“In Europe and the U.S. alike, the telehandler is fast becoming the ‘must have’ piece of equipment, in the agricultural and construction industry alike.”

Of course, James has an insider view of the telehandler industry too: he knows what’s powering them. “When it comes to considerations for a telehandler powerplant, an OEM generally has some specific attributes in mind.”

Chief among those is the torque curve, particularly low-speed torque. “Irrespective of the nature of the load, whether it’s a pallet of bricks or a bucketful of grain, a telehandler operator needs low-speed load acceptance above all else. The machine needs to be able to lift its load while idling,” James explains.

“But then there’s the other end of the scale, where a farmer’s using the telehandler as a towing vehicle between field and farmyard. He’s going to expect a top speed on public roads of 30 or 40 kph, as allowed, as well as wanting that low-speed torque again to enable a quick pull-out from a gateway or a junction.”

That combination of low-speed torque and high-end performance might be specific, but the other factors are more predictable. First, a favourable noise profile, not just for the operator who’s spending all-day in the cab, but also for a workforce – especially in construction – who might spend all-day near an operating telehandler. Then it’s as might be expected for many other applications: minimal vibration combined with maximum fuel efficiency.

According to James, the Perkins® 904 Series engines – specifically, the 2.8 and 3.6 variants – are those being favoured by OEMs for this important segment. “Not only do they offer all those attributes – including high-power characteristics matched with all-essential torque density – but they present OEMs with a highly attractive design too, specifically their very compact nature,” says James.

“There’s something of a ‘power struggle’ at this all-important 100 kW level. Engine efficiency, engine performance – both are stretching ever upwards. As that happens, compact engines like the Perkins 904 Series are edging out the four-litre blocks.”

These engines are designed to fit existing and future generations of machines without the need for extensive re-engineering or costly retooling. Of course, it’s not only about the space – there’s assembly to consider too. That’s why these engines also have a minimal need for an OEM to fit additional parts, such as exhaust, engine mounts or sound insulation.

“It’s up to an OEM to decide how best to use that advantage,” he says. “Right now, with all the issues in the global supply chain, I think a lot of manufacturers would see that as providing a valuable opportunity to boost output and meet demand.”

1. Construction Europe: Telehandlers: Compact, simple, powerful