▶ AI-powered automatic braking technology ‘E-STOP’ wins at Italian exhibition, receiving high praise from European construction firms. ▶ Increases safety and efficiency by detecting humans near equipment and adjusting braking stages according to danger zones.   The AI-driven safety technology from HD Construction Equipment has gained a competitive advantage in Europe, a region known for its strict safety regulations. HD Construction Equipment announced on Tuesday, the 12th, that its AI-based emergency automatic braking technology, 'E-STOP,' has won the 'SaMoTer Innovation Award' in Italy. The SaMoTer Innovation Award is given by Veronafiere, the Italian trade fair organization that hosts SaMoTer, one of Europe’s leading exhibitions specializing in construction equipment. This award recognizes the most innovative technologies and products within the industry. The award-winning E-STOP technology uses cameras and radar sensors mounted on the equipment to detect people or objects within the machine's working radius, enabling it to brake automatically. By employing AI deep learning, it accurately identifies human workers on the job site. Furthermore, it can automatically adjust the deceleration and stopping stages based on preset distances, thereby simultaneously improving site safety and operational efficiency. In September of last year, HD Construction Equipment showcased its E-STOP technology during the Seine-Nord Europe Canal project organized by the OPPBTP, the leading organization in France for the prevention of risks in building and public works under the Ministry of Labor. The technology received positive feedback from local construction companies across Europe. “Winning this innovation award is a significant achievement as it recognizes our technological expertise in Europe, a region that is at the forefront of future construction equipment technology,” said Lim Jung-woo, Head of the Europe Region at HD Construction Equipment. “We will continue to enhance our brand reliability across Europe by focusing on technologies and products that improve both safety and efficiency.” SaMoTer is an international exhibition focused on specialized construction equipment, which has been held in Verona, Italy, since 1964. At this year’s exhibition, HD Construction Equipment presented a diverse range of products, including compact machinery, mining equipment, and the newly launched next-generation large excavator, the DX400HD-9. ■ Reference Video: ‘E-STOP’ technology introduction video uploaded on HD Construction Equipment’s YouTube channel ‘Sap-Free Film’  

▶ Orientation successfully held at the Pangyo Global R&D Center on the 7th, featuring industry lectures and excavator trials. ▶ Preliminaries in June, Finals in August … Mentoring to produce field-ready outcomes.  HD Construction Equipment has officially launched its technology competition, attracting 136 teams from 46 universities nationwide, as part of an effort to discover future talent for the construction equipment industry. HD Construction Equipment announced on Friday that it has completed the application process for the “1st HD Future Construction Equipment Challenge,” following a successful orientation at the HD HYUNDAI Global R&D Center (GRC) in Pangyo on the 7th. A total of 136 teams, comprising 425 students, from 46 universities applied for the competition, with approximately 230 students attending the orientation. The event featured industry lectures such as "Construction Equipment Industry A to Z" and "The Future Opened by Smart Construction Equipment." Students also participated in hands-on programs, including RC equipment trials, excavator simulators, and rides in actual vehicles, broadening their understanding of an industry that is often difficult to access. The HD Future Construction Equipment Challenge aims to enhance the global competitiveness of K-Construction Equipment and identify future leaders through innovative ideas from domestic engineering students. The preliminary rounds will take place in June, while the finals are scheduled for August. Participants will present their ideas based on one or more of the following four themes: ▲ Intelligence, ▲Sustainability, ▲Safety/Convenience, and ▲Future Construction Sites. Importantly, the finalists will be paired with mentors from HD Construction Equipment, allowing them to develop and showcase results that are relevant to real industrial applications. Winners will be determined after the final evaluation in August. The Grand Prize team will receive 10 million KRW, support for overseas field trips, and benefits such as exemption from the document screening process during recruitment. The Excellence Award team will be granted 5 million KRW and support for overseas field trips. Additionally, the Encouragement Award team will receive 2 million KRW. Moon Jae-young, CEO of HD Construction Equipment, stated, "We hope that students will envision their potential, push their limits, and pursue their dreams through this challenge. We look forward to discovering many innovative and creative ideas from the youth who will shape the future of the construction equipment industry."  

While electric vehicles (EVs) have successfully entered the mainstream, the electrification of large-scale vessels remains a formidable challenge. Unlike passenger cars, large commercial vessels must transport tens of thousands of tons over vast distances for weeks at a time without the possibility of mid-voyage recharging. This necessitates not only massive energy storage solutions but a fundamental redesign of the ship’s propulsion architecture.   To resolve such issues, the shipbuilding industry is exploring solutions that use electricity generated from clean energy sources such as hydrogen, natural gas, and ammonia to power propulsion motors. This approach significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions while also minimizing vibration and noise.   Electrification has three phases: power generation, distribution and conversion, and propulsion.   Power Generation for Electric-Powered Ships: Energy Mix   HD Hyundai is expanding the development and application of its “energy mix power system,” which combines dual-fuel engines (DFGE) with ammonia-based solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).   DFGE offers flexibility in responding to fluctuations in power demand. During vessel operations, propulsion loads can change rapidly, and onboard power requirements may surge depending on equipment usage. DFGE systems can respond quickly and efficiently to these variations.   SOFC systems, on the other hand, generate electricity through electrochemical reactions, directly converting the chemical energy of fuel into electricity without combustion. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this process reduces energy loss and improves overall efficiency compared to conventional engine- or turbine-based systems.   Not only that, the SOFC systems also provide an environmentally friendly solution that enables greater flexibility in meeting tightening carbon regulations.     Power Distribution at Sea: Direct Current   A key technology for efficiently distributing and converting generated electricity is the medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) system, which transmits electricity at voltages ranging from 1.5 kV to 100 kV.   Since the "War of the Currents” between Edison and Tesla, the alternating current (AC) type has been the standard method for transmitting electricity, but the direct current type MVDC is becoming a gamechanger at the sea. This is because it can optimize power conversion efficiency compared to conventional AC systems, minimizing energy loss. MVDC has been known to improve integrated energy efficiency by up to 20% when applied to large electric-powered ships.   HD Hyundai is actively developing MVDC technology while collaborating with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to establish design standards and international regulations. In May 2024, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ABS to advance MVDC development and classification standards.   Localization of Propulsion Technology Nears   The final stage of ship electrification is propulsion. The medium-voltage propulsion drive, based on a modular multilevel converter (MMC) structure, is a critical component that precisely controls motor torque and speed.   This system delivers high-quality voltage and precise control, making it particularly effective for vessels requiring low noise and vibration, such as naval ships conducting covert operations. It enables stable performance even under extreme conditions, including ultra-low-speed operation and rapid acceleration or deceleration, while significantly reducing detectability compared to conventional mechanical propulsion systems.   HD Hyundai has secured core technologies for propulsion drives, which were previously reliant on imports, thereby strengthening its technological independence. As a result, the company has become the first in the global shipbuilding industry to localize the entire electric propulsion platform—from power generation to distribution and propulsion. HD Hyundai plans to officially commercialize the propulsion drive in 2028.   The Era of Large Electric-Powered Ships   By securing technologies across the entire electrification value chain, HD Hyundai is positioning itself at the forefront of the transition to large electric-powered ships.   In 2025, HD Hyundai received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the ABS at Gastech for the concept design of a 16,000 TEU container ship equipped with an electric propulsion system. HD Hyundai is now accelerating R&D efforts with the goal of commercializing large electric-powered vessels by 2030.