Press Release Details

Donaldson Company Engine Filter System Earns California Approval for Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Retrofits

November 12, 2002

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2002--Donaldson Company Inc. (NYSE:DCI) today announced it has received Level 1 Verification from the California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board (ARB) for its Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) muffler and Spiracle(TM) crankcase ventilation (CCV) filter. The DOC muffler and Spiracle CCV filter combination dramatically reduces diesel engine emissions from the tailpipes and engine crankcase vents of medium and heavy-duty trucks and school buses. ARB approval enables Donaldson to sell the combination on a retrofit basis to help California vehicle operators meet state pollution control requirements and limit toxic diesel engine emissions. Donaldson's emission reduction systems can be used on the broadest family of engines, with the widest range of operating conditions, of any system granted approval and is the only system addressing both exhaust and crankcase emissions. This gives Donaldson the leadership position in an estimated $100 million retrofit opportunity over the next five years.

"We are extremely pleased to receive ARB approval for our emissions-reduction system," said Steve Schmeichel, emissions general manager, Donaldson Company. "We've conducted extensive engine and field tests to confirm the performance and long-term durability of our products. This technology provides reliable, proven emission reductions at a competitive cost. We've created tremendous market interest with this product approach and expect to retrofit a significant number of trucks and buses in the next 12 to 18 months."

Under the ARB's Diesel Risk Reduction Plan (DRRP), approximately

  • 1.25 million diesel engines in California are candidates for retrofitting with technology like the Donaldson DOC muffler and Spiracle CCV filter system. Such technology is designed to significantly reduce the emission of diesel particulate matter -- the black exhaust emitted by diesel engines. The combined DOC muffler/Spiracle CCV filter system reduces engine particulate matter emissions by 26 to 50 percent, meeting ARB Level 1 standards requiring greater than 25 percent reduction. To gain ARB approval, Donaldson Company completed rigorous engine and field tests to ensure the emission-reduction system met performance and durability requirements.

Donaldson is a leader in the emissions market and was the first and only company to develop and supply an active diesel trap system that was certified by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California ARB for urban bus applications in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Donaldson has since supplied more than 400,000 DOC muffler units for urban bus and medium-duty diesel applications. The company supplies approximately 100,000 DOC mufflers annually for major engine OEMs.

Donaldson DOC muffler and Spiracle products are available through many engine and heavy-duty truck dealers and distributors throughout California. Donaldson is pursuing similar verifications from the EPA for its Diesel Voluntary Retrofit Program. Both the DOC muffler and Spiracle CCV filter system have U.S. and international patents and patents pending. For additional information, contact Donaldson Company at 1-800-887-3835, or visit the company's Web site at www.donaldson.com.

About Donaldson Company

Donaldson Company, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems and replacement parts. Founded in 1915, Donaldson is a technology-driven company committed to satisfying customer needs for filtration solutions through innovative research and development. Donaldson serves customers in the industrial and engine markets including dust collection, power generation, specialty filtration, compressed air purification, off-road equipment, industrial compressors, and trucks. More than 9,000 employees contribute to the company's success at 40 manufacturing locations around the world. In fiscal year 2002, Donaldson reported sales of more than $1.1 billion and achieved its 13th consecutive year of double-digit earnings growth. Donaldson is a member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Donaldson shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DCI. Additional company information is available at www.donaldson.com.

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Contact: Padilla Speer Beardsley Inc., Minneapolis
 Patty Hoffman, 612/455-1781
 E-mail: phoffman@psbpr.com
 or
 Donaldson Company, Inc., Minneapolis
 Rich Sheffer, 952/887-3753
 E-mail: rsheffer@mail.donaldson.com
 

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