The new range is based on the two, three and four cylinder Alpha series of engines in power ratings of from 20 to 40hp and producing 400 litres of fuel per hour from vegetable oils.

The engines have been extensively tested at Lister-Petter's Gloucestershire base on a range of fuels derived from a range of bio-crops from rape seed to palm oil. Their flexibility makes them already popular with military applications and in poorer countries, where fuel quality is variable but reliable operation is vital. The entire range will also run happily on normal diesel fuel.

Hendy Power will be supplying and fitting ancillary options to the eight models in the range, which are available in heat exchanger (Alpha) cooling or keel cooled (Canalstar) versions. Newage PRM, Technodrive and ZF gearboxes are offered as standard along with a variety of panel, electrical and installation options.

Hendy Power already sells some 1,000 Lister Petter industrial engines per year.