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GROUNDCONTROL

THE MAGAZINE OF HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV

ISSUE 5 SPRING 2007 WWW.HCME.COM

THE BIG NAME INCONSTRUCTION

EXPERIENCE THE 518-TONNEEX5500 ON STAND F5 504/1 – OURLARGEST MACHINE IN EUROPE

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV02

GROUNDCONTROL

THE MAGAZINE OF HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV

Contents04 A commitment to deliverMr Mori reveals the HCME commitment to dealers and Hitachi customers

06 NewsCelebrations, achievements and announcements from the world of HCME

10 The BIG name in constructionHCME prepares for the world’s largest exhibition for the construction and mining industries

12 New series of solutionsIntroducing the latest additions to the Hitachi Construction Machinery product range

14 Quality, reliability and supportBelgian Hitachi dealer Luyckx believes in providing a quality service and exceedingcustomer expectations

18 Made in JapanThe power of HCM, its manufacturing expertise and an audience with the President in Japan

22 Clear vision remains on trackThe Botniabanan railway project puts a fleet of Hitachi Zaxis excavators to the test in Sweden

26 The customer is kingRental Force provides an insight into its relationship with Hitachi and its success in theDutch rental market

30 Digging deep to increase productivityThe new telescopic clamshell special application excavator makes its debut in Belgium

32 The complete packageThe latest developments from the product support and parts teams at HCME

34 Dealer listingA guide to the HCME dealer network for all enquiries relating to Hitachi construction equipment

Ground Control is published twice a year and is circulated among 100,000 readers. Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV, Siciliëweg 5, 1045 ATAmsterdam, The NetherlandsTelephone: +31 (0)20 44 76 700Fax: +31 (0)20 33 44 045E-mail: [email protected]: www.hcme.comEditors: Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV:

Raymond Hendriks, Niels van GraasCo-ordination: Somacon, www.somacon.nlDesign: RBP, www.rbplimited.co.ukPhotography: Imagen, www.imagenphotography.co.ukTranslation: Yamagata, www.yamagata-europe.comPrinting: Roto Smeets GrafiServices, www.rsgrafiservices.nlCirculation: Vogelaar Verzenders BV, www.vogelaarverzenders.nlCopyright: Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV 2007, all rights reserved. Reproductionin whole or in part is forbidden except with the written permission of the publisher. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information published in Ground Control, HitachiConstruction Machinery (Europe) NV can accept no responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions. 22

ISSUE 5 SPRING 2007 WWW.HCME.COM

GROUND CONTROL 03

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INTERVIEW

IT IS A YEAR SINCE GROUND CONTROL MET MIKE MORI, THE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HITACHICONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV (HCME).THEREFORE, IT SEEMS AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO REFLECTON THE SUCCESS OF THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND LOOKFORWARD TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE

A commitment to deliver

Mike Mori seems remarkably fresh and good humoured for someone who has

just travelled around the world for two weeks. Consecutive return trips from

Schiphol Airport to South Africa and Japan would leave most travellers

exhausted. However, the HCME President is thriving on the busy schedule and

the fresh challenges presented by his expanding role.

He explains that his journeys have not been in vain. He has enjoyed

two successful business trips which sum up the varying nature of his remit.

A multi-million dollar contract has been signed in South Africa for Hitachi to

supply five EX5500 mining shovels and 26 EH4500 dump trucks to a copper

mine in Zambia. Then, he jetted off to Japan to discuss how HCME will work

with its parent company Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) to commence a

new four-year business plan in 2007.

Mr Mori is the leader and figurehead of HCME and it is vital for him to work

in harmony with all levels of the supply chain. He has personal responsibility to

communicate with and report to HCM. The company’s strategic business plan

must then be implemented in conjunction with his colleagues, the dealer

GROUND CONTROL 05

network and Hitachi customers. This should have a decisive impact on the

business as a whole.

Fortunately, Mr Mori has a strong team at HCME and they are continuing to

make a difference within the European construction market. “I am enjoying life

here in The Netherlands and feel at home with HCME,” he explains.

“Fortunately, I arrived here in 2005 at a time when HCME’s new headquarters

in Amsterdam was already established and the European market was still

expanding. These trends have continued to develop in this way.

“HCME has had a good year and we are still on target to meet our desired

market share by 2010. Our objective is that Hitachi excavators will achieve 20%

market share, with the other product lines reaching 10% over the next four

years. Analysts have been predicting that the demand will stabilise, but it has

continued to grow at a steady rate. I feel that it is HCME’s responsibility to make

a firm commitment with these objectives.”

Mr Mori has already visited the leading dealers covered by HCME. He has

been made to feel very welcome and enjoyed meeting the loyal and hard working

distributors in each country. However, in a way Hitachi has become a victim of its

own success. The message from the dealer network is that demand for Hitachi

machines has been greater than the supply. This is something which Mr Mori

regrets and HCME is already working hard to turn this situation around.

“Unfortunately, we have been unable to satisfy the huge demand from the

HCME dealer network,” he continues. “This has of course had a knock-on effect

for our customers who are eager to invest in the new Zaxis-3 range, ZW wheel

loader series and other products. The biggest challenge is to deliver the correct

volume of new machines at the right time. Ultimately, this will help us to increase

market share.

“The message from the dealers is very positive and encouraging. They are

all trying to expand and aiming to reach the same targets as HCME in their

respective markets. It is our immediate goal to ensure that we can help to meet

demand. By the start of HCME’s next financial year in April, the new production

facilities here in Amsterdam will be fully operational after a series of delays. This

will help to increase the production capacity from 4,600 to 6,000 excavators.

“The ZW series has also been a popular addition to the Hitachi product

line-up. We have successfully overcome the teething problems that you

inevitably find with new products. The latest range of wheel loaders has been

extremely well-received by our customers. The relevant factory in Japan is

working hard to deliver more machines in this category too. There is incredible

potential for our business at this time.”

There have been other important developments in the HCME dealer network.

As reported in the third edition of Ground Control, Kiesel has been appointed as

the sole distributor for Hitachi in Germany. They have attacked the German

construction industry aggressively and are eager to reinforce their position with

increased sales and market share.

Meanwhile, the presence of Hitachi in Russia has increased significantly over

the past 12 months and a 50% share of the imported excavator market has

already been established. In each case, and when combined with demand from

HCME’s other dealers, 2007 promises to be a rewarding year for Hitachi.

Mr Mori brings vast experience of the construction industry and HCM’s

operation in Asia to the European market. He feels that this has been to his

advantage over the past two years. “Business is business, no matter where you

are,” he explains. “The most important thing is to deliver a high level of

commitment from HCME. Then, it is important that we retain this, because

breaking our word is not an option.

“We are of course talking about what it would be like in an ideal world.

However, it isn’t always possible to make such a commitment if we are not sure

about the eventual outcome. The aim is not to be so conservative, but more

ambitious and positive about the future. However, we can only achieve this with

the necessary assurances from all concerned. Of course, if we can make a firm

commitment to the dealers, then they can pass this on to their customers. This

is why we have to be careful and not break their trust.”

It is clear that HCME – under the direction of Mr Mori – is eager to continue

its cycle of growth and development. However, the Hitachi brand image must be

retained at all times. HCME’s strategy should therefore be implemented with the

quality and reliability of the Hitachi products and services in mind. This is

something which is high on the agenda for the Bauma exhibition in April.

“There will be more new models in 2007 with the introduction of the second

phase of Zaxis-3 excavators at Bauma,” Mr Mori continues. “However we hope

that our stand will also highlight some other interesting aspects of the world of

HCM. I don’t want to give too much away before the show, but hopefully there’ll

be a display of some new environmentally friendly concepts as we look towards

the future. This is an important point which is worth emphasising on a global basis.

“Furthermore, Hitachi has provided the Japanese Government with a suitable

product for the clearance of landmines. A special excavator has been developed

for this purpose and it is already being used in Cambodia and other places like

Afghanistan. The people in these countries are suffering from the aftermath of

past conflicts. This demonstrates the corporate social responsibility which HCM

is keen to promote. The Hitachi policy is not only to sell construction equipment

for profit, but also with the aim of building its image as a reputable and

honourable manufacturer.”

As well as improving the delivery situation regarding the supply of new

machines, Mr Mori is also intent on driving HCME’s Applications Centre (AC)

forward into the next phase of its development programme. “At the moment, we

feel that we can expand the options which are available to our customers with

regard to special applications,” he says. “There is a growing demand in Europe

for Hitachi excavators and other products to be used for a diverse range of jobs.

We are currently addressing this situation with a view to further enhancing our

global strapline of Reliable solutions.”

