Omnitek Engineering Corporation, developer of natural gas engines and diesel-to-natural gas conversion systems, has appointed Pennsylvania-based heavy machinery dealer Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co., Inc. as an authorized installation center for its diesel-to-natural gas engine conversion systems in the region. Terms were not disclosed.

  “The addition of Cleveland Brothers to our network of North American conversion centers provides a solid platform for growth in a region with significant supplies of natural gas and pent-up demand from heavy-duty truck fleet operators,” said Werner Funk, president and chief executive officer of Omnitek Engineering Corporation.

  He highlighted Cleveland Brothers’ more than 60-year relationship with Caterpillar as an authorized dealer, and its 13 full-service on-highway truck facilities and 26 branch locations in the mid-Atlantic region.  “In addition, Cleveland Brothers repairs, services and sells all makes and all brands of diesel engines – representing a unique opportunity to provide diesel-to-natural-gas conversion options for fleets that operate, for example, Detroit Diesel, Navistar and Mack heavy-duty trucks,” Funk said.

  Omnitek Engineering is accelerating its conversion center partnerships throughout the United States and Canada since receiving EPA approval for its diesel-to-natural gas engine conversion technology for the widely operated line of heavy-duty Navistar DT466E and DT530E engines. The company expects to obtain EPA and CARB approval for additional diesel engine models to address the anticipated increasing demand from trucking fleets that operate with other diesel engine models.

  “We look forward to participating with Omnitek to offer our trucking customers alternative fuel solutions such as diesel-to-natural gas conversions.  With a growing market for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale region, Omnitek’s products nicely complement our current portfolio of truck services,” said Brandon Fritz, on-highway truck business manager for Cleveland Brothers.

  Funk noted that Omnitek’s conversion technology offers a projected return on investment of less than two years – a significant advantage compared with a projected return on investment of five-to-seven years for a new natural gas truck purchase.