Astute Equipment World readers will recognize Iveco as a leading Italian truck and diesel engine manufacturer. And although the company’s automotive products aren’t currently available in North America, its new line of NEF engines are.
At a recent press conference in Sardinia, Italy, Iveco debuted its North American lineup, which will consist of naturally aspirated, turbocharged and charge-air cooled engines. Power ratings will range from 80 to 277 horsepower. The engines can be spec’d with either mechanical or electronic fuel injection systems.
“We feel the NEF power units are the preferred solution for customers looking to re-power skid-steer loaders, small and mid-size excavators and wheel loaders and similar types of construction equipment,” says Vincenzo Perrone, general manager, Iveco Motors of North America. “And OEMs and contractors alike will appreciate these engines because of their compact design and ‘plug and play’ capability.”
Perrone says Iveco designed NEF engines so they can be dropped right into an engine bay and bring a machine to life with minimal installation demands. All engines arrive pre-engineered for specific applications and warranted by Iveco.
Compared to older Iveco engines from which they evolved, NEF units have 40 percent fewer components and allow easier modification to meet customer needs.
Indeed, Perrone says adaptability was a primary design concern, and notes that additional components can easily be added to all NEF units. Among these are puller or pusher fans, harmonic balancers, air and fuel heaters, 12- or 24-volt electrical systems, specialized engine mounts and oil pans.
Electronic controls enhance power while improving fuel economy
Base NEF units feature an electronic engine control system, which provides reduced fuel consumption and on-board diagnostic capability. Engine performance has been increased compared to previous Iveco industrial engines. Noise levels have been reduced as well. This is due partly to the electronic engine control system, which ensures more efficient combustion and controls torque rise. A new rear-gear drive design further helps minimize engine noise to levels below 91 decibels and improves cooling performance to boot. Currently Iveco is recommending lubrication and oil filter replacement every 600 hours of operation.
Iveco will also offer custom configurations of NEF engines to contractors in highly specialized equipment applications. “We’re talking about more than bolt-on componentry,” Perrone says. “The versatile design these engines have means we can tailor them with different base platforms and still ensure top-level performance in the field.”
This means contractors can spec a NEF engine with either a traditional or structural block design to match specific load-bearing requirements. In addition, Iveco can deliver NEF units with two or four valves per cylinder, mechanical or electronic fuel injection systems and coupling flywheel housings for different types of drivelines.