HCME has continued to make a huge impact on the European construction

industry over the past 12 months with Mr Mori at the helm. “Overall, our aim will

be to manufacture and supply the market with an increased number of units, so

that we can catch up with the requirements of the market,” he concludes. That

is a message that will be welcomed by HCME’s dealers and customers alike.


Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) has opened its new

production plant at Amsterdam. The new 19,600m2 facility has been built as

part of a 20million euro investment programme.

As reported in the last issue of Ground Control, the factory will help Hitachi

to meet its production targets over the next three years. HCME is aiming to

increase output to 6,000 units per annum by 2010.

The work began in December 2005 and the impressive eight-month project

was completed in August 2006.

HCME Manager of Production Engineering, Robin Huijsman, oversaw the

development. “Each stage of the process has involved detailed planning,” he

explains. “The new unit will house the component factory and the existing

building will become the assembly floor.

“The existing machine centres will be moved in 2007 to the new unit. HCME

has also made further investment in an additional paint line, another machine

centre – with better jigs – and a washing/preparation area. Finally, a sheltered

passage has been built to ensure that all materials can be easily transferred

between the two sections.”

ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE’RE WORKINGTO HELP YOU KEEP WORKING. HERE’S ASUMMARY OF SOME OF THE LATESTSTORIES WHERE HITACHI IS MAKING THEDIFFERENCENEWS

Ready for production

A selection of photographs showing the inside of the new factory in Amsterdam

GROUND CONTROL 07GROUND CONTROL

A number of impressive rides by the Australian 2006 Hitachi Supercross

team led to a championship win for one of its riders. An outstanding finish by

14-year-old Callan Dickson in the final race secured him the national title.

The youngster from South Australia produced consistent results at every

round of the competitive series aboard his Kawasaki KX250F.

Hitachi’s National Marketing Manager Dean Mesh comments: “Callan is

very mature for his age. He manages to stay cool in a crisis and that’s been

a credit to him. He’s a great role model for other kids his age and we’ve been

thrilled to have had him on-board for 2006.”

The team has also been successful off the track in using promotional items

to raise the profile of the team and Hitachi. It has distributed more than 5,000

DVDs and 2,000 posters to supporters of the team.

Sensational rides in Supercross series

Hitachi Europe Ltd continued its long-established association with European

football by becoming an official partner of the fifth UEFA European Under-19

Championship finals.

The competition took place between 18 and 29 July 2006. It involved eight

teams contesting 15 matches at eight venues across Poland. Nine matches of

the final round were broadcast live on Eurosport to an audience of approximately

6.5million.

The partnership gave Hitachi enviable exposure in a competitive football

marketing arena to fans attending matches, visiting UEFA.com and watching on

television. Hitachi was also able to use the title ‘Official Partner of the UEFA

European Under-19 Championship’ on internal and external brand

communications, advertising, in-store sales promotions and on-pack promotions.

“This relationship brings together the strength of Hitachi’s global brand with the

elite of young professional sport,” says Mark Wilkin, Head of Hitachi Brand and

Communications at Hitachi Europe Ltd. “Hitachi’s inspirational brand values

characterised by ‘Inspire the Next’ are an ideal fit for a football tournament that

celebrates the next generation of world class international players.”

2006 Hitachi Supercross rider Callan Dickson celebrates his win

Hitachi on the ball in Europe

Kiyonari rides to victory for HM Plant Honda Racing

HM Plant celebrates successon both tracksThere were huge celebrations for HM Plant at the finale of the 2006 British

Superbike Championship. The UK dealer of Hitachi Construction Machinery is

the title sponsor of HM Plant Honda Racing. The team’s 24-year-old rider

Ryuichi Kiyonari secured overall victory for the team at the Brands Hatch circuit

near London.

Eleven wins and five other podium finishes over the course of the 13-leg series

clinched Kiyo and HM Plant Honda Racing the prestigious title of British

Superbike Champions.

HM Plant has been the team’s title sponsor since 2004. “We are obviously

delighted that Kiyo has won the championship,” says HM Plant Chairman John

Jones. “It was nail-biting to watch at times but the final round was a fantastic

climax to the season.

“HM Plant is proud to be associated with the British Superbike Championship

as it reflects the success that our company has enjoyed as Britain’s number

one excavator supplier.”

Kiyo visited HM Plant's head office in November to thank the company and

its staff for all of their support. This was followed by an evening of celebration

at a local hotel.

The Hitachi logo is displayed on the UEFA website


100,000 excavators and countingThe popularity of mini- and midi-excavators continues to increase. As a result,

manufacturers are developing new models to meet market trends and customer

requirements.

Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) is no exception. In 2005 it extended

its range of short-tail models with the launch of the ZX27U-2, ZX30U-2,

ZX35U-2, ZX40U-2 and ZX50U-2. These models combine the benefits of a

compact machine with the additional feature of zero tail-swing.

Such product developments have led to a huge growth in output. Between

2005 and 2006, HCM manufactured over 13,000 mini- and midi-excavator

models. This is compared to only 588 in 1998 – the first year of production.

In early 2006 it recorded an impressive landmark. The 100,000th excavator

from its mini and midi line-up was assembled and sold. The ZX30U-2 was

transported to Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV before being

delivered to Ediltevere SpA – a long-standing customer of Italian Hitachi dealer

Scai. A replica of the model was produced to mark the remarkable achievement.

Ediltevere SpA is involved in the production of aggregates, ready mix and

other materials used in road construction. It also works on major road

maintenance projects for the provincial and national road authorities. High

The 100,000th excavator ready for delivery to HCME

NEWS

The HCME Russian website was launched in December 2006

EURO 49.95*

* Price valid from 01-03-07 until 01-06-07 or as long as stock lasts.

Order online at www.hcme.com

The perfect giftNot everybody has the space to house a full-sized excavator. However, Hitachi has now launched a

new range of scale models from the new Zaxis-3 series, including the mid-range ZX210-3 excavator.

All of the die-cast models have a moveable arm and boom. They also come complete with a fully

teethed bucket and realistic crawler tracks. At just 49.95 euros, the ZX210-3 would make a fantastic

gift for customers. It would also be ideal for collectors and children.

To purchase this item at the specially reduced price, please visit www.hcme.com and click on the

WEBSHOP, then enter the gift site under MODELS. You can find the ZX210-3 along with a full range

of other Hitachi merchandise and accessories.

To place an order, follow the simple instructions for payment and delivery.

levels of productivity coupled with low fuel consumption make the ZX30U-2

CLR ideal for such applications.

There were also celebrations for the production of unit number 100,001

– a ZX50U-2. This was delivered to Danish customer HP Entreprenormaskiner.

The mini-excavator is being used by contractor Peter Nilsen, whose company

is involved with the maintenance of a municipality in Denmark.

It’s all in the translationThe website of Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (www.hcme.com) is

now available in the Russian language. The new site was launched in December

2006 and adds another dimension to HCME’s internet presence.

Russian is the primary spoken language of 160million people and the

secondary spoken language of 125million people worldwide. These figures

coupled with the fact that the country is the largest in Europe mean that the site

should receive many visitors.

“The website was already translated into five European languages,” says

Raymond Hendriks, Manager Corporate Communication. “However, the

construction industry in Russia is undergoing massive growth. It was important

for us to make information about HCME and its products accessible to this

emerging market.

“The country’s use of the internet has also risen dramatically with penetration

rates increasing from 3million to over 22million between 2000 and 2005. The

HCME website is the perfect communication tool for such a large audience.”

including VAT

GROUND CONTROL 09

Rapid growth forGerman dealerAs reported in the second issue of Ground Control, the Kiesel Group has

been the exclusive dealer for Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV

(HCME) in Germany since 2006. As HCME and Kiesel prepare for Bauma

2007 in Munich (see P.10-11), it seems appropriate to provide an insight into

how the German dealer has developed.

HCME didn’t have a dealer network in Germany five years ago. Kiesel

became the sole distributor in the south of the country in 2003

and proceeded to invest in the region by establishing branches in Hesse,

Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria.

“We experienced tremendous success in a relatively short period of time,”

recalls Toni Kiesel, Managing Director of the Kiesel Group.

Business Unit Director Frank Bastuck highlights the strategy employed:

“Our plan was to demonstrate the potential in the rest of the German market

to Hitachi. Kiesel is lucky to have expertise in everything from special

applications to service, rentals and financing. Our sales and service network

rapidly tripled in size, which in turn led to massive growth. Mergers with

competent small to medium-sized enterprises enabled us to achieve this.”

The combination of a premium product and professional customer service

resulted in the appointment of Kiesel as the exclusive dealer throughout

Germany on 1 January 2006.

