World Fishing looks back at the history of one of the world''s most important engine manufacturers - The world-famous tenor Enrico Caruso made his first gramophone recording 100 years ago. Pepsi-Cola was founded and the teddy-bear was introduced. The same year, Scania presented its first marine engine, which makes Scania one of the oldest manufacturers of marine engines in the world.
Scania's origins can be traced back more than 110 years, when Vabis (Vagnfabriksaktiebolaget i Södertelge) was established. Initially the company made equipment for the growing railway network, but it began at an early stage to develop engines.
The engineer, Gustaf Erikson, experimented with different types of engines and in 1897 the company presented the first Swedish built motorcar with a carburettor engine. At the same time, engines were being developed and various numbers of cylinders, fuels, carburettors, etc. were tested.
Vabis noticed at an early stage that there was a need for marine engines and in 1902 the company was able to offer its customers a range of engines for marine use. They had up to four cylinders and developed 6 to 24 HP. Unfortunately none of these first engines have been preserved, as far as we know.
In October 1904, a test run was made at Vabis with a boat powered by an engine from the Vagnfabriken and a speed in excess of six knots was recorded. This was almost certainly quite an achievement in those days. Co-operation was started at this time with a number of boatyards and in June 1905 a complete boat with a single cylinder engine was delivered to an engineer called Mortenson in Stockholm.
In 1907, the Board of Directors decided to build a separate factory to produce cars and boats.
The new Vabis factory was opened in July 1908 and manufactured trucks, motorcars, and motorised trolleys, as well as complete propeller-driven boats. The boats hulls were however built elsewhere.
In 1911, Vabis merged with Maskinfabriksaktiebolaget Scania in the southern Swedish town of Malmö. The new company, Scania-Vabis, produced trucks there, while the Södertälje factory was responsible for the engines, cars, and light trucks. In 1911 the company also started to manufacture buses.
Soon after the first world war, Scania-Vabis received an order for 18 marine engines to power nine Swedish customs patrol boats. They were 6-cylinder models developed from a 4-cylinder standard truck engine. The company also developed carburettors, laying the foundation for Scania's reputation as a maker of fuel-efficient, reliable engines.
In 1923 the company unveiled a new 4-cylinder engine that delivered 50 HP at 2,000 rpm. In response to customer demand, the engine could run on different fuels such as pure ethyl alcohol, pure petrol, or a mixture of the two.
During the 1930s, Scania began working with the Magirus company in Germany to develop diesel engines. In 1936, Scania unveiled its first diesel engine, with 6 cylinders and an output of 120 HP. It quickly became popular both in Sweden and in export markets.
Engine development continued and in 1949 Scania introduced its first direct-injection engine, thanks to a partnership with Leyland. It was sold in 4 and 6-cylinder versions. In 1950, development of an 8-cylinder engine was also completed.
The new engines had many advantages, among them low fuel consumption and high reliability, and were soon successful in the market.
Scania unveiled its first turbocharged engine in 1960. It was designated the D815 and was produced for nine years, and was used in buses, trucks, and boats. Initially it produced 205 HP. Its successor, the DSI11, came in 1963 and was supplied initially only as a marine engine, either for propulsion or for powering the auxiliary machinery.
During the 1960s the company realised the potential of installing a number of engines in the same boat and marketing was adapted accordingly. For example, six Scania-Vabis engines were installed in the Broström Line vessel Tento. The European dominance continued into the 1980s when Turkey and France also became important markets. In Sweden, Scania received an order from the Navy for engines for the new combat boat 90.
This initiated a co-operation with the Docksta Shipyard that still exists today.
Leading manufacturer
Today Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport and of industrial and marine engines.
The company has 28,300 employees with production in Europe and Latin America. The products are sold in more than 100 different markets.
Scania Industrial & Marine Engines started its new century with a roar by unveiling an entirely new engine, the most powerful to date: a 16 litre V8 that is water-cooled, has double turbochargers, electronic fuel injection, and a newly developed engine control system.
