Popular stories in 2024, Part 1: January to June

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s interesting to review the nearly 1,200 Power Progress stories to see which were among the most popular for readers. This can be challenging given that websites serve as “libraries” or “archives,” with articles published in earlier months and years subject to periodic and easy review depending upon reader interests. Additionally, it’s reasonable to assume that the longer a popular story remains on the Power Progress website, the more views it will get.

Thus, the following represents the most popular Power Progress article each month based upon specific criteria: the number of views the story received in that month only and stories published in 2024 only.

January: New Holland launches TL5 ‘Acessivel’ tractor

We in Wisconsin are no strangers to agriculture, and one need only look at the farmers we encounter every day to appreciate the toll such hard work can take on a body.

New Holland TL5 ‘Acessivel’ (Photo: New Holland)

Perhaps that’s why the most popular story in January 2024 was the launch by New Holland of its TL5 “Acessivel” (Brazilian Portuguese for “accessible”) tractor, billed as the world’s first accessible tractor. It was designed with the assistance of a Brazilian farmer who sustained lower limb disabilities.

Key among the accessibility features is a lifting platform designed to help raise the operator into the cab.

February: Briggs & Stratton CEO exits just months after hiring

In September 2023, Power Progress reported that Joe Liotine would join engine and machine maker Briggs & Stratton as its new CEO. He would replace Stephen Andrews, who was named CEO in 2020 and decided to step down in 2023 citing personal reasons.

Barely six months later, Liotine unceremoniously left Briggs, which is likely the reason this story was so popular in February.

Near the end of April, Liotine filed a Form 3 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Referred to as an Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities, Investopedia said the form “is meant to disclose the holdings of directors, officers and beneficial owners of registered companies.” Liotine’s form referenced technology company Aptiv, and he called himself an officer of the company — specifically “President, S&PS.”

Liotine’s biography on Aptiv’s website seems to confirm that title, saying that in April he joined as president of Signal and Power Solutions. He is currently listed as executive vice president, Electrical Distribution Systems, which Liotine has held since November.

March: Caterpillar investing $725M in Indiana large engine plant

Caterpillar commemorated the production of its 10,000th engine on the C175 platform at its Lafayette, Ind. manufacturing facility. (Photo: Caterpillar)

It would be an understatement to even say that Caterpillar is no stranger to the pages of Power Progress. The most cursory search of the Power Progress website found at least 50 stories specific to the company. It makes sense, then, that when the company talks engines, readers take notice.

They did just that when Cat announced it would invest $725 million in its Large Engine Center in Lafayette, Ind. The plant, which opened in 1982 and is already 1.6 million sq. ft., makes engines for everything from oil and gas to mining to marine and rail applications. About a year ago, the facility was the site of a celebration of Cat producing its 10,000th C175 diesel engine.

Power Progress reported in August that it had broken ground on its expansion of that site.

April: Intermat 2024: HD Hyundai Infracore shows two new TD engines

Intermat 2024, which was held in Paris in late April, generated much attention from readers interested in construction equipment and the power behind it. That’s partly due to the longer-than-normal break between events due to the COVID pandemic. Usually a three-year gap, this year’s Intermat emerged from a hiatus that was twice that long, with the previous event being in 2018.

Among Power Progress’ wide-ranging coverage of the trade fair, April’s top story focused unsurprisingly on new engines from HD Hyundai Infracore. The two new diesel engines — the DX05 and DX08 — are Euro 5-compliant. Power Progress’ coverage of the engines focused on the technical details so often of interest to readers, including their power ranges, fuel injection approaches and aftertreatment methods.

May: Cummins reveals H2-ICEs for Tata, Q1 results and new gen-sets

As with Caterpillar, news from Indiana-based Cummins always tends to be of significant interest. May is often a time for public companies to report their Q1 financials, and readers seemed to appreciate Power Progress’ approach to including a Q1 overview for Cummins alongside some new product news from the company.

The Cummins B6.7H hydrogen internal combustion engines produced in India will be integrated into Tata Motors’ trucks. (Photo: Cummins)

What might have piqued reader interest in particular was news of Cummins’ work on hydrogen internal combustion (IC) engines for Tata Motors. Jim Nebergall, general manager of Cummins’ hydrogen engine business, addressed the company’s work on hydrogen IC engines in an Engine Technology Forum webinar held earlier this year. He said hydrogen IC engines have piqued the industry’s interest because they can help decarbonize the engines while avoiding any significant sacrifices in diesel engine power. While Nebergall’s comments didn’t come until September, they certainly explain interest in H2 IC technology.

June: Industry experts discuss propane’s future in IC engines

Speaking of Engine Technology Forum webinars, a story about another of them rose to the top in June. This time propane was the focus as an alternative to diesel, and several industry leaders, including Gavin Hale, director of product development and power generation for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), discussed the issues.

A key focus of this story was direct injection (DI) of propane, which offers superior efficiency in engines combined with the fuel’s high octane rating and low emissions profile. Of particular interest, though, was likely the results of a collaboration between Katech Engineering and fuel systems specialist Stanadyne in overcoming vapor lock.