How Kawasaki Engines champions innovation

Looking at Kawasaki Engines’ commitment to innovation, from Kawasaki’s long history of pushing engineering boundaries, to our latest developments in the EVO and FT series.

Landscaping evolves fast, and it's increasingly competitive. To stay ahead, you need to keep improving your service, and to do that, you need equipment that keeps the pace.

Your engine is the power behind your machinery. Its performance affects the reliability of your business, and the quality of your offer to clients. Kawasaki Engines has advanced engine technology for over 60 years, producing engines that help professionals complete their work to the highest standard.

Innovation for us is all about improving the professional’s experience. Any change made is purposeful, considered, for real-world impact – it has to make your equipment perform better, or make your life easier – or it's not worth pursuing.

Learn how we’ve championed innovation to improve the power behind your equipment, and discover the ins and outs of our most recent technologies from our Kawasaki R&D teams.

R&D: Kawasaki DNA

Since Shozo Kawasaki first started operating in Tokyo in 1878, Kawasaki has championed innovation.

From high-performance lawnmower engines to robotics and aerospace engineering: Kawasaki Group advances the development of new technologies, while nurturing and upgrading existing ones.

As part of the Kawasaki Group, innovation is part of our DNA. Our R&D teams in Japan and the US are constantly exploring ways to evolve our engines and better meet the needs of professionals. When doing so, they have the full power of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group behind them, with access to cutting-edge technologies and a leading team of world-class engineers.

Examples of innovation at Kawasaki Engines

From increasing fuel efficiency to thinking outside the box for filtration, these are the latest innovative technologies incorporated into Kawasaki EVO and FT engines.

EVO engines

More power, fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

Named EVO for evolution – the FX820V EVO EFI, and the recently launched FX781V EVO EFI, are the next generation of Kawasaki engines. Enhanced intake and a technologically advanced throttle control system increase power density and improve efficiency. Combined with better fuel economy, reduced emissions, and ease of maintenance, you have engines developed for the modern demands faced by landscapers.

Speaking at the launch of the FX820V EVO EFI, Todd Systma, SR. Director, OEM and New Business Development within the Engines Division at Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., commented, “We knew that evolution was the perfect word to match this engine because it really took this giant leap forward in increasing the technology and bringing new things to an engine that we haven’t done before.”

A larger engine means extra weight – which is why, instead of increasing the size, we innovated inwardly. Todd explains, “One of the challenges with lawnmower applications is that space comes at a premium. We opted not to make this engine larger in size, and so we had to figure out a way within the same footprint to create better efficiency. Trying to create as much power as you can, and using the minimal amount of fuel to do that.”

The EVO’s solution is enhanced intake efficiency. By creating a better air path throughout the engine, reducing the number of turns and restrictions to the air passing through, we create more power and reduce the amount of fuel used in the air-fuel mix.

Maintenance was another key consideration in design. Our team evaluated the optimal amount of maintenance, making sure the engine was straightforward to service – from larger clean-out ports to the dipstick design, it’s easier and quicker than ever to perform maintenance on EVO engines.

EFI technology

EVO engines also benefit from Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) technology, which maximises available power by sensing and automatically adjusting to how much load the engine has upon it – maintaining a steady RPM on inclines and in tough conditions.

J.J. Zeilstra, Director, R&D within the Engines Division at Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., adds, “The EVO engines, along with all of our EFI engines, include the integrated electronic throttle control. This allows the engine to maintain its intended speed, and the intended performance of the product, even in heavy conditions such as brush, wet grass, or tall grass – the engine can power through it.”

FT Series

Developed for high debris environments 

When your engine is exposed to high levels of grass and debris, you need the ultimate in debris management for professional lawn care. Our FT Series is built to handle intensive debris environments.

For many zero-turn and stand-on mowers, the engine is exposed to the elements and comes into contact with a large amount of grass clippings. The FT series is perfect for this type of work, protecting your engine from cuttings and contaminants.

Taking a new engine from design to manufacture is a necessarily long and meticulous process, as J.J. Zeilstra stated when launching the series, “We’ve been testing and designing and redesigning to get the perfect finish.”

Innovation in FT engines: Vortical air filtration system

The FT series features an innovative, superior filtration system developed specifically for high-debris environments.

Vortical air filtration pushes heavier debris away from the engine before it reaches the filter – the shape of the air filter housing is designed to spin the air, pushing larger grass clippings out through a debris ejector valve.

Matt Ulmenstine, Manager, R&D Application Engineering within the Engines Division at Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. explains, “The difference here is we’re taking a large air filter and integrating it into the air filter cover and the housing. The air filter housing is now a pre-cleaner – it eliminates dust and debris before it can get to the filter.”

J.J. Zeilstra adds, “We used Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis (CFD) on the vortical filtration to ensure the air was spinning fast enough to eject that heavy grass to the outside. The shape of the actual air filter housing spins the air so the heavier grass goes through the outside of the housing."

Vortical air filtration results in cleaner intake air, less maintenance, and, ultimately, improved engine performance. You can also opt for the EFI version of our FT engine, and benefit from the increased efficiency and performance it offers.

Pushing engine technology forward

To develop engines that professionals can rely on, we never rest in exploring ways we can evolve and improve our technology.

Innovation at Kawasaki Engines isn't about making superficial changes; it’s about answering the challenges of the modern professional. From enhanced intake efficiency to vortical air filtration, we develop technology that has a clear impact on performance.

Our R&D teams in Japan and the US are already working on the next innovation – when it launches, you know it will be carefully designed with the professional in mind.

See the result of past Kawasaki innovations, and explore equipment Powered by Kawasaki today.