INDUSTRY NEWS
For 2012, Charles Machine Works will engineer five different Tier 4 interim
engine installations within the 75 to 174 hp Ditch Witch product range that
includes trenchers, vibratory plows, backhoes, horizontal directional drilling machines, excavator-tool carriers, compact utility loaders and the Zahn
family of power utility equipment.
Solutions International (GM engines),
Zenith Power Products (Hyundai
engines), Natural Gas Engines Inc.
(Doosan engines) and Juniper Engines
Inc. (Hyundai engines). These companies are the manufacturers of record for
a line of automotive engines that are
industrialized and emissions certified.
“We’ve looked at heavy-duty
gasoline engines,” said Saiia. “It
would limit us to the North American
market since that type of strategy
wouldn’t work in Europe because
of fuel prices, but it would work
here. There are people with gasoline engines with very good torque
and performance characteristics.
“Spark-ignited engines could be
that game changer. But, you do have
to worry about the customer that has
to pay for this new diesel engine
technology and live with it. We want
to be really sensitive to that person
and a spark-ignited engine may be a
better solution.”
“There’s certainly some chatter about
spark-ignited engines — gasoline,
propane or CNG,” Campbell said.
“Right now the offerings are limited,
and many of them are based on
automotive engines. They tend to
have flatter torque curves and run at
significantly higher speeds to develop
the same horsepower when compared
to diesels. We may see a trend toward
some other types of fuels. But, right now
I still think the expectation is diesel.”
While the Tier interim and final
emissions regulations are approach-
ing for the lower-horsepower mar-
kets, some have already begun
pondering what other requirements
might also be coming down the road.
“My perception is the next legislation
for off-road is going to be around
fuel consumption or carbon release,”
said Elzinga. “And when that hap-
pens they’ve just about optimized the
emissions as far they possibly can.
The only way to go the next step is
to turn the engine off.” dp
SEE DIRECTLINK WWW.DIESELPROGRESS.COM
Haynes.indd 1
6/1/11 12:07: 27 PM
