John Deere Provide the JD4 to Flory Industries

The John Deere JD4 industrial engine has proven to be the perfect match for a diversified and multifaceted OEM like Flory Industries. Managing a diverse product portfolio often means juggling a complex web of part numbers, varying engine configurations, and extensive inventory. This is how John Deere Power Systems describes its relationship with Flory Industries.

Specialized in Nut-Harvesting Applications

A California-based manufacturer of nut-harvesting solutions, Flory Industries is standardizing on the JD4 to power its VR700 side-mount shaker and VS25 shuttle truck. Powered by the John Deere 4045 Final Tier 4 industrial engine, these machines are set for production in 2027 and will be among the first JD4-powered applications in the field.

To execute this transition, Flory Industries collaborated with Western Power Products, the John Deere distributor for the western United States (including California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Hawaii). The primary driver for selecting the JD4 was the need for robust performance without the bulk.

Historically, meeting emissions standards required larger aftertreatment packages, driving manufacturers to increase machine size. The JD4 reverses this trend, offering a 20% to 25% reduction in package size compared to the 4.5L engine it replaces, while providing an impressive power range of 63 – 129 kW (84 – 173 hp).

Insights

“The JD4 offers a broad horsepower range in a smaller package, which lends itself to fantastic design flexibility for an OEM like us,” says Jason Flory, president of Flory Industries. “As we look at Tier 4 aftertreatment packages, engines just keep getting larger. The JD4 solves the challenge of fitting heavy-duty power into confined spaces.”

This compact footprint allowed Western Power Products to engineer a complete, “plug-and-play” power unit that fits seamlessly into Flory Industries’ specialized equipment. Western Power Products utilized its engineering resources to navigate the integration of prototype units, ensuring that Flory Industries could focus on machine development while the distributor handled the complexities of the new platform.

“This specific project was unique because the JD4 is not yet in full production,” notes Josh Waldon, president of Western Power Products. “Flory Industries is absolutely an early adopter. That collaboration between the two of us, and with John Deere, was paramount.”

Two Auxiliary Drive Pads

Beyond its compact size, the JD4 brings a significant advantage in auxiliary power. The engine offers up to two auxiliary drive pads, providing three times more available auxiliary power than its predecessors. This feature was critical for the VR700 side-mount shaker, which is designed for precision shaking and maximum efficiency. The previous iteration of the VR700 faced challenges in achieving full flow for the optional Synergy Blower system due to power limitations.

“The JD4’s auxiliary drive provides a key advantage for the VR700, specifically benefiting our blower system,” says Tyler Hupp, project development manager at Flory Industries. “It allowed us to separate the systems, ensuring full flow and greater efficiency throughout the operation.”

For the VS25 Velocity Shuttle, a low-profile shuttle designed for rapid nut transport, the engine’s size directly impacts productivity.

Smaller the Engine, More the Capacity

“The capacity of the hopper is always dictated by the engine because there’s an enclosure that fits over the engine,” said Waldon. “The smaller the engine, the more capacity that machine has to carry nuts.”

While performance is paramount, the strategic appeal of the JD4 lies in its versatility. Flory Industries aims to standardize multiple applications on this single platform, simplifying manufacturing and parts support. Unlike previous engine changes driven by emissions mandates, this move is a proactive design choice.

“For us as an OEM, a lot of our past engine changes or repowers were driven by Tier requirements,” says Bob Bill, product strategy engineer at Flory Industries. “The JD4 represents a change driven by versatility. Whether it’s horsepower or packaging, everything is put together in a way that is designed around the OEM platform.”

Standardization also simplifies inventory management. “Having an engine platform and all associated replacement parts be common to multiple applications represents a tremendous value for us,” says Flory. “That value is felt not only at the time of purchase, but in carrying costs down the line.”

Aftermarket

A major factor in Flory Industries’ decision to go with John Deere was the robust aftermarket and customer support network standing behind John Deere engines.

“There’s a reason why I’ve been with John Deere for so long,” says Flory. “The location of their service and support networks relative to growers in our industry is a huge value.”

The JD4 also brings advanced connectivity to the orchard. John Deere Connected Support comes standard on the JD4, utilizing JDLink to proactively track engine health and send predictive alerts to dealers regarding potential concerns.

“John Deere Connected Support connects us straight to the machine from our remote location,” says Flory. “That’s a tremendous value to our growers and us.”

The system’s remote diagnostics allow dealers to read trouble codes or send software updates wirelessly. Furthermore, for those who have John Deere tractors in their fleet, this integration allows growers to manage their Flory Industries equipment alongside their John Deere tractors in John Deere Operations Center, creating a seamless fleet management experience.

What’s Next?

• Pprototype testing in 2025
• Planned expansion of field units in 2026
• Flory Industries is set to commence full production of the JD4-powered VR700 and VS25 in 2027
• From 20% to 25% reduction in package size compared to the 4.5L engine it replaces.

About Flory Industries

Flory Industries is considered the leader in the field of nut-harvesting equipment, with sales worldwide for harvesting almonds, cashews, chestnuts, figs, hazelnuts, macadamia, pecans, tung nut, walnuts, pistachios, and stone fruit with our on-ground and off-ground harvest solutions.

And Western Power Products

Western Power Products, is the premier John Deere Engines Authorized Dealer & Parts Provider, serving 5 US Territories: CA (California), NV (Nevada), UT (Utah), AZ (Arizona), and HI (Hawaii).

John Deere Connected Support

John Deere Connected Support is a connectivity system that allows service technicians to remotely access customers’ machines to:

• Identify potential faults early on;
• Fix operational errors;
• Help operators configure or adjust their machines.