HD Construction Equipment is expanding its engine portfolio to address rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, with a new 3-megawatt (MW) diesel engine scheduled to enter mass production in 2028.
The company recently held a start-up ceremony for its DX77 generator engine at its Gunsan campus in South Korea. Featuring a 77-liter displacement and maximum output in the 3 MW class, the DX77 is the largest engine developed by the company to date. Its capacity is equivalent to the average electricity consumption of approximately 7,000 households.
Designed to operate at 1,800 revolutions per minute (rpm), the DX77 combines high output with a compact footprint, helping reduce installation space. These characteristics could support modular data centers that progressively add equipment in line with their power generation requirements. The engine also incorporates high-strength, wear-resistant materials and a high-efficiency cooling system to support extended high-speed operation. Its filters have a replacement interval of 1,000 hours, while the company plans to offer a service warranty it describes as the industry’s longest.
HD Construction Equipment is also developing a broader range of generator engines across the 1โ3 MW segment. Its 1 MW DX22 is already being produced at the Incheon plant. At the Gunsan engine plant, scheduled for completion at the end of October, the company plans to begin phased mass production of the 1.5 MW DX37 in early 2027. Mass production of the 2 MW DX50 is targeted for 2029.
Beyond diesel engines, the company intends to expand its gas engine portfolio, focusing on North America, where AI data center growth and delays in grid connections are increasing demand for on-site electricity generation. The DX77 has also been designed with the potential to accommodate alternative fuels, including gas and hydrogen.
Moon Jae-young, president of HD Construction Equipment, said the DX77 would strengthen the competitiveness of its generator engine business. He added that the company would conduct comprehensive performance and durability testing to improve the product and establish new growth opportunities in the global power generation market.