Cargotec will start 2011 by fitting its Kalmar equipment with engines that comply with the EU Stage IIIB and US EPA Tier 4i emission regulations which govern all off-road equipment powered by engines rated 130kW and above.

The company has planned for a smooth transition for its products that are affected by the new legislation. Jorma Tirkkonen, senior vice president, RDE Services, says the engines combine high output with efficient fuel consumption.

"There is no increase in service intervals or costly downtime as the system is designed to last the lifetime of the engines. Their introduction shows our ongoing commitment to environmental protection and a desire to reduce running costs for our customers wherever possible," he says.

Using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or exhaust gas recirculation technology (EGR), the engines are said to deliver near-zero nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and harmful particulate emissions, complying with the emission regulations.

According to Cargotec, the SCR engines are optimised for efficient combustion, which provides fuel efficiency and low particulate emission benefits. To combat the resultant NOx emissions, AdBlue is injected into the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas and AdBlue then enter a catalytic converter, which turns NOx into harmless nitrogen gas and water vapour.

AdBlue is the registered trade name for AUS 32 (aqueous urea solution 32.5%), a diesel engine fluid that is used in the SCR process to reduce NOx emissions from the exhausts of diesel engine vehicles.

The EGR engine works at a lower combustion temperature which generates a low level of NOx. This type of engine generates a high level of particulate matter but eliminates the particles through a particulate filter.