Heritage

Ninety years ago, we were the first company to recognise the potential of diesel. Today, we are recognised as one of the world’s leading suppliers of off-highway power solutions.

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The Series 1000: laying the foundation for emission standards compliance

It’s our 90th anniversary year and we’re re-examining the engines that defined the Perkins approach to power. In the third instalment of our ‘heritage’ series, our timeline moves closer to the present day with a look at the Series 1000 – the successor to the famed 4.236.

An innovative 'first'

The 3.152 and 4.236: two iconic Perkins engines

We shine the spotlight on the 4.236 and 3.152, engines which further cemented Perkins’ position as ‘the’ farming diesel engine.

Two iconic Perkins engines

The engines that made Perkins

This year, 2022, marks ninety years of Perkins Engines Company Limited. During the company’s lifetime, more than 22 million diesel engines have rolled off our production lines, initially from the original Peterborough factory in the UK, and now from manufacturing facilities on four continents.

History behind Perkins

Our long-standing expertise is in developing and manufacturing engines, and the story of our game-changing and innovative products is studded with famous names, achievements and occasions.

Back in 1935, for instance, Perkins engines broke six world land speed records, with a top speed of 95 mph. And in 1953, we welcomed the Queen Mother to our 21st birthday celebrations. We have received honours and awards, and taken power to cities, hospitals and schools.

Iconic engines

But it is our engines that have defined us over the decades – the P6 Series, for instance, which started in 1938, or its turbocharged descendant, the P6354, which appeared in the 1960s and remained in production for more than 30 years.

There is the ultra-compact 400 Series in the 10.2-50 kW (13.7-67 hp) range, or the powerful yet fuel efficient 1200 Series, delivering 61.5-240 kW (82.5-320 hp) of power for large and medium-sized machinery.

Listening to the customer

The evolution of iconic models like these depends not just on the vision and skill of our engineers, but also on the input of generations of customers.

Part of the Perkins heritage is the commitment to working with our Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers to see they get exactly what they need for their specific applications.

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Queen Street where it all began

As a result, we have been able to grow and change the market over the years, taking diesel engines into new sectors and different parts of the world.

A diverse market

Frank Perkins, the founder of the company back in 1932, had a farm, and many of the early Perkins engines were focused on the tractor market. This remains an important part of the agricultural sector for us, but we have diversified over time into other areas.

Today, harvesters, excavators, forest machines, wheeled loaders and forklift trucks are just a few of the machines that are powered by a Perkins engine – all developed over the decades from those early tractor engines.

Other engines have been adapted to a marine environment, and now powerboat owners, pilot boat skippers and fishermen all around the world put their faith in Perkins power.

We produce power for hospitals and sports arenas and for material handling, construction and industry. Wherever customers need reliable, efficient and cost effective power, they can turn to Perkins, as they have for more than 90 years.

Our history and our brand heritage define us; they have made us the global company that we are.