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EricFierson

US Emissions Regulations Are Here to Stay – Be Part of the Solution

by New member EricFierson ‎04-12-2012 10:30 AM - edited ‎04-13-2012 02:08 AM

Caterpillar must invest heavily in research and development as emissions limits for existing regulations become more stringent and new regulations are introduced. Green house gas (GHG) legislation and revisions to the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) are examples of Federal actions that may challenge engine manufacturers and owners and operators in the future.

 

Complicating the regulatory landscape, many States have enacted or proposed to enact new regulations. These regulations not only impact engine manufactures, but also owners and operators of existing engines and equipment. While states are “preempted” by the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) from setting emissions limits for mobile engines, most conventional and unconventional petroleum related activities require local permitting. Through the permitting process, states may limit maximum release of various criteria and HAP pollutants that result from activities such as drilling, well service, and compression sites.

 

Caterpillar employees work hard to stay abreast of the latest Federal and State regulations to ensure our products are capable of maintaining compliance and meeting customers needs. With that said, early identification of new and emerging regulations help to ensure our development efforts and support services meet the needs of our dealers and end users. In some cases it’s our customers who make us aware of regional regulations as they come to us with questions about a local news story or a local air quality board meeting.

 

I’d like to encourage our blog readers to stay informed, get involved, and to share your experiences addressing engine exhaust emissions issues. So, are you aware of any state or regional level regulatory activities that impact your business opportunities? Have you had challenges with your local permitting process? Please share your experiences, offer advice, and post questions or offer answers to others questions.

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Comments
by Trusted Contributor
on ‎04-16-2012 06:51 PM

Eric,

 

Im curious to know how you see CAT Emissions Solutions evolving to meet your customer's needs?  Does CAT ever plan to develop CES aftertreatment for all markets or only the retrofit areas?  And what about lobbying and dealer education for regulatory issues?  Most dealers I feel are not in a position to create a position that demands an extremely talented and educated individual to deal with Emissions laws both state and federal.  What are your toughts on how to handle and develop these areas?  

 

Regards,

 

Nick C.

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by New member EricFierson
on ‎05-08-2012 04:05 AM

Hi Nick C.,

 

Thanks for the question and comments. To address your question regarding CES product offerings I recruited Brian Huffman, the O&G Industry Segment Manager at Caterpillar Emissions Solutions, who provided the following reply.

"Cat Emissions Solutions has a portfolio of aftertreatment products that can utilized to meet many existing and pending emissions requirements. Among these products are DOCs, OCs, TWCs, DPFs and our integrated SCR system, the E-POD. These products can be utilized for both retrofit and first fit opportunities pending the specific regulation or requirement in place. We are constantly assessing the various industry segments down to sub-segment level for future product development needs just as we assess state, local, and federal regulations to ensure that if a profitable opportunity presents itself we do the necessary product development to provide a durable and reliable product that meets the market needs. If you have any specific opportunities where aftertreatment equipment is needed, please don't hesitate to let us know and we will do our best to find a solution. "

Regarding your other comments about dealer education for regulatory issues I'd like to offer my experience since joining Caterpillar December 2012. Part of my job is to develop relationships not only within Caterpillar Inc, but also within our dealership network. Not necessarily to "educate" our dealers, but rather to share information and coordinate efforts to gain increased understanding and influence within regulatory activities.

Towards that goal of developing cooperative relationships, I've began to meet and talk with dealership level regulatory  experts that act as internal consultants within their organizations. So far, everyone that I've met at the dealership level has been an excellent source for regulations within their region including understanding of the relevant Federal regulations.  Additionally, they each had direct phone numbers to the same internal Caterpillar subject matters experts that I consult when I have questions.  With that said, I understand your comments and will keep these in mind in my efforts and work with the dealers and internal groups within Caterpillar.

As a matter of fact, next week I'm participating in a meeting that will include employees from Caterpillar Global Petroleum, Caterpillar Emissions Solutions, Caterpillar Electric Power Division,  and Caterpillar Emissions Regulations & Conformance Division.  The primary goal of this meeting is to share information, foster discussion, and engage in group  regulatory analysis. The agenda for this meeting will  also include a discussion on dealer coordination and support.  I'll follow-up on this topic in future blog posting to announce and discuss efforts initiated to improve regional coordination.

 

Regards

 

Eric

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by Trusted Contributor
on ‎05-09-2012 07:19 PM

Eric- 

 

I am all too familiar with the products as I used to be a rep for the company before the CAT acquisition.  CAT in my mind will have to become a solutions provider in unifying their emissions business with one brand oppose to the mixture of JM and CAS products you currently offer.  More importantly, advertise retrofits and new factory (Tier/EPA/CARB certified) product with a solid A & I, warranty system, and part logistics to ensure the brand recognition.  In my experience Mining & Oil/Gas has the dominant influence of choice to make these applications happen.  Which is one the reasons I was interested in seeing how your position fit into play.  Unifying EPG/MARINE/Earthmoving  and other markets seems to be challenging still.  Granted, the business and evolution of regulations are evolving, but this to me is a heavy area that has been challenging for years to come.   By having a blanket offering for all your product lines you will ensure customers are aware of the CAT brand, service committment, and backing.  Having a myriad of offerings and diferent support systems can be cumbersome to customers and dealers alike.  I am hopeful CAT will continue to evolve in this area with the right technologies for their dealers and customers.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Nick C. 

