This year, Accelleron marks the 100th anniversary of creating the world’s first industrial turbocharger back in 1924. In September, Accelleron observed another important milestone, holding a joint celebration to honor forty years of partnership with the world’s largest ship engine builder, Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery Division (HHI-EMD). Christoph Rofka, president of Accelleron’s medium and low speed division, shares insights into the role this partnership has played in shaping the course of global shipping to date, and its growing importance in steering the industry towards a sustainable future.
In 1984, HHI-EMD became Accelleron’s – then part of the Brown Boveri Company (BBC) – very first turbocharger licensing partner. Since then, HHI-EMD has used Accelleron solutions for the vast majority of its two-stroke engines. In 40 years, HHI-EMD has produced three generations of Accelleron turbochargers, amounting to more than 4,700 Accelleron turbochargers for around 2,000 two-stroke engines and ships.
“Those numbers represent countless hours of collaboration, shared expertise, and mutual trust,” says Rofka. “They also chart our journey towards turbocharged engine systems that have become ever more compact, powerful, and efficient, through the decades.”
The partnership has also deepened through the years. The companies signed their first service agreement in 2004, expanding the scope of joint service offerings over time. That was followed by a long-term digital agreement between HD Hyundai Marine Solution (HMS) and Accelleron beginning in December 2020.
HHI-EMD and Accelleron commemorating their 40-year partnership
One year after the original licensing agreement with Accelleron, in 1985, HHI-EMD also signed a partnership agreement with global fuel injection leader OMT, which became part of Accelleron in 2023. That agreement also stands to this day.
Rofka says, “The longevity and breadth of our partnership is a testament to our shared values – trust, curiosity, entrepreneurship, and a firm commitment to going the extra mile. Together, we have steered the industry through four decades of history, from the invention of the internet to the launch of the first iPhone, the global financial crisis, pandemic, and geopolitical upheaval – world events which have forever altered the course of global shipping. Innovating together across the value chain, we have been able to help customers solve challenges and advance in ways that exceed what either of us could have accomplished alone.”
With a well-oiled global partnership that has stood the test of time and spans every aspect of Accelleron’s business, today HHI-EMD and Accelleron are focusing their combined efforts on a single goal: decarbonization. From turbocharged engines and fuel injection systems that use carbon-neutral fuels like methanol and ammonia, to digital solutions for fleets that lower fuel costs and emissions, to services and upgrades that can preserve the value of older ships by making them fit for new energy and emissions regulations.
In fact, last May, HMS and Accelleron updated their long-term service agreement to include a combined offering for engine part load optimization (EPLO) and turbocharger component upgrades that will give a new lease on life to ships midway in their operational lives. In June, they completed an EPLO retrofit on their first ship, a car carrier. It resulted in fuel efficiency gains of around 3-4%, translating to significant fuel cost savings and emissions reductions.
Rofka says, “Working together, we can use EPLO to extend the lives of many more merchant marine ships, while we slash fuel costs and emissions globally.”
And in September of this year, the companies signed a new manufacturing contract agreement which will see HD Hyundai Marine Engine, a new entity within the HD Hyundai Group, manufacture Accelleron’s medium speed A100-M radial turbochargers in Korea, for HD Hyundai Group and other engine builders.
Extended production in Korea complements Accelleron’s Swiss manufacturing capacity, adding supply flexibility and further strengthening the company’s production footprint in Asia, which is home to the world’s top three shipbuilding economies (China, South Korea, and Japan). Local production will substantially reduce transportation costs, lead times, and trade complexity for Asian engine makers.
Rofka says, “This is putting production right at the center of the global shipbuilding market, at a pivotal moment for the industry. First of all, the global fleet is aging. Some ship owners are aiming to replace 50 to 60% of their fleets over the next few years. So, of course there is a growing backlog for new vessels. At the same time, the industry is working hard to produce new ships that operate with net zero emissions. By expanding production in Asia, we are making it as easy and affordable as possible to do that. In the next few years, we are going to see the emergence of a vast new global fleet of more sustainable vessels which has the potential to create a step change in emissions reductions.”
Rofka concludes, “Climate change, like shipping, is part of everyone’s lives. No single company or industry can solve this challenge. But through our 40-year partnership with Hyundai, we have shown that we know how to join forces for change. As we continue to work side by side with our partners in the coming years, I believe we will all succeed in creating a sustainable global shipping industry that makes future generations proud.”