The wait is almost over as Perkins prepares to launch its brand new generation of Tier 4 Final diesel engines at ConExpo 2011.

The show, the largest construction exhibition in the western hemisphere, is again expected to attract more than 140,000 industry professionals to the five day event at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

And this year’s ConExpo represents an exciting opportunity for Perkins to launch its first Tier 4 Final diesel engines to a global audience of OEMs and end users.

For Perkins, the new generation of diesel engines is an exciting line up that offers many benefits beyond simply helping OEMs meet the next stage of emissions legislation in North America and Europe. Flexibility, machine integration, dependable power and a lifetime of low costs have been very much at the forefront of the design, development and manufacture of these engines.

Alongside the new Tier 4 Final engines – the full details of which will be unveiled on the Perkins stand 16329B South Hall – at 11am Tuesday March 22nd, Perkins will use ConExpo 2011 to display it’s full Tier 4 Interim / Stage IIIB product line-up.

On display at ConExpo 2011 will be Perkins’ 1206E-E70TTA and 1204E-E44TTA Tier 4 Interim / Stage IIIB engines.

The 1200 Series is a range of four and six cylinder engines that start at 60kW (88 hp) and top out at an impressive 225kW (300 hp), making them the ideal choice to power medium to heavy duty construction applications and mid-horsepower tractors in the agricultural sector. With four engine models to choose from, the 1200 Series provides a variety of options for OEMs who are looking to increase the productivity of their machines while keeping cost of ownership down in the long term.

Launched at last year’s Bauma show, ConExpo 2011 will be the first showing in North America of Perkins’ popular 854E-E34TA.

The 850 Series is a compact four cylinder unit that can be truly branded a ‘workhorse’. Two models offer a choice from 45kW (60 hp) to 86kW (115 hp), making them the perfect fit for a host of medium duty applications in the construction, industrial and agricultural fields. With the trend for downsizing machines, the increased power density of the 850 Series allows equipment manufacturers to select this engine where previously they may have used an engine of higher cubic capacity. This frees up valuable space to package the after-treatment unit and significant fuel economy improvements.

ConExpo 2011 will also be the first showing of Perkins’ new Tier 4 Interim / Stage IIIB compliant range of Industrial Open Power Units (IOPU), which essentially is a turnkey power package comprising engine, aftertreatment, radiator, air cleaner and optional compressor.

The 1204 IOPU features the 1204E-E44TTA, a 4.4 litre, four cylinder engine. Capable of producing up to 129.4kW (173.5 hp), the air-to-air charge cooled engine provides extra power density and faster response in a compact package, offering maximum productivity combined with low cost of operation and maintenance.

Collectively Perkins’ Tier 4 Interim / Stage IIIB range offers enormous flexibility. The overlap in power ranges means that there is choice at key power nodes, so depending on machine and application criteria, there is an engine that suits the OEM’s requirements.

Packaging the engine has been made easier thanks to increased power densities from smaller engines. OEMs can now call upon the required performance levels from more compact units, creating valuable space in the engine bay for the installation of after-treatment and benefiting fuel economy.

Machine integration has been at the heart of Perkins’ development programme, meaning that OEMs need minimum or no machine redesign to install the new generation of diesel engines. But it’s out in the field where OEMs and operators will really see and experience the benefits of these engines. With big increases in power and torque across the board, improved transient response and reduced fuel consumption, OEM machines are set to become more productive, more dependable and more fuel efficient than ever before.

So with the emphasis very much on uptime and greater productivity for machines, Perkins’ new generation of engines offer a seamless solution right up to 225kW (300 hp). Flexible, easy to integrate, productive and cost effective to operate and maintain, these are all attributes that OEMs and machine operators will clearly like the sound of.