Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s largest shipbuilder and a leading construction equipment manufacturer, announced today that it is exhibiting its new construction equipment models at CONEXPO 2017, one of the world’s major construction equipment exhibitions, in an attempt to gain further ground in the North American market.

At the expo, HHI presents an extensive range of equipment for the construction, utility and mining and quarrying industries, highlighting Tier 4 / Stage IV models. The exhibition equipment line-up includes excavators, wheel loaders, rollers, and breakers meeting customers’ needs and environmental requirements. Of note, HHI set up a VR reality zone for a 22 ton excavator (HX220L) and a 225 hp wheel loader (HL960) where customers can experience  operating the equipment by simply  sitting in the cabs  and wearing VR headsets.

Last year, HHI saw its brand recognition  grow in the North American construction equipment market by recording a 17% sales increase compared to 2015, and by winning the Highest Retained Value Award for its 158 hp wheel loader by EquipmentWatch, the world's leader in data, insight and workflow tools for the heavy equipment industry. 

An HHI official said, “With  our enhanced dealer networks and active sales promotions, we  aim to increase sales by more than 20% in the North American market this year.”

Moreover, Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Construction Equipment Division is scheduled to be spun off as an independent company, tentatively named Hyundai Construction Equipment, by April this year. The spin-off plan is expected to serve as an opportunity for the company to sharpen competitiveness by streamlining its organization structure, improving management efficiency, and expanding R&D investment.