2008 News Releases and Information

MOLINE, Illinois (March 12, 2008) — John Deere has been awarded a contract to provide 33 motor graders to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and retrofit them with a CARB-verified emission after-treatment system that will meet and surpass emissions regulations in the state that historically sets the nation's toughest clean air standards – assisting the state in their quest for lower fleet emission levels.

"Deere was the only manufacturer who could provide Caltrans graders and retrofit them to the new standards on time," said Joe Mastanduno, engine product marketing manager for John Deere Construction & Forestry. "By retrofitting them with the Cleaire PM/NOx aftertreatment, these graders will emit 85% less PM into California's air."

Caltrans will depend on the John Deere 872Ds for road grading and construction, shoulder maintenance and snow removal. The D-Series motor graders were introduced in 2005 and have dramatically expanded Deere's presence in the grader market through reliability and strong operator acceptance.

"Our partnership with Caltrans is an example of John Deere’s commitment to reducing emissions in the air we breathe," Mastanduno said.

"Retrofitting equipment with systems that meet and beat emissions standards is just as important as building new, more environmentally friendly machines," Mastanduno said. "We're constantly on the hunt for solutions, whether it's at the job site or at the design table. Deere is also dedicated to sharing these solutions beyond state agencies to help contractors with fleets."

John Deere's Construction & Forestry Division has emission specialists assisting state agencies and contractor fleets in their ongoing operations. The assistance includes consultation on fleet emission compliance, bid specifications, repowering and equipment retrofit.

On July 26, 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a regulation to reduce emissions from existing off-road diesel engines in construction and off-highway equipment. Fleet owners like Caltrans must either meet CARB's progressively more stringent fleet average emission targets or turnover and/or retrofit a specified percentage of their fleet horsepower annually.

The fleet owners may consider installing exhaust aftertreatment solutions like the one included on the D-Series graders. This advanced technology will aid Caltrans in meeting the new fleet averages.

"The bottom line is that Caltrans had to act quickly on these graders and we're on it for them," Mastanduno said. "Other states watch California's regulations closely and many follow CARB's lead, so we'll be prepared to help them meet changing requirements, as well."

• More Information on John Deere Motor Graders
• Compare John Deere Graders to the Competition

Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is the world's leading provider of advanced products and services for agricultural and forestry and a major provider of advanced products and services for construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. John Deere also provides financial services worldwide and manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe. John Deere Construction & Forestry produces more than 120 machine models and distributes its construction, forestry and worksite products.