Siemens manages shipbuilding process for HD Hyundai
March 2026
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens has been selected by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the intermediary holding company of HD Hyundai, as a preferred partner to establish an integrated platform to manage the entire shipbuilding process as a single data flow to help ensure consistency across all its global shipyard facilities.
The planned platform will form the core foundation of HD Hyundai’s ‘Future of Shipyard’ project, a future-oriented shipyard that it aims to complete by 2030. The project forms part of HD Hyundai’s ongoing efforts to address data discontinuities that have existed across ship design and production processes and to establish a more structured, digitally enabled shipbuilding environment. Through the integrated platform, HD Hyundai aims to strengthen collaboration between engineering and manufacturing functions and to support stable execution of increasingly complex shipbuilding projects.
“The selection of Siemens Xcelerator represents an important milestone in advancing HD KSOE’s digital shipbuilding strategy,” said executive vice president, Taejin Lee. “By establishing an integrated digital platform that ensures consistency from design through production, we aim to address long-standing data discontinuity challenges and create a more structured and collaborative shipbuilding environment. This initiative will strengthen our ability to execute increasingly complex projects while enhancing efficiency, quality and competitiveness across our global shipyard operations.”
“Since 2022, Siemens’ collaboration with HD Hyundai has been focused on the future of shipbuilding and the development of next-generation digital design and production platforms,” said Tony Hemmelgarn, president and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software. “Siemens Xcelerator and our comprehensive digital twin technologies are well-positioned to support a unified digital thread across design, engineering and production. We look forward to helping HD Hyundai establish a scalable, open and future-ready manufacturing innovation platform that supports sustainable growth and operational excellence.”
Based on the Siemens Xcelerator open digital business platform, HD Hyundai’s ‘Integrated Platform for Ship Design Production Consistency’ project will deliver a consistent digital thread of key data from design through production. Design and production will be connected in real time through a unified data backbone, significantly reducing inefficiencies and errors caused by data discontinuities between processes.
Within this unified digital environment, standardised data flows and system interoperability will connect key domains, including computer-aided design (CAD), product lifecycle management (PLM), digital manufacturing, automation and simulation, enabling major shipyard activities such as planning, construction, expansion, and modification to be reviewed in a virtual environment prior to onsite implementation.
HD Hyundai also plans to expand the application of model-based engineering practices and improve collaboration efficiency across organisations and functional teams. In particular, block assembly, welding information, piping and electrical data will be managed in an integrated 3D model, improving design accuracy, optimising production planning and standardising shop-floor operations.
The scope of the integrated digital platform is expected to extend across a range of vessel types, including commercial vessels and specialised ships. Key areas of application include structured management of equipment and component data, digital model-based performance analysis, lifecycle-oriented maintenance engineering, and technical support frameworks for overseas shipbuilding projects.
Additionally, HD Hyundai is working on building an industrial metaverse-based digital representation of ships and shipyard sites. This will involve physical AI technology that can be used even in complex production environments by applying reinforcement learning using synthetic data and industrial intelligence in a virtual learning environment built using Siemens’ digital twin technology.
For more information contact Siemens South Africa, cbcqueries.za@siemens.com, www.siemens.co.za
Further reading:
Sustainability as strategy
IT in Manufacturing
In today’s business landscape, sustainability has become a powerful driver of business differentiation. Rockwell Automation partners closely with customers to embed sustainable, data-driven solutions into their manufacturing operations.
Green IT practices: cutting costs while saving the planet
IT in Manufacturing
Sustainable IT practices are proving that companies can reduce their carbon footprint and operating costs simultaneously. The financial benefits are significant, offering a promising outlook for businesses.
Coolant distribution unit for high-density data centres
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Motivair by Schneider Electric has introduced a new, industry-leading 2,5 MW coolant distribution unit designed to cool high-density data centres reliably and at scale.
Data protection is the first line, recovery is the lifeline
IT in Manufacturing
Many businesses only realise the importance of data protection after experiencing system failures or data loss. The 3-2-1-1 backup model is a proven approach for safeguarding data.
Cyber resilience moves from IT issue to board risk
IT in Manufacturing
Cybersecurity has shifted decisively from an IT concern to a core business risk, and South African organisations are feeling this change acutely.
Cybersecurity in South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
For cyber risk in South Africa the question is not ‘if’ but ‘when’.
Sustainable aviation fuel
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Siemens and the cleantech company CAPHENIA have entered a partnership to scale the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
Using AI to solve South Africa’s biggest challenges
IT in Manufacturing
Unlike global superpowers that invest heavily in sheer compute capacity, South Africa doesn’t need to be the largest computing market to lead in innovation. What matters today is how we apply computing to accelerate insight, discovery and socio-economic progress.
Unearthing AI’s real value in African mining
IT in Manufacturing
At Mining Indaba 2026, where miners and technology innovators explored how partnerships are turning AI’s potential into meaningful operational impact. For Siemens, the answer begins with a clear-eyed view of what AI can and cannot do, and a commitment to deploying it where it matters most – keeping people safe.
Digital innovations reshaping the future of mining in Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Africa’s mining sector is stepping into a new era, driven by the accelerating pace of digital transformation. Digital tools are making operations smarter, safer and more efficient, laying the groundwork for a more competitive and sustainable industry.
