Sales of some Hino-powered Kobelco construction machinery in Europe has been temporarily suspended pending investigation of certifications for EU Stage V engine exhaust emissions.

Of the 30 models affected, three are cranes and the rest are excavators. The three cranes are the CKE800G-3, CKE900G-3, and CKE1100G-3 lattice boom crawlers with the Hino J08E-YD diesel engine.

Not impacted by the suspension are all mini excavators and 7/13-tonne machines, from the smallest SK08 to the SK75SR-7 and SK85MSR-7 midi excavators and the next-generation SK130LC-11 and the SK140SRLC-7 short radius excavator.

Kobelco said it was a precautionary voluntary action in response to information from Hino Motors “about possible misconduct in the engine certification process for compliance with European emissions regulations.”

Existing machines unaffected

Machines already out in the field running these affected engines can continue operating, Kobelco said, as there are no issues with safety, quality or performance, including fuel consumption figures.

A company statement read, “Hino has committed to working with the European certification authorities to establish the current position on compliance, following an internal investigation, which revealed that part of the misconduct found in the engine certification process in Japan may also have been made in the process of obtaining European certification (Stage V).”

The company expects the suspension to remain in place until Hino informs it of the European certification authorities’ decision.

Standard details

In more detail, Hino’s preliminary investigations suggest, for the engines in the cranes and some of the excavators, “there were issues, relating to durability test data and required explanations, in the process for obtaining the European emissions regulations certification for three engine models J05E-VA, J05E-VB, and J08E-YD.”

For the remaining engines in the excavators, the concerns are that “the nitrogen oxide contained in the exhaust gas of E13C-YM engines may not meet current standards set under the European emissions regulations after certain operating hours.”

If the issue remains unresolved for longer than is appropriate, Kobelco said it will investigate sourcing alternative engines for the products affected.