Kiesel now has around 400 members of staff, 75% of whom are employed

in the provision of customer service across 24 sites. This is one of the

company’s main priorities. In addition, it has ten partners who work closely

with Kiesel to satisfy customer requirements.

“It has always been our intention to support customers with a national

operations network,” adds Toni Kiesel. “This is something that few

companies can do, so we feel that we are ahead of the competition.”

The company opened a new head office and service centre at the

beginning of the year in Baienfurt to cope with the expanding workforce and

increasing demand. The new premises and Kiesel’s Hitachi Technical Centre

in Stockstadt am Rhein are two proficient facilities which support the sales

and service activities.

The dealer now has more than 10% of the German crawler excavator

market. It remains on course for further success with high levels of service

and the ongoing development of the new generation of Hitachi Zaxis

machines.

THE NEW KIESEL HEADQUARTERS IN BAIENFURT/RAVENSBURG

THE GERMAN OFFICES OF THE KIESEL GROUP


Bauma 2007 will be the ideal place to gather information about all of the latest

developments in the construction industry. The event is held every three

years, but with the addition of two extra exhibition halls, this year’s show is set to

be the biggest yet. It will feature over 3,000 exhibitors, cover a surface area of

540,000m2 and display many new products and innovations.

Bauma has international appeal thanks to its global partnering initiatives. The

2007 event will focus on the Arabian Peninsula. Every exhibitor will be working

hard to grab the attention of over 400,000 visitors from countries around the globe.

The impressive HCME stand will measure almost 5,000m2 and has been

organised together with German Hitachi dealer Kiesel. The big name in

construction will be the talk of the industry during the show as it uses the space to

grab the headlines with its Hitachi EX5500 excavator.

BAUMA 2007

The BIG name in constructionTHE WORLD’S LARGEST EXHIBITION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MINING INDUSTRIES WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 23 AND29 APRIL AT THE NEW MUNICH TRADE FAIR CENTRE IN GERMANY. IT IS THEREFORE APPROPRIATE THAT HITACHICONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV (HCME) WILL STEAL THE SHOW WITH ITS BIGGEST EVER DISPLAY. THE ULTRA-LARGE EX5500 MINING SHOVEL WILL TAKE CENTRE STAGE, ALONG WITH THE LATEST HITACHI ZAXIS-3 CRAWLER ANDWHEELED EXCAVATORS AND ZW WHEEL LOADERS. EVERYONE WILL BE WELCOME TO VISIT THE HITACHI STAND WHERE THEYWILL BE GREETED BY THE HELPFUL TEAM FROM HCME AND GERMAN DEALER KIESEL

Although the largest Hitachi mining shovel is the EX8000, the 518-tonne model

is the largest working in Europe. Visitors will not be able to miss the giant excavator

that will be the focal point of HCME’s product display for the seven-day event.

The new generation of Zaxis-3 wheeled excavators will also be a huge attraction

on the stand at Bauma. The ZX140W-3, ZX170W-3, ZX190W-3 and ZX210W-3

– ranging from 14 to 21 tonnes – will be launched during the exhibition (see. P.12-13).

The machines have been fitted with more powerful Tier III engines, resulting in

enhanced digging performance, increased travel speed and reduced fuel

consumption. They have also been developed to provide the same benefits as the

current range of Zaxis-3 crawler excavators, which were launched in 2006.

The second phase of Zaxis-3 crawler excavators – the ZX180-3 and

ZX160-3 – will also be unveiled to the general public for the first time. They will

GROUND CONTROL 11

MAIN PICTURE: THE BIG NAME IN CONSTRUCTION WILL GRABTHE HEADLINES AT BAUMA WITH THE HITACHI EX5500

TOP AND CENTRE: HITACHI WILL BUILD ON THE POSITIVEFEEDBACK RECEIVED ABOUT ITS NEW GENERATION OFMODELS AT INTERMAT

BOTTOM: HITACHI WILL DISPLAY THE ZX200 EXCAVATOR WHICHCLEARS LANDMINES IN WAR-TORN COUNTRIES

be joined by three new mini-excavators – the ZX10U-2, ZX17U-2 and

ZX22U-2 – and the new ZW180 wheeled loader.

Another special machine will be the ZX200 excavator that Hitachi has

developed specifically for clearing landmines. This is already being used in

Cambodia and other war-torn countries like Afghanistan. The demining equipment

will be accompanied by some new environmentally friendly concepts that have

been developed with the future of the construction industry in mind.

HCME will also have a covered pavilion in addition to the larger outdoor area.

This will comprise of a number of other attractions to provide visitors with further

information about the manufacturer and its range of construction equipment.

Members of the Product Support team at HCME will be on hand to

demonstrate the Owner’s Site – an enhanced satellite communication system

(see P.32-33) – and its benefits to dealers and customers. Staff from the European

Parts Centre at Oosterhout will also be present.

The Hitachi Experience will add a further dimension to the stand, where visitors

will be able to view products from other subsidiaries that make up the global

Hitachi Ltd parent company.

For those looking for gifts and souvenirs, the new range of merchandise from

Hitachi will be on display at the HCME shop. The latest scale models, clothing,

accessories and other branded gifts will be available to purchase at Bauma. There

will also be a facility to place orders for larger quantities.

“HCME has been preparing for Bauma 2007 since early last year,” says

Manager Corporate Communication Raymond Hendriks. “Although it takes place

in Europe, Bauma is renowned globally. All of the main manufacturers will be

exhibiting and so it is important for HCME to have a strong presence and a stand

that creates a huge impact. The EX5500 will also help to draw in the crowds.

“It is the perfect platform to launch the latest phase of Zaxis-3 models to a captive

audience. The new products will help to further strengthen our range of construction

equipment, especially in the mini and mid-range excavator categories.”

The Hitachi stand (number 504/1) will be situated at the Open Air site F5. The

easiest access will be via the northern entrance to the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.

Hitachi Sumitomo will also have a selection of cranes on display at stand 1202/4.

Please visit www.hcme.com for further information and directions to the Centre.


PRODUCT NEWS

New series of solutionsTHE LATEST ADDITIONS TO THE HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY PRODUCT RANGE FOR 2007 WILL BE LAUNCHED INAPRIL AT BAUMA (SEE P.10-11). THE SECOND PHASE OF ZAXIS-3 CRAWLER EXCAVATORS WILL BE UNVEILED TO THE GENERALPUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE EXHIBITION. THEY WILL BE JOINED BY THE NEW RANGE OF ZAXIS-3 WHEELEDEXCAVATORS, THREE SHORT-TAIL MINI-EXCAVATORS AND AN ADDITIONAL ZW WHEEL LOADER

ZAXIS-3 EXCAVATORSThe ZX160-3 and ZX180-3 have been developed by Hitachi to furtherstrengthen its line-up of mid-range excavators. The first phase of machines – theZX210-3, ZX225US-3, ZX225USR-3, ZX250-3, ZX280-3, ZX350-3 andZX470LCH-3 – were launched in 2006.

The new technologically advanced Zaxis-3 excavators are already in hugedemand across Europe. This is due to the benefits that they bring to every jobsite. The ZX160-3 and ZX180-3 have been attributed with similar innovativefeatures.

BETTER PERFORMANCE Hitachi has equipped the Zaxis-3 range of excavators with powerful – yeteconomical – and durable new Isuzu engines. These comply with Europeanstage III emission regulations by further combusting exhaust gases to reduceparticle matter output and levels of nitrogen oxide.

ULTIMATE COMFORT AND SAFETYHitachi is working towards the ultimate combination of man and machine – with the emphasis on comfort and safety. Features include short-strokelevers, a fully adjustable heated seat, enlarged window surface, theftdeterrent device, rear-view camera and LCD monitor.

REDUCED RUNNING COSTSRunning and maintenance costs are greatly reduced. This is due to thecombination of a new engine and hydraulic system, easily accessibleinspection points and more durable components.

Specifications ZX160-3 ZX180-3Engine rated power (kW) DIN 6271 90.2 kW 90.2 kW

121 HP 121 HP

Operating weight (kg) 17900 22000Bucket capacity (m3) SAE, PCSA heaped 0.52-0.82 0.51-1.20Maximum digging depth (mm) 5620-5980 6120-6570Bucket digging force (kN) ISO 7541 108 122

(11000Kgf) (12500Kgf)

ZW WHEEL LOADERThe new ZW180 is the latest addition to the line-up of ZW wheel loaders. Thefirst phase of machines – the ZW220, ZW250 and ZW310 – were launchedlast year at Intermat.

Hitachi engineers have used their vast experience and unrivalled expertiseto design a wheel loader that sits comfortably alongside its Zaxis excavatorrange. To do this, Hitachi focused on innovative and unique product features,which have already become synonymous with the ZW series.

