engineered to meet modern emissions legislation, with models available up to EU Stage III compliance. This allows operators to meet regulatory requirements without compromising performance or reliability. Lister Petter’s focus on emissions optimisation enables customers to operate responsibly while maintaining low fuel consumption and strong power output with low carbon emissions.
At the heart of the Venus platform is robust engineering. Heavy-duty components, precision manufacturing and rigorous testing ensure consistent performance under continuous load. Operators benefit from extended service intervals, low operating costs and excellent parts availability through Lister Petter’s global support network. For generator manufacturers, Venus offers compact packaging, seamless integration and flexible configuration options. For end users, it delivers confidence that their power will be there when it matters most.
