Düsterloh pneumatic starters are used to start diesel engines and turbines. They essentially consist of a gear motor, a single-track drive with reduction gear and a valve combination. Since the gear motor develops its highest torque when breaking loose, it is particularly suitable for starting diesel engines. Düsterloh pneumatic starters can be operated with air or gas. They are independent of electrical energy storage, maintenance-free and explosion-proof.

The available series achieves torques, measured at the starter pinion, of up to 510 Nm at a working pressure of 15 bar. For higher starting powers, two starters can be operated in parallel. A safety circuit is available for this purpose, which only allows the diesel to be started when the pinions of both starters are fully engaged in the ring gear of the diesel.