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	Venture Targets Future Emissions Challenges
	28 FEB 03 -- Fleetguard Emission Solutions founded to develop aftertreatment systems for OEM, retrofit applications As engine manufacturers continue their efforts to design, build and sell cost competitive, reliable, efficient engines that meet evertightening 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 a specific level, a much more exacting standard. "The worldwide Cummins distribution 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 (DOC), 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 NOx 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 aftertreatment 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. "The key to who Fleetguard interfaces with comes down simply to who is responsible for bringing the engine or the equipment, into which it is installed, into compliance and ultimately holds responsibility for the verification or certification record," Davis added. "This could either be the engine manufacturer, the vehicle manufacturer or the end user, depending on the equipment and its application." Fleetguard Emission Solutions has also developed a mobile testing vehicle called Merlin that is used by the technical organization to test advanced aftertreatment technologies. With Merlin, the engineers are able to see the performance of a specific aftertreatment technology in real time and in real world operating conditions. As an example, they are able to understand how a new system under development might operate under frequent stopstart cycles, or how a system reacts in hill acceleration. Merlin was developed through a heavy-duty truck program that was funded by the U.S. Dept. Of Energy and is a crucial factor in FES's technical development and design process. "Fleetguard has strong relationships with many OEMs -- not just Cummins -- and we plan to offer emission solutions to these important customers as well," said Davis. "Some solutions could be considered 'catalytic converter-like devices.' "However, the best solutions will be those that are complete, system-integrated solutions with the engine and the vehicle. Fleetguard is uniquely positioned to develop these integrated solutions because of our technology and experience with filtration, exhaust systems, engine emissions, air handling, controls, and fuel systems. In addition we have relationships with leading catalyst companies." Indeed, relationships with other companies that have expertise in the emissions arena has been a hallmark for FES from the very beginning. Shortly after the company was founded, it entered into a joint development agreement with 3M Automotive to design and develop advanced exhaust emission control technologies for the global marketplace. The agreement is intended to leverage 3M's strengths in filtration and materials and Fleetguard's capability in diesel-related filtration and systems integration. The program will also draw on combined Fleetguard and 3M capabilities, including in-house emissions, durability, acoustics and performance characterization testing. The advanced filtration products, which include a composite substrate material ceramic fiber-based media for advanced emission control devices, are designed for use in current and future diesel exhaust emission control systems and are designed to provide particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission reductions. The products will be available worldwide by Fleetguard and 3M for automotive, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, buses and nonroad mobile and stationary applications. Along with 3M, FES has formed key partnerships with other major players in the emissions technology field, including Johnson Matthey, Engelhard Corp., Siemens and Motorola. Through FES, Johnson Matthey will supply a broad spectrum of catalytic technology to Cummins distributors for retrofit and is also working on select Cummins OEM programs. Engelhard is providing components for particulate filters and oxidation catalysts. Applications include Cummins engines for the bus and medium-duty on-highway markets. Siemens will supply catalyst components for certain selective catalytic reduction (SCR) products. Motorola, a global leader in integrated communications and embedded electronics, will supply hardware for advanced particulate filter control systems. "These companies bring proven technology to our customers," said Davis. "Combined with Fleetguard Emission Solutions exhaust packaging and system integration capabilities, we are very well-positioned to help our customers meet current and future global emissions hurdles." EARLY SIGNS OF SUCCESS FOR FES Cummins' investment in its new aftertreatment components business venture is already showing signs of progress, according to Fleetguard Emission Solutions (FES). The company continues to deliver complete exhaust aftertreatment systems and received nearly 500 new orders for diesel particulate filters in the Pacific Northwest late last year. FES, in partnership with Cummins Northwest Inc., has identified and is supplying systems for several key customers including King County Metro Transit , The city of Seattle, Skagit Transit of Skagit County, Wash., Whatcom Transit Authority in Bellingham, Wash., and ARAMARK in Denali National Park in Alaska. "These are exciting opportunities for us," said Marty Chiaramonte, global retrofit business leader for FES. "This opportunity is just the beginning of what we expect to see in other areas of the country as a very practical way to greatly reduce diesel engine emissions on products which are already in service. Our technology partner on these projects, Johnson Matthey, has provided excellent support in delivering a product that meets the needs of our customers." "Emission Solutions products will improve the particulate emission levels in these vehicles by 85 percent, which is very noticeable," said Dave Rudisill, Cummins Northwest's bus division manager. "We are pleased to be part of an initiative that makes such a positive environmental impact." These newest orders are on top of a $400,000 investment which was made in July 2001 to help underwrite the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's Diesel Solutions Program, which was designed to demonstrate the ability to retrofit existing fleets of diesel engines to improve emissions. Diesel Progress North American Edition February 2003 By: Mark Mercer