South Korea’s top power equipment maker, HD Hyundai Electric Co., is accelerating its US expansion, betting that demand for transformers and switchgear will surge as the artificial intelligence “supercycle” drives a new wave of power consumption. To meet rising orders, the company broke ground Friday on a second plant at its 130,000-square-meter (32-acre) Alabama site. (See original article below) Top Korea Power Firm Revs Up US Growth Betting on AI Supercycle  

We've covered the name changes and frequent corporate reshufflings among the Doosan, Develon, and Hyundai brands. You might also remember the name HD Hyundai Infracore.   What's the difference between the two brands? Where's it all going? This Conexpo, we sought some clarity from Jae-young Moon, president and CEO of HD Construction Equipment, parent company of the brands. Here's our exclusive conversation. (See original article below) Conexpo Insights: Develon and Hyundai Explained

Around 3500 B.C., humanity first set sail aboard wind-powered vessels. For millennia, ships relied primarily on sails and wind as their main means of propulsion. In the 19th century, however, the advent of the steam engine ushered in a new era in maritime history, gradually reducing the role of sail power.   Today, the sail has reemerged in the shipbuilding industry in a fundamentally new form: the wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS).   WAPS is a next-generation technology that harnesses wind energy to supplement a vessel’s primary propulsion system, thereby reducing fuel consumption. It also serves as a strategic solution that helps the shipbuilding and maritime industries advance their transition toward carbon neutrality.     Applying Aircraft Wing Principles: The Wing Sail   A representative example of WAPS is a wing sail. Structurally, a wing sail resembles a vertically mounted aircraft wing. As the wind flows across its surface, it generates a force known as lift. In aviation, lift allows an aircraft to ascend; on a vessel, that same force acts horizontally, helping propel the ship forward.   How does a wing sail improve fuel efficiency?   By supplementing propulsion with wind power, a wing sail reduces the thrust required from the main engine to maintain the same speed. As engine load decreases, fuel consumption declines accordingly.   Presenting a Wing Sail Optimized Through Vessel Design   A wing sail generates two primary forces: thrust, which propels the vessel forward, and lateral force, which pushes it sideways. The challenge arises from the simultaneous generation of lateral force with thrust, which can cause the vessel to drift off course.   In such cases, the vessel’s hull and rudder must compensate to maintain course. This corrective action, however, creates additional hydrodynamic resistance that can partially offset fuel-efficiency gains.   To maximize fuel efficiency, an integrated design approach is essential, as it considers not only wing sail performance but also installation position, hull form, rudder configuration, and operating conditions.   HD Hyundai, home to the world’s largest shipbuilding operations, manufactures its wing sails in-house, drawing on more than five decades of expertise. This contributes to improved fuel efficiency of the wind-assisted propulsion system.    Trial run of a wing sail developed by HD Hyundai   Wing Sail Enters Sea Trials   In June 2025, HD Hyundai became the first in Korea to successfully develop a wing sail. The structure stands about 30 meters tall and 10 meters wide, with auxiliary flaps installed on both sides of the main wing to improve wind utilization efficiency. A tilting mechanism enables the sail to fold in adverse weather or when passing beneath bridges, ensuring stable operation across a wide range of maritime environments.   In January, HD Hyundai installed a prototype of its in-house wing sail on a vessel and initiated full-scale sea trials. The demonstration vessel is a 50,000-deadweight-ton-class tanker operated by HMM. Following structural safety assessments and baseline performance verification, the vessel successfully completed sea trials and inspections conducted by the Korean Register (KR).   Through these real-world sea trials, HD Hyundai aims to analyze the wing sail’s operational characteristics and collect data on fuel-efficiency improvements and carbon-emissions reductions. The findings will serve as a critical foundation for enhancing system performance and advancing the commercialization of its wind-assisted propulsion system.     A Technology That Mitigates Wind Impact: Hi-ARS If the wing sail represents a technology that harnesses the wind power, another solution is designed to do the opposite by reducing its impact. That solution is an air resistance reduction system.   HD Hyundai is implementing Hi-ARS (Air Resistance Saver), an air resistance reduction system that lowers wind drag without requiring additional power consumption.   Hi-ARS applied to an LNG carrier   Hi-ARS features a structure installed on the bow engineered to optimize aerodynamic performance. The system generates a vortex at the bow, guiding airflow along the hull and over the vessel to reduce wind resistance and enhance fuel efficiency.   Hi-ARS was first installed on a 174,000-cubic-meter-class LNG carrier recently delivered by HD Hyundai. The company plans to expand its application to a broader range of vessel types, including upcoming LNG carriers.