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by New member kaddeesh
on ‎09-09-2012 08:11 PM

Xtreme Fuel Treatment from Syntek Global has been proven to decrease harmful emissions by up to 33%.

 

It's based on NASA Technology, EPA Registered, holds multiple Patents and been successfully used by large industries worldwide for over 20 years!  www.XFT4U.com

 

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About the Author
  • In 2005, I started my career at Caterpillar as an intern in Kiel, after that I worked as a student and then a temporary employee. I finally became a permanent employee in 2008, working at the Marine World headquarters in Hamburg. Through all these years I was supporting and leading Marketing projects from various areas, including Electronic Sales Tools, Shows, Novelties etc. By May 01, 2011 my job role changed to the current one. In this position I am leading several Electronic Marketing projects such as all Marine and Oil & Gas Social Media activities.
  • I have been in the oil and gas industry for 34 years, primarily in technical sales and support roles for natural gas compression equipment. I have been with Caterpillar for 13 years managing application and service support for Caterpillar’s gas compression product group, managing technical service support for Caterpillar engines in Oil & Gas applications and managing product definition for Caterpillar’s Petroleum marketing unit. I am currently based in the Global Petroleum headquarters in Houston, Texas and am responsible for developing a worldwide Condition Monitoring solution for Caterpillar products used in the Oil & Gas industry. Prior to working with Caterpillar, I was with Halliburton Company’s gas compression rental business unit. There I provided technical support for applications and service in a variety of roles with the last 4 years as Manager of Compression Engineering. I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A & M University. I am currently a member of the Gas Machinery Research Council’s (GMRC) Project Supervisory Committee and active in the GMRC’s Gas Machinery Conferences.
  • I began tinkering with engines at age 9 when I built a radio controlled airplane and took the engine apart .  Then at age 12, my dad bought me my first motorcycle, a 1979 Honda XR80.  Several modified motorcycle engines and a few broken bones later my career in developing emissions complaint engines began. Now, I have over 20 years experience addressing CARB and EPA engine emissions and safety regulations in a variety of roles. From gasoline and LPG fueled  LSI engine testing, prototype development, calibration, and field testing to NRTL approvals with Underwriters Laboratory for use in hazardous locations . My career at Caterpillar as Emission Manager  began in December 2011 and I'm enjoying my transition to the industry.
  • I have been working in engineering since 1998, primarily in different aspects of engine design . I joined Caterpillar in 2005 to work on the design of internal engine components. I have been based in Houston and have worked on products specifically for the oil and gas industry since 2008.
  • I began my career at Caterpillar in 2003, developing marketing communications for many different groups including machine, product support and technician recruitment. Since 2008, I have been working as a Marketing Consultant with Global Petroleum to develop effective marketing communications materials and events.
  • As a native of Jakarta, Indonesia, I joined Caterpillar Jakarta District Office as marketing trainee in 1985. A mechanical engineer by education, I spent my early years in Machine, Product Support field assignments before joining the Engine Division as Jakarta District Sales Representative in 1990. In 1995 I relocated to Singapore as Marine Consultant, and later as Sr Sales Representative in Caterpillar Marine Power Systems Division, where I made the breakthrough sales of Cat 3600 propulsion engines to the booming AHT market in Singapore and Malaysian shipyards. In 2005 I moved to the Global Petroleum Asia Pacific as Sales & Marketing Team Leader, and promoted to Sales and Marketing Supervisor position in 2007. In GPAP, I secured several breakthroughs including the first collaborative sales (joint effort with CMPS) of 2x6M25 engines to Keppel Singmarine for Lukoil FSO (2006), and a rigset of 8 x 3616 to Jurong's first Cat-powered Semisubmersible 'West Sirius' (2007). In 2008, I led my India team in securing the largest contract with India's Oil & Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) to repower their fleet of 185 x D399 engines with 3512B ($57M), followed with ONGC Parts and Service Agreements and initiation of India Petroleum Strategy with our India dealers in 2009. In ASEAN I led the breakthrough sales of the C175-16 in the Singapore Jackup rigs market with 19 units booked in 2011 and another 41 to be shipped in 2012 and 2013. Since 2010 I have been working on nurturing Caterpillar network and partnership with other National Oil Companies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar. I believe that NOC will continue to provide Caterpillar and its dealers good business for prime product and support services in years to come.
  • I started with Caterpillar in 1993 at the Lafayette Large Engine Facility. Currently I am a New Product Defintion Manager for Land Drilling and Land Production Products. I am responsible for managing new product programs for diesel, gas and dual fuel products. I am experienced in Engine development and installation in Generator sets, On-Highway trucks, Motorgraders, Well Service Equipment, Oil and Gas Drilling Equipment.
  • I joined Caterpillar after 4 years in the USArmy Field Artillery. After assignments in fuel system and engine control system design, engine test and development, manufacturing, and gas engine/genset project management, I am presently responsible for large gas compression engine marketing functional requirements and launch of these new products.
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