BETTER PERFORMANCEHitachi has developed a new hydraulic system for the ZW wheel loaders,which has extended to the new ZW180. The new features mean that theZW180 will have the same productivity-enhancing benefits as itspredecessors on any job site.

ULTIMATE COMFORT AND SAFETYThe ZW180’s cab is specially designed with the operators in mind. Allcontrols and switches are ergonomic and positioned for ease of use.Everything is quite literally at the operator’s fingertips with the option of amulti-function joystick or double-lever.

REDUCED RUNNING COSTSRunning and maintenance costs for the ZW180 are greatly reduced due toeasily accessible inspection points and more durable components. Thewheel loader’s better performance characteristics also contribute to reducedrunning costs via improved fuel consumption figures.

Specifications ZW180Engine maximum power (kw) ISO 9249 129Operating weight (kg) 14600*1

Bucket capacity (m3) 2.6-3.1Tipping load, full turn (kg) 10080*1

Breakout force (kN) 114.1*1

*1 Equipped with 2.8m3 general purpose round bottom bucket with bolt-on cutting edge

GROUND CONTROLGROUND CONTROL 13

ZAXIS-3 WHEELED EXCAVATORS The new generation of Hitachi Zaxis-3 wheeled excavators has arrived in Europe.The ZX140W-3, ZX170W-3, ZX190W-3 and ZX210W-3 have been developed byHitachi to further strengthen its range of construction equipment.

They complement the line-up of Zaxis-3 crawler excavators and the otherHitachi machines, which continue to meet the demands of the industry in keyareas such as versatility and productivity.

BETTER PERFORMANCEHitachi has equipped the Zaxis-3 wheeled excavators with powerful, newdurable engines, which provide operators with better digging capabilities andfaster travel speed. These are further enhanced by a wider oscillation angleof up to 16%, which increases the level of stability and grip on the surface.

ULTIMATE COMFORT AND SAFETYHitachi has designed the new Zaxis-3 wheeled excavator models withoperator comfort in mind. As well as having spacious and comfortable cabs,each machine has been fitted with Bridgestone tyres, which have animproved tread pattern. This helps to reduce vibration and noise levels.

REDUCED RUNNING COSTSRunning and maintenance costs for the Hitachi Zaxis-3 wheeled excavatorshave been reduced in comparison with their predecessors. This is due to thecombination of a new engine and hydraulic system, integrated back wheelaxle, easily accessible inspection points and more durable components.

Specifications ZX140W-3 ZX170W-3 ZX190W-3 ZX210W-3Engine rated power (kW) 90.2 107 122 122ISO 9249, NETOperating weight (kg) 14700-16500 16600-18600 18000-20400 19400-21700Bucket capacity (m3) SAE, 0.19-0.66 0.52-0.82 0.51-1.20 0.51-1.20PCSA heapedMaximum digging depth (mm) 4610-5290 4960-5720 5390-5930 5410-6290

ZAXISU-2 MINI-EXCAVATORSThe arrival of the new Hitachi Zaxis short-tail mini-excavators began in 2005 withthe introduction of the ZX30U-2. Hitachi is now expanding its line-up in thiscategory with the launch of the ZX10U-2, ZX17U-2 and ZX22U-2.

Hitachi engineers have developed the ZaxisU-2 models to combine the best of short- and zero-tail swing product lines in one versatile package. The series hasbeen fitted with powerful – yet economical – and durable engines to maximiseproductivity on any job site.

STABILITYAll of the ZaxisU-2 models have a number of stability-enhancing features,including a standard additional counterweight and travel speed controlfacility. These help to improve on-site safety.

OPERATOR COMFORT Like all new Zaxis machines, the safety and comfort of the operator havebeen prioritised and contribute to the user-friendliness of the ZaxisU-2excavators. The features of the new models include comfortable and variableworking conditions, a rubber-mounted floor and an easy to read monitor.

MAINTENANCEThe ZaxisU-2 series adopts the benefits associated with the largerexcavators in the Hitachi range. All major inspection points are within easyreach and they feature Hitachi-developed rubber crawlers.

DURABILITYMany innovative features have been introduced to help the residual value ofthe new ZaxisU-2 models. They have been fitted with a new single swing pin,D-shaped protection on the upper structure and original Hitachi HN bushingson front attachment pin joints.

Specifications ZX10U-2 ZX17U-2 ZX22U-2Engine rated power (kW) 9.5 11.0 14.0ISO 9249, NETOperating weight (kg) 1100 1680 canopy 2310 cabinBucket capacity (m3) SAE, 0.022 0.044 0.066PCSA heapedMaximum digging depth (mm) 1 780 2 170 2 320


DEALER

ABOVE: LUYCKX – IMMACULATE ON THE OUTSIDE AS WELL AS THE INSIDE

GROUND CONTROL 15

BELGIUM IS FAMOUS FOR ITS SUPERIOR TASTE IN BEER AND CHOCOLATES. THESE PRODUCTS ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIRUNIQUE QUALITY. THIS COULD ALSO BE AN APT DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY’S HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERYDEALER, LUYCKX. GROUND CONTROL VENTURED TO THE ANTWERP AREA IN SEARCH OF THE SECRET INGREDIENTS TO THELUYCKX RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Quality, reliability and support

The Luyckx family has lived at Brecht in the north of Belgium for more than

half a century. The area has traditionally been dependent on the farming

community. However, its close proximity to Antwerp means that the Luyckx

headquarters is situated among some impressive houses in the leafy suburbs

of the city.

A first-time visitor is provided with clues to the company’s background while

driving past farm animals, machinery and tree plantations en route to Luyckx.

Louis Luyckx formed the company in 1953 and initially began working in

forestry. This was quickly expanded to include agricultural machinery in the

Antwerp region.

Louis was one of the first welders in the area and this provided a new sideline to

the family’s dairy farm. As tractors gradually replaced horses in the farming

community, Luyckx saw an opportunity to meet this relatively new market. The

firm’s reputation grew to a national level and other new markets emerged for

excavators and small cranes.

Luyckx forged an early relationship with Hydromac and entered the

construction industry for the first time. This proved successful and increasing

growth and expansion led to the creation of a limited company in 1979, Firma

Luyckx NV. Jos Luyckx and his sisters, Paula and Chantal, took over some

responsibility from their father at this time and have since helped to drive the

company forward.

Within 12 months, Hydromac had gone bankrupt and Luyckx faced a choice

between forming a new relationship with Kobelco or Hitachi. “At that time,

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV was based at Oosterhout which

is just a short distance over the border into The Netherlands,” explains Jos.

“This advantageous location and the range of available spare parts made this

an obvious choice.”

The past 26 years have seen the Luyckx/Hitachi partnership go from

strength to strength in Belgium. Even in the first week of trading, Luyckx sold

four new Hitachi excavators to one customer!

“Initially, the task was to convert our existing Hydromac customers to the

Hitachi brand,” continues Jos. “This was actually quite an easy process. We have

an extremely loyal customer base and so all we needed was a good product to

sell. Hitachi was of course able to deliver that, along with a product support

package which extends all the way from Belgium to the rest of the world.”

In the first year, Luyckx sold around 30 new Hitachi machines. The Belgian

dealer now distributes more than ten times that amount, which is an impressive

level of growth in plant sales. This is also a reflection of how strong the

relationship with Hitachi has become during this period.

Jos is eager to emphasise this point. “We are 100 per cent happy with the

co-operation that has been shown by Hitachi,” he says. “Good relations exist

between the corresponding departments at Luyckx and Hitachi. The most

important thing today is that together we need to provide a reliable package and

a strong brand image.”

Since Luyckx became the Hitachi dealer, HCME has of course moved its main

operations to Amsterdam. However, the European Parts Centre has remained in

Oosterhout and Luyckx takes advantage of its close geographical proximity to

HCME’s two Dutch sites.

“We like to keep a high level of stock of new machines and parts, because the

power of delivery is so important,” Jos confirms. “In addition, the fact that we talk

the same language as our Hitachi colleagues in Amsterdam and Oosterhout is a

big advantage. In fact, we can even travel quickly to the latter for an emergency

parts delivery if required!”

Today, the business remains a family-owned concern. Jos is ably supported

VISITORS ALWAYS RECEIVE A WARM WELCOME AT LUYCKX THERE IS ALWAYS A WIDE RANGE OF PARTS AVAILABLE FORTHE BELGIAN MARKET


by his two sisters who work in the accounts department. The family connection

also extends to Jos’s wife, who works in the parts department and their

13-year-old son, Marc – the third generation of the Luyckx family – who is

already showing a keen interest in the business.

