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MAN Diesel

German manufacturer of diesel engines and turbomachinery, part of MAN Group.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

MAN Diesel is a brand under German MAN Group, producing marine diesel engines, power plants, and turbochargers.

History

MAN Diesel's history is rooted in the development of large diesel engines by MAN and the Danish Burmeister & Wain engineering and shipbuilding business. MAN acquired Burmeister & Wain in 1980, gaining an established marine-engine operation and an important base of two-stroke diesel technology. Production at the Christianshavn site was eventually discontinued in 1987, but the engineering programs and commercial relationships associated with Burmeister & Wain continued under the MAN B&W identity. The Copenhagen organization was rebuilt around Teglholmen. In 1988, the company established a facility there for spare parts and key components, and in 1992 it added a research and development center. Copenhagen operations were consolidated at Teglholmen in 1994. The last volume-production unit at the former B&W Shipyard was delivered in 1996, completing the shift away from the historic shipyard production site while preserving Copenhagen's role in engineering, components and support. During the 1990s and early 2000s, MAN B&W developed a powerful position in the market for two-stroke engines used in large commercial ships. The MC series became widely adopted, and by 2000 the company was reported to have more than 70 percent of the relevant two-stroke market. The business's scale was reflected in its installed base: by 2004, more than 8,000 MC engines representing over 100 gigawatts were in service or on order. MAN Diesel broadened its industrial heritage in 2000 by acquiring Alstom Engines from GEC. The transaction brought the former diesel businesses of English Electric, Mirrlees Blackstone, Napier, Paxman and Ruston into the wider organization. These names represented a long British history of diesel and industrial-engine production and added products, engineering capabilities and facilities to MAN's portfolio. In 2002, MAN B&W introduced the electronically controlled ME two-stroke engine family. The ME design was an important product-generation development because it used electronic control in the management of engine operation, complementing the mechanically controlled MC family. The company continued to serve both marine propulsion and stationary power applications, while production and licensed manufacture extended across Europe and Asia. MAN Diesel AG became MAN Diesel SE in 2006 through the establishment of a common European company. One of the period's most visible technical achievements occurred in February of that year, when a 12K98MC engine entered service. Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries under license, the engine produced more than 75,000 kilowatts and powered a large container ship associated with a series ordered for Costamare and intended for charter to COSCO Container Lines. The company maintained an international industrial footprint, with facilities identified in Augsburg, Copenhagen, Frederikshavn, Saint-Nazaire, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Shanghai. Its business model combined company-developed engine designs, manufacturing, licensee production, technical support and spare-parts supply. In 2010, MAN Diesel was merged with MAN Turbo to form MAN Diesel & Turbo. This transaction concluded the independent corporate period of MAN Diesel SE, while its engine platforms and technical heritage continued within the successor company.

  • 2010

    Merged with MAN Turbo

    [1]

    MAN Diesel and MAN Turbo were merged to create MAN Diesel & Turbo.

  • 2006

    MAN Diesel SE established

    [1]

    MAN Diesel AG established the common European corporate form MAN Diesel SE.

  • 2006

    12K98MC engine entered service

    [1]

    A Hyundai Heavy Industries-built MAN B&W 12K98MC engine entered service with output above 75,000 kilowatts.

  • 2002

    ME electronically controlled engine line introduced

    [1]

    The electronically controlled ME family of large two-stroke diesel engines was added to the product range.

  • 2000

    Alstom Engines acquired

    [1]

    MAN Diesel, then operating as MAN B&W Diesel, acquired Alstom Engines from GEC, adding historic British diesel businesses to its portfolio.

  • 1996

    Final volume-production unit delivered from the former B&W shipyard

    [1]

    The last volume-production engine unit from the former Burmeister & Wain shipyard was delivered.

  • 1992

    Teglholmen research center opened

    [1]

    The Copenhagen Teglholmen site added a research and development center.

  • 1988

    Teglholmen component facility established

    [1]

    A spare-parts and key-components production facility was established at Teglholmen in Copenhagen.

  • 1987

    Christianshavn engine production discontinued

    [1]

    Engine production at the historic Christianshavn site was discontinued as the Copenhagen business was reorganized.

  • 1980

    MAN acquired Burmeister & Wain

    [1]

    MAN acquired the Danish shipyard and diesel-engine producer Burmeister & Wain, bringing its marine-engine technology and operations into the MAN group.

Products and positioning

A global specialist in very large diesel engines for merchant shipping and power-generation installations, combining proprietary engine designs with licensed production by major shipbuilders and industrial partners.

  • Mechanically controlled two-stroke marine engines

    MAN B&W MC series

    The MC series was MAN B&W's mechanically controlled large-bore two-stroke engine family for commercial marine propulsion. It became a core product of the company and was installed in a substantial number of large merchant vessels. The series was manufactured both within MAN-associated facilities and by licensed industrial and shipbuilding partners, supporting worldwide deployment and a broad service-parts ecosystem.

  • Electronically controlled two-stroke marine engines · 2002

    MAN B&W ME series

    Introduced in 2002, the ME series extended the company's two-stroke portfolio with electronic control of engine operation. It represented a significant technical progression from the mechanically controlled MC generation and was aimed at the demanding operating requirements of large commercial vessels. The family formed part of MAN Diesel's broader effort to combine very high power output with more advanced engine management.

  • Large-bore marine propulsion engine · 2006

    MAN B&W 12K98MC

    The 12K98MC was a particularly large MC-series engine with twelve cylinders and a 98-centimeter cylinder bore. A license-built example produced 75,790 kilowatts, or approximately 101,640 horsepower, and entered service in 2006 aboard a large container ship. The engine demonstrated the scale of propulsion equipment being developed for the expanding ultra-large container-vessel sector.

  • Aftermarket and industrial support · 1988

    Marine engine spare parts and key components

    MAN Diesel maintained component and spare-parts capabilities to support its installed engine base. The Teglholmen facility in Copenhagen was established in 1988 for production of spare parts and key components, helping the company support engines operating internationally through the long service lives typical of commercial marine equipment.

Brand decisions

  • 2010

    Merge MAN Diesel with MAN TurboM&A

    Background

    MAN reorganized related engine and turbomachinery activities into a combined industrial business.

    Action taken

    MAN Diesel and MAN Turbo were merged to form MAN Diesel & Turbo.

    Aftermath

    MAN Diesel SE stopped operating as a separate company, while its products and technical capabilities continued under the successor organization.

  • 2002

    Introduce the ME electronically controlled engine familyProduct launch

    Background

    The company was developing a new generation of large two-stroke engines for the marine market.

    Action taken

    MAN B&W added the electronically controlled ME series to its portfolio.

    Aftermath

    The ME family complemented the established MC line and advanced the company's electronically managed marine-engine technology.

  • 2000

    Acquire Alstom Engines from GECM&A

    Background

    MAN Diesel was expanding beyond its existing engine operations and sought to add established British diesel-engine businesses.

    Action taken

    The company acquired Alstom Engines from GEC, including businesses historically associated with English Electric, Mirrlees Blackstone, Napier, Paxman and Ruston.

    Aftermath

    The transaction broadened MAN Diesel's industrial-engine heritage and added brands and capabilities connected with British diesel manufacturing.

  • 1980

    Acquire Burmeister & WainM&A

    Background

    MAN sought to strengthen its position in marine diesel engines through the acquisition of the Danish shipyard and engine producer Burmeister & Wain.

    Action taken

    MAN acquired Burmeister & Wain and subsequently reorganized its Copenhagen production, research and service activities.

    Aftermath

    The acquisition supplied technology and engineering capabilities that became central to MAN B&W's large two-stroke engine business.

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