Omnitek Engineering said inquires from large fleet operators interested in converting heavy duty truck engines to natural gas gained momentum in 2013, with the company shipping a preliminary order late in December to one of its domestic conversion center partners and the commencement of initial kit sales to a European country committed to a 10-year target of two million conversions.

In addition, a Latin America customer received a preliminary order of U.S. – manufactured natural gas engines utilizing the company’s technology for an initial 50- bus conversion project.

“The opportunities for heavy-duty diesel engine truck engine conversions are significant and we expect 2014 to be a pivotal year for the company, based on the expressed interest of large fleet customers during the past several months and year-end quote activity and kit shipments,” said Werner Funk, president and chief executive officer of Omnitek Engineering Corp.

Funk highlighted the company’s recent strategic alliance with Minneapolis, Minnesota-based diesel engine remanufacturer Reviva to produce “drop-in” natural gas engines that utilize Omnitek’s diesel-to-natural gas engine conversion kits for the widely utilized Navistar DT 466E and DT 530E heavy-duty truck engines as a convenient option for large fleets.

Funk noted that Omnitek’s conversion technology offers a projected payback of less than two years — a significant advantage compared with a projected payback of five-to-seven years for a new natural gas truck purchase.