The family-orientated, independent viewpoint makes a difference in the

Belgian construction industry. “The most important thing is that we are a very

open company,” Jos explains. “Overall, we have a flat organisational structure,

which means that there is a direct link between the management team and the

daily operations of the business. All of our customers can reach us from 7am until

9pm. We work hard, but the rewards of having a close relationship between our

customers and employees are there for all to see.”

Luyckx has one other depot at Izegem in the north-west of Belgium. In addition,

a mobile product support unit based at Dinant operates in the south of the country.

In total, Luyckx employs around 120 people, which enables it to provide a national

network for Hitachi Construction Machinery.

These are the foundations for success. Luyckx became the market leader for

mid-range excavators in 1985 – a position which it has maintained ever since. It has done

this by increasing its market share each year. 2006 was also a record year for new

Hitachi sales.

“Belgium is an aggressive marketplace for the construction industry,” Jos

continues. “Hitachi excavators have always provided reliable solutions and the

Zaxis-3 models have been a huge success to date. The new ZW wheel loader series

has also seen extremely good results with our customers in a relatively short

space of time.

“Technology is becoming an increasingly important factor in the design of new

construction equipment. For example, we have welcomed the introduction of GPS

and the benefits of satellite communication. However, the biggest issue for our

customers and their operators is reliability. Thankfully, Hitachi has consistently been

delivering improved levels of performance across the whole range.

“Our aim is to grow slowly – not aggressively – and take each step as it comes.

This is because we have to be sure about the quality of each new product line.

The reputation of Hitachi is strong in Belgium thanks to the values of quality,

reliability and support available with every new machine. These three factors make

a big difference in comparison with the competition.”

The Belgian market mainly consists of general contractors, with a minority of

plant hire companies. However, there is an increasing trend towards special

applications. This is an area of the construction industry which has been

pioneered by Luyckx.

“We place a big emphasis on service and meeting the demands of our

customers,” Jos states proudly. “We have an 18,000m2 building on a

seven-hectare site and we have made a huge investment in our engineering

facilities. If something unusual is requested, then we aim to accommodate any

new ideas and turn them into a reality. At the moment, there is at least a six-month

lead time on orders for special applications.

“We manage everything in-house and this is a point of difference for Luyckx.

Every day presents a fresh challenge, but our aim is to keep our customers

satisfied and retain our unique selling point. To achieve this, we believe in the

values of quality, health and safety, and training for our staff.

This commitment to customer satisfaction has also led Luyckx to become

involved in another unusual project. As featured in a previous edition of

ABOVE: HITACHI ZAXIS EXCAVATORS BEING PREPARED INSIDE THE 18,000m2 BUILDING

DEALER

GROUND CONTROL 17

Ground Control, Luyckx supplies machines to and services the requirements of

some of the biggest dredging companies in the world.

“We have an excellent working relationship with Jan De Nul, Dredging

International, Besix, Aertssen and Denys. They operate a wide range of large Hitachi

excavators and Hitachi Sumitomo cranes in such spectacular and demanding

locations as Dubai, Siberia, Oman and Jamaica. Their machines operate in

temperatures between -40˚C and 40˚C. It’s incredible! Our dredging customers are

very satisfied with the level of service and product support. The Luyckx team just

follows them wherever they go!”

The Luyckx vision of exceeding customer expectations even extends to the

promotion and organisation of a huge open day event. The last one in August

2006 attracted a huge crowd of 12,000 people, including many existing and

potential new customers.

Visitors were invited to tour the facilities, which included an Hitachi “street” and

demonstration area, before retiring for a complementary barbecue and

refreshments. The stars of the show were undoubtedly an Hitachi EH1700 dump

truck, EX1200 ultra-large excavator and Hitachi Sumitomo SCX2800. Hitachi

merchandise was also in huge demand which Jos feels is representative of the

positive image associated with the brand.

So what does the future hold for Luyckx? This is one point in which Jos has a

clear vision: “Our dream is to expand the range of products which we offer to our

customers. This helps us to maintain an excellent working relationship with them.

“In addition, our biggest investment for the future will continue to be our

employees. Without them, we have nothing. Luyckx has been lucky to keep it in

the family over the years, so we are very happy with our current situation. Above

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: LUYCKX TECHNICIANS ARE ON-SITEIN DUBAI; LUYCKX HAS MADE A LARGE INVESTMENT IN ITSENGINEERING FACILITIES; AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THEOPEN DAY EVENT IN AUGUST 2006; JOS LUYCKX AND HIS TEAMAIM TO EXCEED CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

all, we want to keep the personal touch for which we have become renowned.”

This provides the perfect summary of the recipe that has helped Luyckx to

become so successful in the construction industry. By continuing to develop

beneficial relationships with Hitachi, its customers and employees, the Luyckx

values of quality, reliability and support will continue to prosper for many

years to come.


GLOBAL EXPANSION

HITACHI CONSTRUCTIONMACHINERY INDONESIA (HCMI)Location: Rawa Pasung Bekasi, IndonesiaProducts: hydraulic excavators, heavy equipment and fabrication machinery

TELCO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT CO LTD (TELCON)Location: Bangalore, IndiaProducts: hydraulic excavators

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY FRANCE SAS (HCMF)Location: Genas Cedex, FranceProducts: wheel loaders

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV (HCME)Location: Amsterdam, The NetherlandsProducts: mid-range excavators

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV (HCME)Location: Oosterhout, The NetherlandsProducts: mini-excavators

MANY READERS WILL HAVE A GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF HITACHI AND ITS RANGE OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. SOME WILLALSO HAVE HAD SOME FORM OF CONTACT WITH HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV (HCME) OR ITSAUTHORISED DEALER NETWORK. HCME IS A SUBSIDIARY OF HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD. (HCM), WHICH INTURN IS ONE OF THE SUBSIDIARIES OF HITACHI LTD. GROUND CONTROL INVESTIGATES HCM’S GLOBAL OPERATION, ITSMANUFACTURING FACILITIES AND TALKS TO THE MAN AT THE TOP

Made in Japan

The Hitachi name was first established in 1910 as an electrical repair shop

servicing a copper mining company in Japan. Hitachi in a Kanji (Chinese

character) means ‘sunrise’, which reflects the founding philosophy of

contributing to people and society through technology. Hitachi Ltd will

celebrate its centenary in 2010. The Hitachi Group is one of the world’s largest

corporate groups with a range of over 20,000 products and more than

300,000 employees.

Since its inception in 1970, HCM has developed from a hydraulic excavator

manufacturer in Japan to a full-line supplier of construction equipment

operating on a global basis. This has helped it to become the third largest

construction machinery manufacturer in the world with over 13,000

employees and net sales to the value of $5.3billion for the fiscal year ended

31 March 2006. HCME has played a key part in this transition by contributing

16.98% of this net sales figure for the same period.

HCM is playing an increasingly important role in shaping the future direction

of the Hitachi brand. Through its corporate vision, HCM aims to contribute to

Direct production

Joint production

HCM GLOBAL PRODUCTION BASES

HITACHI CONSTRUCTIONMACHINERY (CHINA) CO LTD (HCMC)Location: Anhui, The People’s Republic of China Products: hydraulic excavators

GROUND CONTROL 19

HITACHI SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES CONSTRUCTION CRANE CO LTDLocation: Obu, AichiProducts: crawler cranes

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY TIERRA CO LTDLocation: Kouga, ShigaProducts: mini-excavators

TCM CORPORATIONLocation: Oumi-Hachiman, ShigaProducts: fork lift trucks,skid steer loaders

TCM CORPORATIONLocation: Ryugasaki, IbarakiProducts: wheel loaders

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CAMINO CO LTDLocation: Higashine, YamagataProducts: road and environmental machineryand rubber crawler carriers

TSUCHIURA WORKSLocation: Tsuchiura, Ibaraki

Products: mid-range, large and ultra-large hydraulic excavators, hydraulic components and

electronic controllers

KASUMIGAURA WORKSLocation: Kasumigaura, Ibaraki

Products: key excavator components

HCM JAPANESE PRODUCTION BASES

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION TRUCKMANUFACTURING LTD (HTM)Location: Ontario, CanadaProducts: rigid dump trucks

DEERE HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERYCORPORATION (DHCM)Location: Kernersville NC, USAProducts: hydraulic excavators


the creation of congenial living spaces. It does this by using its vast experience

to develop and manufacture technologically advanced construction equipment

from its production plants in Asia, Europe and North America (see diagram).

HCM kindly invited Ground Control to visit two factories in Japan – the

Tsuchiura and Kasumigaura works – which are at the core of its 23 global

production plants.

TSUCHIURA WORKS

The Tsuchiura Works is the biggest facility of its kind in the world. It

manufactures a complete range of large and mid-range hydraulic excavators.

