When the Environmental Protection Agency signed a rule in May of 2004, setting new Tier 4 emission standards, shockwaves were sent to every corner of industry.
The Tier 4 standards require that emissions from diesel exhaust, specifically PM and NOx, be reduced by about 90% over a phased in period of time between 2008 to 2010. The ruling was aimed at manufacturers of non-road diesel engines, hitting companies like Caterpillar, Cummins, and John Deere especially hard.
Complying with those new regulations also means understanding their nuance. Recently, two manufacturers for the Tier IV engine industry proposed a 24-stop tour of day-long seminars throughout the U.S. and Canada to help OEMs and industry suppliers adapt to the new regulations.
Sauer-Danfoss, a manufacturer of hydraulic, electric and electronic systems in mobile equipment, and Thermal Transfer, which supplies heat transfer products in industrial and mobile markets, will offer seminars beginning Nov. 12 in Minneapolis, running through April 1 in Charlotte.
According to estimates made by Sauer-Danfoss, between 10,000 and 15,000 different machines will need to be redesigned in the coming years, beginning with reducing engine application operating speeds and speed bands. Engine power levels and torque will need to be altered, while OEMs must accept there will be greater system heat rejection.
"Our industry is facing the most compelling event of our time, and time itself is running out," says Rick Sporrer, Sauer-Danfoss sales quality and technical services director. "We are pleased to participate with Thermal Transfer to pinpoint the major Tier IV and Stage IV design issues that our customers face and identify solutions to those issues."
Sporrer says the magnitude of change facing the industry has forced engine manufacturers, cooling system providers and power transmission and control components suppliers to actively partner together.
"We all realize that we are all part of the same machine system, so it makes sense for us to work together to ensure our mutual customers' success," says Sporrer.
The day-long seminars will address updates on global emissions regulations, provide an overview on engine emission technology, cooling system products (including cooling modules and cores), vehicle control system products such as power management, fan power priority and hydraulic power booster, and vehicle power transmission products such as variable loop flushing.
In November, the seminars will be held in Minneapolis (Nov. 12), Chicago (Nov. 18) and Milwaukee (Nov. 19). Two seminars will be held in December, in Montreal (Dec. 1) and Toronto (Dec. 3). January seminars will be in Atlanta (Jan. 12), Orlando (Jan. 14), Dallas (Jan. 19), Houston (Jan. 21), Edmonton (Jan. 26) and Winnipeg (Jan. 28).
In February, sessions will be in Las Vegas (Feb. 3), Phoenix (Feb. 9), Denver (Feb. 11), Kansas City (Feb. 16), Cleveland (Feb. 23) and Philadelphia (Feb. 25). March seminars will be in Seattle (March 2), Portland (March 4), Sacramento (March 9), Los Angeles (March 11) and Memphis (March 30). The final session will be held April 1 in Charlotte.
