Venture targets future emissions challenges: Fleetguard Emission Solutions founded to develop aftertreatment systems for OEM, retrofit applications - Industry News

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Feb, 2003 by Mike Mercer

As engine manufacturers continue their efforts to design, build and sell cost competitive, reliable, efficient engines that meet ever-tightening exhaust emission standards, aftertreatment technology is taking on increasing importance. But while making engines is one thing, making them fit and work effectively in vehicles and equipment is another challenge altogether. And it was because of what it saw as a need for greater expertise in that process that Cummins Inc. formed a new business unit to address it.

Fleetguard Emission Solutions was established to research, develop and commercialize systems and products for use in mobile and stationary applications. The company is focusing on retrofitting the existing engine population with emissions control devices and the development of new emissions system solutions and products for new engines and original equipment manufacturer products.

"The decision to form this venture was done in anticipation of future emissions regulations for both the United States and Europe," said Dan Davis, executive director -- marketing and sales for Fleetguard Emission Solutions. "This was a corporate decision with input from within our parent company Cummins and Fleetguard. The organization was set up in a way that Fleetguard Emission Solutions (FES) would be both a separate business entity and separate brand, not just a brand identity of Cummins."

FES is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., and has engineering and manufacturing facilities in Stoughton, Wis., and Hinckley, U.K., as well as business support facilities in Columbus, Ind., headquarters for Cummins. Mike Cross, vice president, Fleetguard Emission Solutions, leads the venture.

The goals for FES are broad, according to Davis. "In the near term, significant retrofit opportunities are driven by state and local air quality improvement initiatives for mobile and stationary power -- as well as progressive customers that want to run the cleanest power possible," he said. "There are first fit opportunities right now for stationary power. Those first fit opportunities are likely to grow as emission regulations tighten both in the U.S. and around the world."

Fleetguard Emission Solutions is organized into two groups, the Retrofit Group and the First Fit Group. The Retrofit Group works with applications that incorporate a customer engine already in service. The First Fit Group works with engine and equipment manufacturers to provide products and solutions to ensure that new products meet all applicable exhaust and other emissions standards during the design phase.

"The Fleetguard Emission Solutions business was created to address both market needs -- first, retrofit opportunities which are available right now; and secondly, development of the technologies that are likely to be required by the end of the decade," said Davis. "Right now, the split is about equal between the two groups in terms of where the emphasis is placed."

There are important differences between first fit and retrofit products. Retrofit products, targeted mostly toward transit buses, refuse haulers and captive vehicle fleets, are verified to reduce emissions based on a percentage of the previously measured emissions level. First fit products must be certified to reduce emissions to specific level, a much more exacting standard.

"The worldwide Cummins distribudon system provides a unique opportunity to take advantage of currently available retrofit opportunities," said Cross. "In addition, we are increasing our investment in product development for the next round of emission regulations. In the long run, our goal is to be the leading supplier of integrated first fit emission solutions to both internal customers, such as the engine and power generation business units of Cummins, as well as non-Cummins OEMs."

System integration of the engine and the ancillary components with the equipment is vital. The new regulations are causing engine manufacturers and OEMs to address a host of engine packaging issues, particularly those surrounding cooling. The Fleetguard Emission Solutions product line includes integrated silencers, diesel oxidation catalysts (DOG), diesel particulate and soot filters and stationary selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems for both retrofit and first fit market applications of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty engine markets.

The products, primarily HC particulate and [NO.sub.x] reduction devices, are designed to work with engines within the Cummins product range of 50 to 3000 hp, but FES emphasized that the products will be sold to customers which have no affiliation to Cummins. The long-term goal is to be in the first fit markets of engine-powered equipment that meet EURO 4 standards in 2005 and EPA standards in 2007, according to the company.

"The line of products will be packaged emissions systems, exhaust after- treatment devices and their consumables," said Davis. "The focus until now had been on bolt-on devices and the future will lie in integrated products. This program is global in scope.