DeltaHawk Engines, based in Racine, Wisconsin, has sold a controlling interest in the company to the local Ruud family, and plans to start production on their four-cylinder diesel/jet-A engine design sometime this year. The investment enabled the company to immediately hire seven engineers and make plans to hire 100 workers by the end of 2016. The amount of the Ruuds’ investment was not disclosed. The engine has been in development since 1996. The company says that compared to competitors, the engine delivers 8 percent lower fuel burn and 45 percent longer range.
Doug Doers, founder of DeltaHawk, will remain with the company as chief technology officer. Alan Ruud will take the CEO position. “Our experience in transitioning innovative ideas from R&D to full-scale production is a perfect fit with DeltaHawk,” Ruud said. “This company has great business potential and a keen focus on the pulse of the industry and their customers.” Ruud was the founder of Ruud Lighting, which was sold in 2011.
