Rehlko brings a smarter gasoline flagship to CONEXPO 2026 with the Command PRO EFI ECH941

The most newsworthy piece on Rehlko’s stand is the new Command PRO EFI ECH941, presented as the latest evolution of its proven horizontal gasoline platform.

Rehlko heads to CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas with a clear message to equipment OEMs: more usable power, fewer integration headaches, and tighter control over uptime costs. The company will be in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall (second level), booth S-83119, during the March 3 to 7 show. 

The point is not a clean-sheet redesign. It is a targeted airflow and controls upgrade aimed at squeezing more working power from the same basic envelope that OEMs already package today. 

Rehlko’s update centres on two hardware changes that address intake restriction. The engine receives a larger six-inch air cleaner and an enhanced electronic throttle body, improving airflow and reducing restriction. The company’s pitch is straightforward: more usable power, while keeping displacement, packaging, and cooling requirements unchanged. For OEMs, that matters because it reduces the domino effect of changes that often follow a power bump, such as revised cooling packs, new mounts, or altered service access. 

On the electronics side, the ECH941 adds integrated CAN bus control for real-time engine-to-machine communication. In practical terms, that is about smoother integration with machine controllers and telematics, plus faster diagnostics when something goes wrong in the field. If you build compact equipment where a small engine fault can idle a high-value rental asset, cutting troubleshooting time is not a nice-to-have. It is margin protection. 

Gasoline engines are being asked to behave like “connected” industrial powerplants

Gasoline remains a staple in several compact and light equipment niches, especially where customers want simple fueling logistics, lower upfront cost, or a familiar service ecosystem. But the expectation has shifted. OEMs and fleet owners increasingly want the same visibility and fault transparency they get from modern electronically managed diesel platforms.

By pushing CAN bus into this gasoline package, Rehlko is effectively narrowing the gap between “small engine” expectations and off-highway machine integration norms. It is also consistent with the broader direction of the Command PRO EFI family, which Rehlko positions as a line built around reduced downtime and easier day-to-day operation compared with carbureted setups. 

The diesel KSD 1403TCA continues to broaden its footprint

While the ECH941 is the fresh update, Rehlko is also leaning on diesel platforms that are already established in production. The KSD series, including the KSD 1403TCA, has been in production since 2023 and has spread across multiple application types, from material handling to compact construction equipment. 

Rehlko emphasizes electronically managed control with a “mechanical-like” ease of use, plus precise fuel metering for load response. That combination is designed to reduce performance sag under transient loads and to keep fuel use in check in duty cycles that are heavy on stop-start operation. 

The company has also pointed to customer-reported outcomes in specific use cases, including around 10 percent fuel savings in forklifts, and improved load response in aerial platforms. Treat those as field anecdotes rather than universal guarantees, but they help explain why the KSD platform has found traction beyond one niche. 

The high-power KDI 1903TCR is getting closer to the US

Rehlko is also using the CONEXPO window to keep momentum going for the high-power version of the KDI 1903TCR. The engine debuted publicly at Bauma 2025 and is positioned for upcoming availability in the US market. Output figures cited by Rehlko are 50 kW and 250 Nm, aimed at compact machines that need strong low-end torque without growing the installation footprint. 

This is a familiar battleground: compact loaders, mini excavators, and rental-oriented machines where performance sells, but where OEMs fight constantly for packaging space and service access. Torque density, not peak power bragging rights, is usually what moves the needle. Rehlko’s messaging around “compact package” and low-speed torque is aligned with that reality. 

Rehlko as a standalone identity

CONEXPO also serves as a high-visibility stage for Rehlko’s post-Kohler identity. The company’s corporate rebrand follows the separation of Kohler Energy into a standalone business in May 2024, after a transaction completed by Platinum Equity, with Kohler Company remaining an investment partner. In market terms, the key takeaway for OEMs is continuity: the same engine families, service expectations, and global footprint, presented under a new name that the company is now pushing consistently across channels, product literature, and show presence. 

Rehlko brings a smarter gasoline flagship to CONEXPO 2026 with the Command PRO EFI ECH941 published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.