Making the impossible happen. Western Branch Diesel did just that by providing quick engine modification for five engines for Liebherr—one of the world’s largest construction and mining equipment manufacturers.
“We’ve worked well with Liebherr over the years through regular engine service, and also at their proving grounds,” says David Shook, General Service Manager, responsible for Off-Highway Service, Western Branch Diesel, an Indel Power Group company. “Technicians from our Portsmouth, Virginia shop have consistently provided timely, professional service for them at their Newport News truck manufacturing location.”
Recently, Liebherr needed immediate modifications performed on two mtu engines installed in long-haul mining trucks that are scheduled to ship to Chile. The prompt and focused work by Western Branch Diesel’s technicians led to the assignment of three additional engines for modification.
Within one week, three technicians delivered five, 16V 4000 Tier 4 engines, which had the fuel injectors removed and replaced, software reprogrammed, flywheels removed and reinstalled, EC harnesses rerouted, and oil dipsticks relocated.
“Steven Porter, Dillion Woods, and Korey Hill, Western Branch Diesel technicians from Portsmouth, experienced a few setbacks, but were able to improvise, adapt, and overcome those obstacles. This is a true sign of talented and skilled service technicians who hold the customer’s best interests as their highest priority,” says Ron Easley, Supplier Quality Engineer, Electrical, Liebherr. “I’m thankful to the Rolls-Royce Solutions America and Western Branch Diesel teams for their coordination and efforts to provide logistics for parts and material, as well as skilled service technicians.”
Liebherr has been a local customer of mtu engines for many years and has leaned on Western Branch Diesel for more than 20 years for service support. Easley says Western Branch Diesel is responsive, often dispatching technicians within one to two hours to Liebherr’s proving grounds.
He describes the technicians as very self-sufficient, responsive, and well-coordinated. In addition, the work that they perform is always aligned with the current problem that Liebherr is experiencing. While he checks on the work periodically, it’s only to track progress and update his records.
“Western Branch has always been good to us. Any time we have an mtu engine that needs work, we contact them,” says Easley. “They get the job done, professionally, and with a great work ethic; I have no complaints.”