Impco Engine Systems Assumes Broader Market Scope: As 2004 standards loom, engine systems, complete gaseous fuel systems form new focus for Engine Systems Division

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Nov, 2001 by Mike Osenga

Responding to current and future changes in the industrial gaseous-fueled engine markets, especially with 2004 EPA/GARB certification requirements looming larger on the horizon, ImpcoTechnologies, Inc. said it has "updated its industrial focus," pricing sales and marketing responsibility for both gas engine packages and complete fuel systems with its Sterling Heights, Mich., Engine Systems Division (ESD).

Brad Garner, general manager of ESD, indicated that, "This change will give our industrial customer base a single point of contact for the entire sales, logistics and after-sales support process."

In its new role, ESD is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of Impco gas engine packages including certified fuel delivery systems and service parts, and electronic engine management systems, including the new Spectrum series of next-generation gaseous-fuel systems.

Garner said ESD now possesses the certification, manufacturing and systems integration technology to support its global manufacturing and product strategy for industrial and power generation. Toward this end, Impco is one of the first companies to receive approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for industrial engine emission certification, Garner said. ESD has received an executive order for an Emissions Certified Engine package under California's new emissions regulation affecting off-road large spark-ignited engines used in industrial equipment applications.

The new CARB regulation requires engines used in industrial equipment to meet low-emission levels using closed-loop fuel systems and catalytic converters and to meet durability requirements in the form of an extended emissions warranty.

Adding the fuel systems strategy strengthens the ESD portfolio and its capabilities as an industrial gas engine integrator to equipment OEMs, Garner said, adding that the expanded responsibilities for the division were undertaken for a number of reasons.

"With the way emissions regulations are sorting out, users of gaseous-fueled engines will have to meet certification requirements on a global basis. Yet, engine and fuel systems are generally not a core competency for most equipment manufacturers and many cannot justify the expense to do it themselves.

"Equipment manufacturers are looking at technology integration; balancing fuel and engine system interface with their equipment system design needs, a balance between cost and value, as well as reducing the time to market. As a result, they increasingly look for supply partners who have the total capability to design, integrate and certify their engine systems."

As such, ESD has adopted a "manufacturer of record" (MOR) philosophy of assuming responsibility for the fuel systems and engine systems the division sells. These primarily go into uses such as material handling, aviation ground support equipment, construction equipment such as aerial lifts, welders and chippers, as well as generator sets, delivery vehicles, pumps and irrigation units.

Garner said this systems responsibility, when the division is the manufacturer of record, encompasses such things as: fuel system development for a specific engine or application; useful life validation; useful life durability; warranty tracking, as well as end of line audit; in use audit; CARB/EPA/ISO interface; equipment tracking; liability coverage; service parts; training; and recall provisions & self-insurance.

"The company that holds the MOR is also held responsible for the engine's emission performance throughout its lifecycle," Garner said. "If an equipment manufacturer doesn't already have a dedicated department for such activities, it can be a considerable burden to start up. It's tough enough to keep pace with engine systems development, let alone keep track of regulations that impact engine emissions and performance."

The Engine Systems Division packaged engine program capability revolves around industrial engine and fuel systems from small air-cooled engines to large spark-ignited engines. This includes assembling "drop-in" engine packages.

The ESD operations are centered around its 76,000 sq.ft. facility in Sterling Heights. The facility includes engineering, sales, marketing, service, distribution and other corporate functions, as well as a recently expanded manufacturing operation.

There are five manufacturing lines within the Sterling Heights facility. One line is dedicated to an engine-repowering program for engines going into UPS trucks. These engine packages include the engine, fuel system, cooling system, exhaust system and catalyst and related hardware. A second line is largely dedicated to packaging small four-cylinder engines, though it can also package other engines as required.

The third manufacturing line is dedicated to CARB-certified forklift engines going to Daewoo in Korea and Clark in Germany and Korea. The fourth manufacturing line packages larger engine and fuel systems for irrigation and power generation applications, while the final manufacturing area assembles Tecogen cogeneration packages.