Tsuchiura also houses: a hydraulic machinery plant; a parts division; various

laboratories; and the Technical Research Centre. In all areas of its operations,

the Tsuchiura Works uses the most advanced technological processes to raise

the levels of performance and quality inherent within its construction equipment.

An army of 3,000 employees and 100 welding robots contribute to the

production of 57 mid-range (on the day of our visit) and 7-8 large excavators per

day. The hub of this operation is the mid-range assembly line. Each machine is

assembled in 11 minutes and 30 seconds in 23 stages by 90 staff working in two

shifts. It’s a remarkable process to witness at close quarters.

The 489,000m2 factory resembles a small town with a network of

passageways, machines and workers. The staff are colour co-ordinated in their

uniforms and each employee seems dedicated to the responsibility of the tasks

which he/she has been given. As visitors are escorted around the massive

expanse of this impressive facility, the workforce goes about its daily routine

seemingly unaffected by these brief intrusions.

‘A place for everything and everything in its place’, appears to be the motto

behind the organisation and control of the Tsuchiura Works. The systematic

process of assembling a Zaxis excavator has been tried and tested over the

years to the extent that it has become an art form – a work of art in fact. Health

and safety is also of paramount importance in every area of the manufacturing

plant. The workers are ‘protected’ from every conceivable hazard and everyone

is reminded of potential danger on regular signs and notice boards.

To an outsider and first-time visitor, a tour of the Tsuchiura Works is a

remarkable journey into the technology and expertise inherent within the Hitachi

brand. This is even more evident when viewing the testing procedures and

customisation processes which occur after what appears to be the final assembly

of the machine.

Fortunately, an EX3600 was being tested. It was like watching a scene from

Jurassic Park, as the monster awoke from its slumber. The manufacture of the

ultra-large machines is a mammoth task. An average of 3-3.5 per month are

produced, with one model taking ten days to assemble, three days to test and

a further three to dismantle prior to shipment.

KASUMIGAURA WORKS

So where do all the components for the excavators come from? Some are

produced on-site at Tsuchiura and others are manufactured at the nearby

Kasumigaura Works. It occupies a 178,000m2 site with a high-tech production

line which has been designed for operation by minimal staff.

This is made possible by the use of an array of computer-controlled devices,

including material handling robots, NC machine tools, unmanned conveyance

carts and automated warehouse facilities. Once again, it is a fascinating insight

into another unexplored world.

The worldwide demand for Hitachi construction equipment means that

Kasumigaura is a hive of mechanical and human activity. Everything appears

to be running like clockwork as hundreds of components go through the same

meticulous processes every day. Here the visitor can get closer to the action

and the true skill and precision of the workers becomes clear.

The best view of proceedings is literally from the roof. Purpose-built

gangways take visitors on an aerial tour of the facility to admire the

craftsmanship and technology at work on the factory floor. Only 100% accuracy

and an adherence to quality will suffice for the dedicated team, which help

HCM to supply its seemingly endless line of reliable solutions.

As key components such as reduction gears, swing wheels, cylinders and

rollers are prepared for transportation to the Tsuchiura Works, the success

story of HCM unfolds. It starts with the attention to detail displayed at

Kasumigaura and other component factories, and moves on to the emphasis

placed on quality at Tsuchiura and other production plants – such as

Amsterdam and Oosterhout in the Netherlands.

However, it’s when the finished products move on to their ultimate

destinations around the world, that the real story is told. Customers and

operators of Hitachi construction equipment gain the direct benefit of everything

that has helped to create the machines. This is where HCM’s ultimate vision is

met as it continues to provide its customers with technologically advanced

products that help to create the world in which we live.

GLOBAL EXPANSION

ABOVE:TSUCHIURA (LEFT) AND KASUMIGAURA WORKS ARE AT THE CORE OF HCM’S 23 GLOBAL PRODUCTION PLANTS

GROUND CONTROL 21

HCM AIMS FOR THE TOPMICHIJIRO KIKAWA ASSUMED THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT, CEOAND DIRECTOR OF HCM IN APRIL 2006. GROUND CONTROLHAD THE HONOUR OF MEETING MR KIKAWA TO SHARE HISTHOUGHTS ON MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY AND THE FUTUREDIRECTION OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS

Q. What is the background to your career?

A. I was fortunate to join HCM when it separated from Hitachi Ltd in 1970. This

means that it feels as if I have shared my history with the history of the company.

I started my career in the Production Engineering Department and was

responsible for hydraulic motors. I spent 24 years in the Department before

moving to China. I helped to establish HCM China (HCMC), before moving back

to Japan and the Tsuchiura factory in 2000. I stayed there for four years and then

became Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2004 until my promotion to

President in 2006.

Q. What is the current position of Hitachi in the construction industry?

A. Since the decision not to manufacture bulldozers in 1971 and to specialise in

hydraulic excavators, Hitachi has had an advantage in this market. There have

been peaks and troughs in the construction machinery industry and it’s mainly

been hard times. Hitachi has worked together to overcome the troughs and has

therefore established a strong position in the market today.

Q. How does HCM compare to the other construction equipment

manufacturers?

A. HCM is now placed in the third group behind the top two companies. The

current target is to move up to the next level in the near future, before aiming for

the number one position.

Q. How does HCM compare to the other Hitachi companies?

A. When people hear the word ‘Hitachi’, I believe that they would usually think of

electronic products such as televisions. However, HCM is the most likely

company to adhere to the corporate vision among the Hitachi group. As

environmental regulations become more severe, there will be a shift towards the

ultimate goal of zero emissions. This will only be possible with electrical

excavators. As Hitachi Ltd has obvious expertise in electronics – and if Hitachi

Ltd and HCM collaborate – then perhaps we can produce the greatest electrical

excavators for the future.

Q. How will HCM continue to contribute to the Hitachi brand?

A. We need to continue to supply reliable and good quality machines. In

addition, it is important to provide a customer service solution. It’s not just about

the machine. HCM must also focus on its corporate social responsibility. The

company must be alive, not only for its employees, but for the customers,

investors, suppliers and other stakeholders as well.

Q. What is the role of HCM?

A. Our vision is “to pass on a productive environment and prosperous cities to

future generations”, while our goal is to consolidate our position as one of the

world’s top three construction machinery manufacturers. HCM will collectively

provide reliable solutions to ensure individual customer satisfaction all over

the world.

Q. What is your favourite Hitachi product and why?

A. I like our employees more than any Hitachi product! I have worked in HCM

for a long time and I recognise that the support has been created by teamwork.

This in turn helps to create superior products.


JOB REPORT

GROUND CONTROL 23

RECTIFYING A 100-YEAR-OLD MISTAKE IS A DAUNTING TASK, BUT IT IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE ONE WITH A CLEAR VISION ANDSUFFICIENT PLANNING. GROUND CONTROL VISITED UMEA IN SWEDEN TO SEE HOW A STRATEGIC APPROACH IS OVERCOMINGEVEN THE GREATEST OF CHALLENGES

Umea is a large town in the north of Sweden with 111,000 inhabitants. It

has dense forestry and the country’s largest river, which was once part

of the Baltic Sea and now provides energy to at least ten power stations.

The town’s university and hospitals are the biggest employers in the area.

Students from 61 countries attend the educational establishment, which has

been responsible for the town’s rapid growth since it opened at the end of

the 1950s.

Umea’s population is now more than five-and-a-half times larger than it was

then. This obviously means that there is greater demand for housing and new

roads, so there is a lot of work available for construction companies in the

area. However, the biggest project of all is the Botniabanan railway.

The 190km single-track high-speed railway – which has an estimated total

cost of 1.4billion – will provide a means of transport for passengers and

freight. It will run through six cities and function in conjunction with the existing

railway as a double-track.

Although the existing line is still in operation in the north of Sweden, it does

not run close to any centres of population. Therefore, the railway system is

under-used by passengers. It is also unable to cope with a high-speed service

and was not built to a sufficient standard for the required use due to a lack of

budget.

In addition, the Government believes that the service will attract further

opportunities for commerce. There are discussions underway with regard to

Clear vision remains on track

the railway being used for transporting cargo from as far afield as China and

Russia as soon as the countries’ economies have been stabilised.

However, although the advantages of Botniabanan are clear, the

construction work has not been a particularly smooth process since it began

in 1999. The original completion date of 2006 has already been extended to

2010 and it is uncertain whether that target will now be achieved.

At the end of 2004, more than 600 machines and 1,600 people were

working on the site under the control of at least 130 contractors. This means

that project management is extremely complex to ensure that all of the

various companies are pulling in the same direction. It also means that a

variety of manufacturers are providing equipment to be used on the site.

