mtu has completely renewed its range on the eve of the Tier 4 Final. What did the market like best and what would you change in your choices?
Our customers were very satisfied with the reduced fuel consumption of the new engine portfolio. For the OEM’s furthermore the double certification (for the USA and for Europe) is a clear benefit regarding the flexibility in application and sales. With the new engine series 1000 – 1500 the customers got extended options especially in terms of performance range. Because of the additional space requirements the aftertreatment system was a challenge. With these experiences the further development to Stage V was smooth and with less teething troubles.
Looking back we would change the power rating. But again we learned from that and set up a higher power rating for the Stage V engines.
5.1, 7.7, 10.7, 12.8, 15.6 liters series. A well balanced portfolio, above all for construction applications. Could you change this line up? Which of these displacements are the most popular among OEMs?
We are convinced that our portfolio is well balanced. It supplies maximum flexibility for our customers and complies with various emission regulations. Most popular among our customers are the engine series with the higher power range series 1300 and 1500 (especially for mobile cranes). Series 1000 is very common for wheel loader and forklift trucks. As series 1000 – 1500 are able to cover various applications the sales figures are well balanced.
Do you still think EGR is a trump card? No problem with heat dissipation in dusty environments such as construction sites and quarries?
EGR is a well-established technology at mtu. For Stage V we added diesel particulate filter and the diesel oxidation catalyst.
The 1000 series is an excellent platform for a hybrid package for an excavator. Does mtu have specific projects? On the commercial marine mtu has invested in hybrid propulsion. And what about off-road applications, not only for excavators but also for drilling and mining in general?
Regarding electrification and hybridization we are focusing on marine, rail and powergen applications for the moment. With the experiences of this we will turn to CI and Mining applications. We are now working on pre-studies and see possible applications e.g. in port facilities and underground mining.
mtu GOES ON THE MINE
A typical example of a hybrid application is the dumper truck. How is mtu positioning itself? On the one hand the competition from CAT and Cummins, on the other a face as new as it is illustrious as that of Liebherr. Is the Chinese market the new frontier, as shown by XCMG and NHL?
mtu has a strong position in Europe and invests in global expansion to satisfy customer needs. OEM’s outside Europe, e.g. in Russia, nowadays focus on product quality which empowers them to sell their machinery in Europe. Technological advancement in these markets is a key success factor for mtu as we are known for high quality, reliability and outstanding performance. We have a strategic focus on the German market, Europe in general and the US market. Due to emission legislation changes in various countries we need to develop solutions that satisfy our customer’s global expectation. In the construction application we are focusing on mobile cranes and excavators, especially in Asia. Long-term agreements with our OEM’s lay the foundation for future investments in these applications and are a strong commitment to the business overall.
By focusing on the market as a whole, does construction confirm the positive trend?
Yes, we see a positive growth in the construction business. For us especially Asia is very interesting with China and Japan. The prospects of the BRIC countries remain exciting.
Mannheim is still the plant that produces for both mtu and Daimler. Will there be further developments and synergies between the two companies in transferring future truck technology into construction machinery?
We benefit from the Daimler kit and its further developments. We are in a steady exchange to develop our portfolio. Global emission regulations demand for certifications. Hybrid solutions may also be interesting one time.
In conclusion, what news should we expect at Bauma and what’s going in the near future?
For visitors interested in our C & I portfolio we will present our mtu Series 1000, 1100, 1300 and 1500 which have been available on the market as production Stage V engines for customers since June 2018. mtu is also showing its one-box SCR solution for exhaust gas aftertreatment. This system is both compact and robust as well as being easy to use, install and clean. Thus ensuring it complies fully with the requirements of vehicle manufacturers and operators alike.
For visitors interested in our Mining products we will show new digital service solutions. Digitalization is a central theme for us: It enables us to connect our customer service, our product development and our international network to meet our customers’ needs in the best possible way. In the near future we see a new market in microgrids. With regard to cost efficiency and to environment protection, electricity derived from renewable energies is more and more demanded on construction and mining sites.
Decentralized microgrids, combining classical electric power sources i.e. diesel generators, CHP, batteries, capacitors and fuel cells with renewable energies such as photovoltaic, wind or water power will more and more complement and replace central power plants. Microgrids can be installed in remote areas and next to where the power demand occurs. mtu is now adding turnkey microgrids to its current portfolio. In addition to the diesel and gas gensets mtu now offers battery containers, include renewable power generation plants, and combine that with intelligent control.
