Caterpillar’s C9.3 ACERT engine has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier-4 emissions certification and the European Union emissions type approval. The C9.3 ACERT is the first Caterpillar non-road engine to receive emissions certification in the 130-560 kW power category, the company said.

“We started this process by listening to our customers and identifying what they want in a world class machine,” said Tana Utley, Caterpillar vice president and chief technology officer. “Our legacy, over the past 85 years, has been to develop and deliver successful technology innovation, driven by our focus on meeting our customer needs and striving to make them successful.”

Interim Tier 4/Stage III B emissions regulations begin Jan. 1, 2011 for 130-560 kW engines and require a 90-percent reduction in diesel particulate matter and a 50-percent reduction in nitrogen oxide from previous Tier 3/Stage III A requirements.

ACERT is an advanced combustion technology that uses a building-block approach for reducing emissions that is based on the integration of key systems technologies. The C9.3 ACERT engine family will power a number of Cat products including mid-range track type tractors, motor graders and hydraulic excavators in a variety of customer applications. The engines will also be offered in the industrial, agriculture and petroleum markets.

“Our intent is to fully utilize our expertise to develop and deliver products that will be more productive and fuel efficient,” said Gary Stroup, vice president of the company’s large power systems and growth markets division. “Feedback from customers operating our pilot machines and commercial products powered by Cat engines has been extremely positive. They’ve expressed a preference for the Tier-4 machines in their fleet.”

By the time, Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB products reach customers, the Caterpillar Tier-4 validation program will have accumulated nearly a million hours of operation, making it the most extensive validation effort in Caterpillar history.