The area is home to one of the manufacturing plants for a well-known

Swedish truck and construction equipment company. The cabs for the trucks

are made in the town, which provides employment for between 1,600 and

1,800 people. This has previously given the manufacturer’s construction

machinery a stronghold in Umea.

Contractors have traditionally bought excavators, because it is the same

brand as that used by their father and grandfather before them. However,

although still popular, things may be changing. The Hitachi market share in

the town is higher than it is across the rest of Sweden.

“Development is ongoing for all manufacturers of construction equipment,”

says Hans-Ola Adamson of Sweden’s sole Hitachi distributor Delvator AB.


JOB REPORT

“This means that performance is levelling out across the board and is often

not a strong enough motivation for a purchase.

“The advantage that Hitachi has is reliability and that is why contractors on

Botniabanan are choosing the machinery. There is less downtime as a result

of breakdowns or maintenance problems.”

Environmental issues are ever increasing, which means that operators on

the site have greater pressure to meet deadlines. This is difficult in an area of

the country where construction can cease for between four and five months

of the year due to adverse weather conditions.

On the day of Ground Control’s visit, a large amount of work on the site had

been brought to a halt as a result of frozen ground. Daylight was also scarce.

There were officially only five hours between sunrise and sunset, but the

reality was that daylight never really materialised. This was made worse by

the presence of mist and heavy rain. It is obvious that Swedish construction

companies must complete work when possible, particularly when other

factors are also working to slow down progress.

In the same year as the project commenced, new environmental laws were

introduced across Sweden. This has caused problems for the railway

because the final 3km of track runs into a Nature 2000 area. This is a

conservation area and permission for development cannot be passed until

every person in the locality has been given the option to lodge a complaint.

Unfortunately for the Botniabanan project, several protests have been

lodged to stop the completion of the track. Concerns have been raised for

wildlife in the area, such as visiting and resident birds. This has led to a court

case, which will take place at the beginning of 2007 to resolve the issue.

In the meantime, work on the site must continue. Ground Control witnessed

this demand in its most simple form. An LJ Gräv employee, Peter Johnsson,

was operating a Zaxis ZX500 for a unique purpose. The bucket was being

used to remove ice in an attempt to clear water and therefore continue

preparation work on the site.

LJ Gräv is a father and son company that is unofficially renowned as one

of the best in the area. The family is highly skilled and they employ two further

people to help operate a fleet of four Hitachi machines. The company was

founded in the early Eighties and it has been brand loyal since its inception.

Their loyalty has been repaid with the reliability that they have come to

expect from Hitachi. Peter confirms this by testifying that the company

recently calculated the machines completed more than 50,000 working hours

without any technical faults occurring.

Elsewhere on the site, relatively new excavators are being put to the test.

Leif Eriksson of L Entreprenad is also tackling problems with excess water

GROUND CONTROL 25

LEFT TO RIGHT: A RECENTLY PURCHASED ZX470-3 IS USED INCONJUNCTION WITH A HOPPER; A ROTOTILT ATTACHMENT ISCONSIDERED STANDARD IN SWEDEN; LEIF ERIKSSON WITH A ZX210-3

using a new ZX210-3 with a Rototilt attachment. The additional equipment is

considered standard in Sweden, because it is vital to much of the work and

allows machines to fulfil multifunctional requirements.

Leif Eriksson also chose Hitachi for its reliability and for the service

provided by Delvator AB. “The other manufacturers don’t provide the same

support,” he says. “Although we never have problems with the machines, it is

reassuring to know that I can call Delvator AB for help whenever I need it.”

The ZX210-3 was delivered five weeks ago and Leif is so impressed that

he is helping Hans to sell two more of the machines to another contractor. “It

is really fast,” he continues, “but it still has the same precision. That is really

important for this site because we have a lot of pipe laying to complete and

we need to be accurate. It is helpful if we can also be productive to finish the

job ahead of schedule.”

Fellow operators working for Råsjö Kross are in agreement about the

benefits of speed. It is a large company based some 100km south in Sweden,

which means that many of the operators travel home for the weekend. Extra

long hours are worked in the early part of the week to ensure that a three-day

weekend is possible.

The company has recently purchased a ZX470-3 to use in conjunction with

a hopper. The machine also employs a rototilt to gather large rocks for loading

into the hopper to be crushed into smaller stones. It has completed 100 hours

of work to date and the operator simply describes the large excavator as

“outstanding”.

This is an important process for the site, because it enables local natural

resources to be utilised for Botniabanan. Hans estimates that up to 50 per

cent of the stone used in the preparation and construction work is recycled

from the site itself. This produces a competitive cost advantage for the project

as a result of reduced demand for imported materials.

By taking these factors into account, it ensures that the planned budget is

sufficient for the final requirements. This means that the financial

miscalculation made 100 years ago will not be repeated. The new railway will

serve its new purposes in the short-term and be suitable for further services

and expansion in the future.


Rental Force is located 20km north of Schiphol Airport. It also has asecond

office in Rotterdam. The company was set up by Chiel Brandenburg in

2002 and has continued to go from strength-to-strength. In 2005, it also took

over a rival plant hire company, Big Rental.

Plant hire accounts for only two per cent of the construction market in The

Netherlands. However, it is growing steadily and Rental Force is taking full

advantage of this trend. There are big plans for the future development of

the company.

Chiel was born in Haarlem. He originally worked in the automotive industry

before taking up a position in truck sales. The knowledge he gained during

this time – especially about capital investment – has gone a long way in

helping to make Rental Force the success it is today.

His light-hearted humour and approachable nature are refreshing

attributes. However, behind this guise is a clever man who knows how to get

the best from his employees and keep his customers satisfied.

“I was talking to one of my customers and we identified that you could only

hire mini-excavators and small pieces of equipment,” he explains. “That is

how the idea originated. We were lucky that there was no competition and

were able to enter the market and set the prices. The business is growing and

THE PLANT HIRE SECTOR IS A RELATIVELY NEW MARKET IN THE NETHERLANDS. WITH ONLY A FEW BUSINESSES INVOLVED INTHE HIRE OF LARGE-SIZED MACHINES, RENTAL FORCE HAS BECOME THE MARKET LEADER IN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS. GROUND CONTROL VISITED ITS HEAD OFFICE AT CRUQUIUS NEAR AMSTERDAM TO FIND OUT HOW IT HAS ASSUMED SUCH ASTRONG POSITION IN A RELATIVELY SHORT SPACE OF TIME

The customer is king

CUSTOMER

we have an expanding fleet, even though the margins are relatively small.”

The relationship between Rental Force and Hitachi Construction Machinery

(Europe) NV (HCME) started at the Dutch domestic exhibition, Technische

Kontakt Dagen (TKD) in 2004. “We had bought our first Hitachi excavator – a

ZX460LCH – within five minutes of stepping on to the stand,” Chiel continues.

“Within a few weeks, we had ordered a further ten machines. Actually, we

purchased 14 Hitachi excavators in 14 months! A further 30 were confirmed

in October 2005 while we were visiting Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM)

in Japan.

“I would like to think that we have a good understanding with everyone at

Hitachi. We currently liaise with Jan Oosterhof (sales representative, HCME)

and the rest of the sales and support team at the Oosterhout office.”

Rental Force now has 50 Hitachi models in its fleet, ranging from 7.5 to 55

tonnes. It also has a number of other wheel loaders, excavators

and compaction equipment. All machines are available for long and

short-term rental.

Rental Force operates a mixed-fleet policy. Chiel is quite honest about the

company’s plant requirements and why it buys certain machine categories

from specific manufacturers.

GROUND CONTROL 27

ABOVE LEFT:CHIEL BRANDENBURGBELIEVES STRONGLY INPROVIDING FIRST-CLASSCUSTOMER SERVICE


“If you own a rental firm, you need to cater for everyone’s requirements,” he

explains. “We have a multi-brand policy and that has worked well for us. Why

change a winning formula? In my opinion, Hitachi is renowned for its

excavators. That is why I selected them as a supplier and mostly choose their

models over those from other manufacturers.”

The residual value of every machine is also important. Rental Force has a

replacement policy of between two-and-a-half and three years depending on

size of the excavator. It has not yet replaced any of its Hitachi models, but

Chiel expects them to have a good re-sale value.

“Teamwork” and “the customer is king” are phrases often used at Rental

Force. “If we don’t have happy customers, then we don’t have a business,”

Chiel admits. “We are here to provide a good service. If we don’t, then it is not

worth operating in this market at all. However, I am adamant that Rental Force

won’t compromise its pricing structure to win more business.”

