Wärtsilä Corporation has introduced a new package of design modifications for Sulzer RTA-series two-stroke marine engines to provide further improved piston-running behaviour, longer times between overhauls, and lower cylinder lubricating oil consumption. Known as TriboPack, these design modifications are now standard on all newly built Sulzer RTA-T and RTA-C two-stroke diesel engines.

The main benefits include improved safety against scuffing, reduction of wear of cylinder liners, and extended time between overhauls (TBO). It is expected that, with TriboPack, times between overhauls can be extended to some 18,000 running hours, or about three years' operation, compared with about two to two-and-a-half years with the previous design standard. The benefits of TriboPack have already been demonstrated in a number of Sulzer RTA engines with individually up to some 10,000 running hours. These include two 12-cylinder RTA84C engines in a land power station, an eight-cylinder RTA84C engine propelling a container ship, two seven-cylinder RTA84T-D engines and two seven-cylinder RTA84T-B engines in tankers.

Background to TriboPack is the result of an extensive research and development programme at Wärtsilä over the past ten years or so to improve piston-running behaviour, to reduce wear rates and to reach even better reliability in Sulzer RTA two-stroke diesel engines.