▶ Signs mutual sales partnership for compact construction equipment to strengthen product portfolios of both companies ▶ Targeting KRW 1.3 trillion in compact segment sales by 2030 as a new growth engine HD Construction Equipment announced on Tuesday, September 22, that it recently signed an agreement on mutual sales partnership for compact construction equipment with a global comprehensive equipment manufacturer, Manitou Group, which will help expand its compact equipment portfolio. The signing ceremony was held at Manitou Group’s headquarters in Ancenis, France, with key executives in attendance, including Moon Jae-young, President & CEO of HD Construction Equipment, and Sylvain Blaise, President & CEO of Manitou Group. Manitou Group is a worldwide manufacturer that distributes a diverse range of construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery—including telehandlers, forklifts, compact loaders, and aerial work platforms—to 140 countries under its Manitou and Gehl brands. Under this agreement, HD Construction Equipment will source compact equipment product lines from Manitou Group and sell them on a global scale. In return, Manitou Group will integrate HD Construction Equipment's compact solutions into its own lineup, expanding the product offerings for both the Manitou and Gehl brands. Through this partnership, HD Construction Equipment plans to accelerate its market expansion by enhancing its compact construction equipment lineup. Furthermore, the company aims to scale up compact equipment production and improve both product quality and cost competitiveness. By positioning compact construction equipment as a new growth driver, HD Construction Equipment aims to achieve KRW 1.3 trillion in segment sales by 2030. "This partnership is more than just enhancing our product lines; it opens up important new growth opportunities through significant market expansion," said Moon Jae-young, President & CEO of HD Construction Equipment. “By bringing together our strengths, we will boost the competitiveness of our compact products and enhance our global presence.” Sylvain Blaise, President & CEO of Manitou Group, added, “This agreement fully aligns with our strategic roadmap aimed at accelerating our growth in compact equipment ranges. By combining the industrial excellence and innovative capabilities of two major industry leaders. This alliance allows us not only to reach a new milestone in product line expansion, but also to deliver enhanced value to our dealer network and customers worldwide.”

▶ HD Construction Equipment hosts the ‘1st HD Future Construction Equipment Challenge’ awards ceremony, capping off a 5-month competition featuring 400+ students from 46 universities. ▶ Dankook University's ‘French Fries Club' clinches the Grand Prize, winning KRW 10 million, an overseas tour, and hiring perks. Inha University sweeps the remaining top honors. ▶ “A unique opportunity to preview the future of the construction equipment industry—we will turn these imaginative ideas into real-world innovation.” HD Construction Equipment has successfully wrapped up its inaugural nationwide university competition, aimed at uncovering creative ideas from South Korean engineering students and mapping out the industry’s future. On Friday, the 18th, HD Construction Equipment held the awards ceremony for the 1st HD Future Construction Equipment Challenge at the HD HYUNDAI Global R&D Center in Pangyo. The five-month competition, which kicked off in April, drew more than 400 college students from 46 universities across the country. Under the theme of future construction sites and evolving machinery, participants proposed technologies and products designed for immediate real-world deployment. From the finals onward, HD Construction Equipment engineers stepped in as mentors. This elevated the event from a standard idea contest into a rigorous technical competition, giving participants hands-on experience analyzing and designing future construction technologies. The Grand Prize went to ‘French Fries Club', a team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Dankook University, for their “Smart Leveling System for Construction Equipment Upper Platforms.” The team took home KRW 10 million in prize money and secured exclusive perks, including a trip to an overseas trade show and an exemption from the initial document screening in the company’s recruitment process. Inha University swept the runner-up spots. The ‘Malcha’ (Matcha) team won the Top Excellence Award for their “AI-Based Smart Adaptive Sun-Shading Cabin,” while the ‘Ro-banjang’ (Robot Chief) team took home the Excellence Award for their “4-Wheel Independent Steering-Based Unmanned Compact Construction Platform.” HD Construction Equipment selected the winners based on a comprehensive evaluation of creativity, technical feasibility, industrial applicability, and future growth potential. The submissions featured a diverse array of concepts centered on core future technologies, including autonomous construction machinery, electrification, eco-friendly powertrains, and AI-driven fleet management. Moving beyond conceptual designs, the students offered practical solutions to critical industry challenges, such as boosting productivity, cutting carbon emissions, and improving site safety. “This challenge was a meaningful opportunity to glimpse the future of the construction equipment industry through the fresh eyes of university students,” said Moon Jae-young, CEO of HD Construction Equipment. “We will continue to actively engage with next-generation talent and support them in turning their imagination into real-world innovation.”  

▶ Supplies mid- to large-sized DEVELON excavators ranging from 14 to 53 tons for the Tung Chung Line extension urban railway project. ▶ Proves product competitiveness through superior fuel efficiency and customer service, outperforming Chinese competitors. ▶ Aims to strengthen its regional brand presence by selling over 100 units annually through 2029. HD Construction Equipment is accelerating its expansion in the Hong Kong market after successfully securing a major contract for 45 mid-to-large excavators. On September 16, HD Construction Equipment announced that it will supply a total of 45 units for the Tung Chung Line extension project spearheaded by the MTR Corporation (Hong Kong Railway Corporation). The fleet includes seven 53-ton large excavators and 38 mid-to-large excavators ranging from 14 to 36 tons from its DEVELON lineup. The supplied equipment will be deployed for the construction of new railway stations and an approximately 1.2-kilometer-long track extension. Because the construction site is on reclaimed coastal land with weak soil conditions, demand is high for specialized machinery, such as long-reach arms capable of long-distance operations. Consequently, the company anticipates potential follow-up orders for its ultra-large 80-ton and 100-ton specialized equipment. This contract carries significant weight as HD Construction Equipment outperformed price-competitive Chinese rivals by proving its superior product value through outstanding fuel efficiency and customer service. Notably, this milestone breaks through the company’s historical limits in the Hong Kong market, which previously leaned toward smaller fleets or compact-to-mid-size models. By securing this bulk order, the company successfully diversified its product deployments and increased volume at the same time. Moving forward, HD Construction Equipment plans to leverage this momentum to expand its product lineup and capture a larger market share in Hong Kong. This latest order brings HD Construction Equipment's total sales in Hong Kong this year to 75 units—marking its highest annual supply volume in the local market in the past five years. The company expects to maintain this trajectory, aiming for over 100 units in annual sales through 2029 to cement its premium brand presence. According to the Hong Kong government, a massive annual budget of approximately HKD 90 billion (KRW 15 billion) has recently been allocated to public infrastructure projects, including public transportation expansion and new town developments. As major undertakings like the Northern Metropolis project—which links Hong Kong to mainland China—gain full traction, the infrastructure budget is projected to expand to an annual average of HKD 120 billion (around KRW 21 billion). This steady government spending is expected to drive consistent, long-term local demand for construction equipment. “This bulk order carries significant weight as we successfully rebuild our footprint and expand our presence in a market where we historically enjoyed high market share,” an HD Construction Equipment representative stated. “Building upon this success, we will continue to expand our local sales channels and aggressively elevate our brand recognition moving forward.”