JCB partners with Kohler on compacts

JCB has announced a partnership with Kohler, which will see the manufacturer of small diesel engines supply three- and four-cylinder engines from 31 kW to 55 kW for the company’s range of compact construction equipment.

The water-cooled Kohler Direct Injection (KDI) engines, which will be branded JCB Diesel by Kohler, meet the forthcoming Tier 4 Final emissions regulations without the need for a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

JCB’s Director of Engine Programmes Alan Tolley said, “The decision to partner with Kohler to develop engines for JCB compact machines was driven by the synergy in the technologies used by JCB and Kohler to achieve stringent Tier 4 Final emissions legislation. Kohler’s achievement of Tier 4 Final without the need for a bulky DPF is fully in line with our own engine strategy and allows our designers maximum flexibility when it comes to meeting machine design and packaging requirements. These highly efficient engines will offer our customers improved performance and lower fuel consumption.”

Tom Cromwell, president at Kohler Engines, added, “Kohler is extremely proud to be appointed as JCB’s engine supply partner for a wide range of construction equipment with the Kohler KDI engines. Reflecting the significant investment made by Kohler within diesel engine innovation and technology, these compact engines enable the machines to meet the stringent EU Stage IIIB and EPA Tier 4 Final emission regulations without the use of a DPF, while delivering significant fuel savings for JCB customers. This aligns perfectly with JCB’s wider engine strategy.”

The European-built engines will be progressively introduced in JCB products, including midi excavators, the TLT35D Teletruk – a compact telescopic forklift, 406 and 409 compact wheeled loaders, the 190 and 205 skid steers and 190T and 205T compact tracked loaders, smaller 135, 155 and 175 skid steers and TM180 and TM220 articulated wheeled loaders. The first machine to be fitted with the new engines is the TLT35D 4x4 Teletruk.

The KDI engines use a Common Rail fuel injection system working at 2,000 bar pressures, cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), four valves per cylinder and a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) within the exhaust system. Fuel consumption is up to -15% lower than a similar output engine equipped with lower injection pressures and a DPF.

There are two 1.9-litre three-cylinder engines, the KDI 1903M and the KDI 1903TCR, delivering 31 kW and 42 kW. The 2.5-litre, four-cylinder KDI 2504M and KDI 2504TCR deliver 36.4 kW and 55.4 kW. The engines meet all JCB standards, with 500 hour maintenance intervals available on all models.