Mining Magazine > Panorama > Komatsu-Cummins produces 500,000th engine

Panorama

The Komatsu-Cummins Engine Company in Japan has achieved a major manufacturing milestone with the recent production of the 500,000th engine from its Oyama joint venture operation.

The company has also announced that the Oyama engine plant will move forward to produce the next generation of Tier 4 low-emissions engines for parent companies Komatsu Ltd. and Cummins Inc.

"Reaching the half-million engine mark represents another significant achievement in the long-established partnership between Komatsu and Cummins, which is widely regarded as the most successful and enduring in the off-highway industry," said Eric Neal, general manager of Cummins-Komatsu Worldwide.

"The engine plant is highly regarded by both Komatsu and Cummins for its outstanding levels of quality, productivity and commitment to delivery. The introduction of the Tier 4 Interim engines at KCEC from 2010 onward will mean the plant will be ready to power the next generation of low-emissions, more fuel-efficient construction equipment," he added.

A highly flexible manufacturing system enables the facility to build engines to specific Komatsu and Cummins configurations derived from common base engine platforms.

The 3.3l, 4.5l and 6.7l displacement engines currently produced at the Oyama plant will move forward with performance-enhancing technology to meet Tier 4 Interim regulations as they are phased in by power band and effect date in Japan, North America and Europe. The current 8.3l engine produced at Oyama will be available for Tier 4 as a 9l version, offering a higher power output.