Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/141651
The Next Wave of Earthmoving Machines Hyundai has been busy developing its 9A Series machines that comply with Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB-laws. There is pressure on manufacturers of earthmoving equipment to comply with strict off-highway diesel exhaust emissions laws in Europe, Japan and North America, but also provide suitable machines for the rest of the world. This challenge looks likely to reach a peak next year with the introduction of the Tier 4 Final emissions laws in North America and the equivalent Stage IV laws in Europe. With a handful of manufacturers already showcasing their next wave of new Tier 4 Final-compliant earthmoving machines at the recent Bauma exhibition in Munich, Germany, the global engine technology gap is widening. The current U.S. Tier 4 Interim/EU Stage IIIB regulations call for a -90 percent reduction in particulate matter (PM) along with a -50 percent drop in nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the previous legislation, while the laws coming into force next year take emissions to near-zero levels. Depending on the engine size, next year's laws could mean a formidable combination of systems need to be integrated to new engines, including cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), diesel particulate filters (DPFs), diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Not only are the new engines more expensive, but the extra components add bulk to the package, which can be a headache for manufacturers trying to accommodate them into already crowded engine compartments. The past two years have seen most of the big names in earthmoving roll out their Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB-compliant models for sale in North America and Europe – a process that is still continuing. But the earthmoving sector is a global one, and with the rest of the world at the equivalent of a Tier 3 level or below, many manufacturers have also started producing new lines of machines designed specifically for less regulated markets such as China, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. Two tiers Take Caterpillar for example. It is pushing ahead with the launch a US Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IV-compliant wheeled loader this year – the 988K. This machine is said to offer up to +20 percent greater fuel efficiency compared to the previous model, but the 50 IDA UNIVERSAL July-August 2013