Why it matters what engine is driving the machine?

Clean air, legal compliance and reliability matter: that's why the engine that powers your machinery matters

What engine is the machine running? And why should I care at all?

When planning a construction or industrial project, the focus is often on the spectacular decisions: deadlines, lifting equipment, subcontractors, machinery lists. But there’s one less obvious question that can still be crucial: what environmental rating will the lifting equipment use?

EU sustainability legislation and directives (CSRD, EU taxonomy, Fit for 55), as well as Hungarian ESG regulation, increasingly require, in some cases mandate, companies to set sustainability strategies, targets and reduce their carbon footprint. There is also an ambition to build only zero-carbon buildings from 2030, with the precondition that the carbon footprint of the entire value chain is known.

This is not just technical data:

At mateco, we know that you cannot risk a situation where a machine cannot be brought onto a project because it does not meet environmental standards. That is why we offer lifting machines with Euro 4 and Euro 5 (STAGE V) engines in our fleet.

But what exactly are these classifications?

When you first hear the words “Euro 4 engine”, it’s easy to think of the world of sports cars. But it’s a completely different story.

The Euro 4 and Euro 5 classifications are not about speed or power, it is about the degree how much the machine’s engine pollutes the air. These categories are based on strict European Union regulations:

how much nitrogen oxide (NOₓ),
how much particulate matter (PPM),
and carbon dioxide can be emitted into the atmosphere.

In the case of mateco’s machines, these engines are not installed in road vehicles but in construction machinery. They are officially called non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) – for example, a self-propelled basket lift or a scissor lift.

A real-life example: when will this become an actual decision-making aspect?

Imagine you’re in the middle of a hotel construction project in downtown. The street is narrow, there are apartment buildings around the work area, and you’re bound by the city’s green zone. The machine has to lift high, up to 20-25 metres. But you can only enter the work area if your engine meets city emission standards.

This is the daily reality in Budapest and other cities in Hungary.

If the lift is not powered by a Euro 4 or Euro 5 (STAGE V) engine, it simply cannot work. Or it has to be replaced. Or you have to wait for a replacement. And these are real costs, real delays.

What does mateco offer for these situations?

We not only check that the machine reaches the desired working height. We also consider:

whether the site complies with environmental regulations
whether it is economically viable
and last but not least: whether the customer is legally safe using the machine

The brands of machines in our fleet:

Genie: one of the world’s best-known manufacturers of lifting equipment, with excellent articulated and scissor lifts
JLG: robust self-propelled machines
Holland Lift: heavy-duty scissor lifts for indoor and outdoor work
Manitou and Doosan: reliable loaders and forklifts ideal for tight spaces
Toyota, Still, TCM: forklifts that move with precision in industrial environments

A large proportion of these machines are powered by Stage IIIA/B and Stage IV compliant engines, with Euro 4 or 5 engines – for environmentally friendly operation.

The right machine in the right place at the right time

Renting a machine is just the first step. mateco provides a complete delivery system to ensure that the right machine arrives on site on time and ready to go.

Delivery with our own fleet of vehicles
Preliminary engine and environmental check, AdBlue refill if required, DPF status check
On-site machine handover and operator training
Regular service and maintenance, including cleaning of SCR and EGR systems

All of this is not an extra service, but part of the basic rental package with us.

Renting a car with a Euro 4 / Euro 5 engine is not a “nice gesture” to the environment. It’s a hard competitive advantage. For example:

No need to worry about stopping work because of an environmental inspection
No need to have a plan B because the machine cannot enter the area
No unexpected costs, fines or time lost
Reinforces the company’s responsible, sustainable image – which is an increasingly important factor in the eyes of international partners

What does a large company gain from this?

To conclude: it's easier to make a decision if you have a solid background

mateco does not only rent lifting equipment. We offer safety.

The machines know what they need.
The engines fit where they’re needed.
All the necessary back-up services work when you need them.

This is the background you need for a major investment. And one that allows a decision maker to confidently commit to the next project – knowing that it will really take off the right way.

If you want to know which of our machine types are suitable for your project, contact us!

We know what you need. And we’ll bring it to you – in time.