Diesel Expert Hatz Debuts Impressive New F-Series Small Engine Range

Every three years, the construction world converges on Munich, Germany, for bauma — a city-sized tradeshow where innovation, legacy and vision mix across more than 600,000 square meters of exhibit space. Tucked among the crowds in Hall A4, Hatz’s indoor booth buzzed with activity as the diesel engine expert unveiled its latest development: the F-series engine family. Compact Equipment stopped by to see what all the excitement was about. There, we connected with Chad Winkler, engine sales director for Hatz North America, to dig into this new generation of small industrial diesel engines and how they serve the needs of equipment pros.

“Our F-series engine fills that gap between our D-series engine and our H-series engines,” explained Winkler, walking me around the booth. “We have five different models for North America. We’re going to have two versions of variable speed engines, and then we will have three versions of the constant speed engines.”

Purpose-Built for Compact Applications

At its core, the new F-series represents a smart expansion of Hatz’s water-cooled diesel offerings. These are not big power plants for massive machines. These are hardworking, intelligently engineered engines meant for small, high-demand off-highway applications.

The F-series covers a power range from 7.5 to 18.4 kW (roughly 10 to 25 hp), spread across 11 models with displacements from 0.95 to 1.75 liters. These engines are either EU Stage V or EPA Tier 4 Final compliant without requiring exhaust aftertreatment. Five Tier 4 Final models will be available in the United States.

“Our H-series as you can see is considerably larger than our F-series, but it’s the same output,” said Winkler. “These F-series engines are great for anything that is more compact, smaller, less weight like a mini excavator, skid steer, water pump, anything in the compact equipment market that needs something smaller and lighter with big power.”

A major highlight of the F-series is how Hatz offers them: not just as bare engines, but as fully configured Open Power Units (OPUs). These plug-and-play systems come with radiator, air filter, silencer and wiring harness already installed — assembled at Hatz’s German headquarters.

“Basically, you just hook up your fuel, a battery, your controls and you’re done,” said Winkler. “That’s a key feature on these that sets them apart, noting our H-series come as an OPU too.”

For OEMs, that means no bracket-fabrication headaches or sourcing hassles. For end-users, it translates to robust, pre-tested systems that are built to last. In fact, these OPUs are designed for extreme conditions — environments with high heat, airborne dust, vibration and even pressure washing. The fan-to-flywheel versions are especially useful for applications with additional hydraulic cooling demands.

Tech-Focused, Maintenance-Friendly

Despite their compact size, these engines pack in forward-thinking technology. All U.S. models come with an electronic governor as standard — enhancing fuel efficiency and throttle response. For European markets, mechanical governor versions are available as well. Long service intervals — up to 250 hours between maintenance — keep costs down and uptime high. Cold starts are reliable, noise and vibration are minimized and the engines’ modular design makes inspections and servicing easy. These are important factors for contractors relying on small machines in demanding, often remote environments. A big differentiator for the brand?

“The Hatz quality, the endurance, the durability,” said Winkler. “That’s our key feature. All these Hatz components have gone through all the engineering, all the vibration tests, all the quality control that makes it into what we see.”

And when service is needed, Hatz has it covered. With over 500 service centers worldwide and an optional five-year warranty on the full OPU, customers aren’t just buying an engine — they’re buying a support network.

A Family That Complements the H-Series

The F-series doesn’t replace Hatz’s acclaimed H-series engines — it complements them. The H-series, which Compact Equipment reported on via our in-depth visit to Germany back in 2018, remains the go-to platform for 24- to 64-kW machines. These engines offer higher power density and come equipped with Hatz’s own iHACS combustion system and fiPMG hybrid generator options. The F-series fills in the lower end of the spectrum with precision.

“Size and weight,” said Winkler. “Those are the keys for these engines.”

For smaller machines that don’t need the muscle of a turbocharged four-cylinder, the naturally aspirated F-series engines provide a lightweight, emissions-compliant, ready-to-install solution. Think light towers, mini dumpers, mini skid steers, trenchers or generator sets. In fact, many of the design lessons learned from the H-series — especially modularity and durability — clearly carry over into the F-series.

Built in Bavaria, Ready for Anywhere

Back in 2018, we visited Hatz’s headquarters in Ruhstorf an der Rott, just a couple of hours outside Munich. Touring its immaculate factory and watching engines roll down the line, it became clear how deeply rooted the company is in craftsmanship and innovation. This is a family-run operation with nearly 150 years of history, and its attention to detail shows in everything from aluminum crankcases to quiet package insulation.

That hands-on culture has translated well into North American operations. With a major presence in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Hatz North America — under the guidance of industry veterans like Winkler and CEO Mike Hartoonian — has pushed to bring these German-engineered engines to a wider swath of OEMs and equipment owners across the United States and Canada.

Compact equipment continues to be the backbone of off-highway jobsites — especially in urban, utility and rental markets. Contractors need smaller, fuel-efficient machines that fit onto trailers, navigate backyards or alleyways and run all day without fuss. That’s where the F-series excels. These engines are tailored for equipment categories that often get overlooked when it comes to engine innovation. Tow-behind compressors, utility vehicles, sweepers, walk-behind trenchers — each of these machines plays a critical role in small-scale construction and earthmoving, and each needs reliable, lightweight diesel power. With the F-series, Hatz is giving OEMs a drop-in solution. And for machine owners, it’s peace of mind: lower fuel bills, fewer service calls and no confusing emissions systems to babysit.

Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.

Come learn the dos and don’ts of trailering compact excavators.