TIER 4: BIG CHALLENGES FOR SMALL EQUIPMENT - Tier 4 has compact equipment manufacturers searching for the right place to stick aftertreatment systems

摘要

As the off-highway world deals with the onset of Tier 4 emissions regulations coming into play - depending on the horsepower range - from 2011 until 2015, it is not surprising that the smallest equipment faces perhaps the biggest engineering hurdles. The small size of machines such as skid-steer loaders (SSLs), compact track loaders (CTLs), mini excavators and compact wheel loaders, and the limited space of their engine compartments, has engineers working overtime to keep engine package sizes down, while at the same time accommodating larger cooling systems, added weight and the pesky task of figuring out where to mount the aftertreatment as they reach Tier 4 final.