Rental Force ensures that its customers receive value for money and the

most suitable machinery for each project. This is a fundamental part of the

first class service it provides. One new customer per day is attracted to Rental

Force, so its strategy must be working.

Construction company De Koker is a good example. The contractor is

currently shifting thousands of tonnes of waste and soil per week at a

recycling site in Amsterdam. It has hired a Hitachi Zaxis ZX280LC-3 excavator

from Rental Force to undertake the work. The main requirement was to be

able to efficiently load the materials on the back of trucks.

“On average I am loading one vehicle every three minutes,” says Piet de

Koker, Managing Director of De Koker. “Productivity is an important

consideration when using machinery on a site like this. The trucks need to

transport a constant supply of waste to the processing facility. Rental Force

advised me that this excavator would help to maximise output and it has

allowed me to meet my daily targets.”

The repair and maintenance of machinery is also crucial in plant hire. If a

machine is not working, then it is not earning money. Rental Force built its

own workshops to ensure that this is never an issue.

“Routine inspection and servicing are the main priorities,” Chiel explains.

“We have a team of dedicated staff to keep this running smoothly. A lot of work

CUSTOMER

TOP: RENTAL FORCE CURRENTLY HAS 180 MACHINES IN ITS FLEET. BOTTOM:THE COMPANY ATTRACTS ONE NEWCUSTOMER PER DAY

GROUND CONTROL 29

ABOVE: A DUTCH FLAG IS PLACED ON THE BOOM OF EACHRENTAL FORCE MACHINE. RIGHT:THE REPAIR ANDMAINTENANCE OF MACHINERY IS CRUCIAL IN PLANT HIRE

is carried out on all new and used equipment. We also place a Dutch flag on

the boom of each machine!”

This work is important and having the capability to carry it out in-house

saves time and money. The company also has its own team of field service

engineers that can be sent to job sites if required.

Rental Force has already managed to attract new business from some

unexpected sources. Its machines can often be found in Belgium and even

further afield. “Two of our new ZX350-3 excavators are currently working in

Norway,” laughs Chiel.

However, despite its success, 80 per cent of the company’s domestic

customers are located in the west of The Netherlands. This is something that

it is trying to change and has big plans in place for 2007.

In a bid to take the business on to the next level, Rental Force is opening

a third office in the north of the country. This will hopefully increase rentals

from this region and also help it to expand into the western part of Germany.

It will be located at Hoogeveen, adjacent to the new northern Hitachi domestic

sales office.

Chiel’s honesty with manufacturers has already earned him respect and

understanding within the industry. In addition, there is no doubt that the

customer will always be right when dealing with Rental Force. These

combined factors have helped the company to gain a strong foothold in the

market and expand in such a short space of time.


An innovative product in any industry is initially viewed with some caution.

A minority of ‘early adopters’ are more likely to take a risk on a new

device, while the majority of ‘followers’ in the same market wait for an

indication of performance and results. However, HCM has eliminated the

need for hesitation with the introduction of a new and reliable solution for the

construction industry.

A clamshell telescopic arm has been fitted to two excavators in the

Zaxis-3 range, which has created a point of difference over any other machine

in the market. This unique feature has been developed by the Special

Applications team at Hitachi in Japan for use on specific job sites.

The specification of the excavators differentiates them from the standard

Zaxis-3 models. The 1.3m3 capacity clamshell bucket on the ZX350-3 variant

(0.8m3 on the ZX225USRLC-3) can be extended to a digging depth of 25.2m

(21.2m). Both machines have been fitted with an additional counterweight

and steel cable extendable sections are housed inside the outer arm.

The structure of the cab is another significant difference to a conventional

Zaxis-3 machine. In practice, the sliding cab can be moved forward from the

upper structure to allow the operator to have a better view of the job site

below. The operator’s downward vision is also enhanced thanks to the

extension of the window.

The benefits of the clamshell telescopic arm are to increase productivity,

reduce running costs and improve comfort and safety for the operator. The

application is attached to a normal excavator, so that experienced operators

become familiarised with its functionality with a minimum of training time.

It is obviously much easier and faster to complete relevant jobs with the

clamshell telescopic arm. The need for unnecessary downtime for changing

attachments and engaging the services of another worker for radio relay are

now negated. The operator can complete the task on his own, even with other

machines working down below.

The extension/retraction device moves quickly to enable fast and smooth

telescopic movement. The slim construction of the arm minimises the threat

of damage being inflicted under normal working conditions. There is even

easy access to the top of the arm which enables maintenance to be carried

out on-site and with a minimum of downtime.

The Belgian Hitachi dealer Luyckx was so impressed with the application

that it has decided to buy a demonstration model for its customers to see at

close quarters. It hopes that this will lead to a series of orders and the

establishment of this innovative, new product in the marketplace.

“We have received a lot of interest in the new ZX350-3 clamshell telescopic

arm,” explains Luyckx Sales Representative Werner Hellemans. “The basic

cab, upper structure and undercarriage are of course the same as a normal

Zaxis machine. Indeed, many of the standard features, such as the rear view

camera, are useful for this special application.”

Luyckx has identified the main uses of the special application in urban

areas where space is at a premium. Compact machines with long-reach

capabilities are required on city centre job sites such as foundation works and

underground renovations. However, another use demonstrated here shows

the machine working on canals.

“Everyone who has tested the clamshell telescopic arm has commented on

how easy it is to drive,” Werner continues. “It operates like any other normal

boom from the driver’s seat. The only small difference is moving the cab out

from the upper structure, which is completed at the flick of a switch – that’s all

it takes. We are confident that this will be a popular product, not just in

Belgium, but all over Europe.”

SPECIALITIES

Digging deep to increaseproductivityHITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (HCM) HAS DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED A NEW CLAMSHELL TELESCOPIC ARM,WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV. THIS SPECIALAPPLICATION HAS BEENFITTED TO THE HITACHI ZAXIS ZX225USRLC-3 AND ZX350LC-3. THE LATTER WAS DISPLAYED AT INTERMAT (PARIS) IN APRIL 2006AND THE SAME MACHINE HAS ALREADY BEEN DEMONSTRATED IN BELGIUM

THE STEEL CABLE EXTENDABLE SECTIONS ARE HOUSEDINSIDE THE OUTER ARM

THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAB PROVIDES EXCELLENTVISIBILITY FOR THE OPERATOR

GROUND CONTROL 31


AFTER-SALES

The complete packageADDED VALUE MAY BE DEFINED AS AN INCREASE IN WORTH OF A PRODUCT AS A RESULT OF A PARTICULAR PROCESS. IN THECONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, THE STANDARD OF AFTER-SALES SERVICE CAN OFTEN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THEPERCEIVED VALUE OF A MACHINE IN THE EYE OF THE CUSTOMER. HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (EUROPE) NV (HCME)IS THEREFORE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING RELIABLE SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT EVERY ASPECT OF ITS BUSINESS

GROUND CONTROL 33

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: OVER 350 PARCELS AREDESPATCHED EVERY DAY; HCME HAS LOCATED ITS PARTSCENTRE AT OOSTERHOUT SINCE 1980;THE OWNER’S SITE WAS DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW RANGE OF IT-BASED MACHINES

LEFT: HCME PROVIDES A FAST AND RESPONSIVE PARTSDELIVERY SERVICE

The latest generation of Hitachi Zaxis-3 excavators and ZW wheel loaders

has provided the construction industry with better performance, reduced

running costs and ultimate safety and comfort. The enhanced product line-up

means that HCME can provide a suitable machine for almost every job site

and application.

However, the commitment from HCME does not stop there. The support it

offers the official dealer network and Hitachi customers is equally as important.

It has continued to develop this further since the launch of the new models.

“Our customers can expect the highest level of product support,” confirms

HCME President and Managing Director Mike Mori. “Even if the product

performs well, the customer will be disappointed if the after-sales service is poor.”

The product support and parts teams at HCME are working together to

implement a first-class after-sales service. They have already introduced a

number of new systems and are liaising with dealers to help implement these

throughout Europe.

HCME launched the e-Service Owner’s Site in 2006. The enhanced

satellite communication system was developed in conjunction with the new

range of IT-based machines. The Site allows the Zaxis-3 excavators and ZW

wheel loaders to communicate technical data and location to the dealers and

owners via satellite.

The features of the Site include: remote access to all relevant machine

operation information, e.g. hours of use and fuel levels, maintenance history

and recommended service inspection intervals, geographical position, serial

number identification and multiple machine search facility.

The Owner’s Site was initially only available in English, but has now been

translated into nine other languages: German, French, Italian, Spanish,

Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Dutch. This has been undertaken

to ensure that it is accessible and applicable for owners in each market.

“For the past few months HCME has been working on translations and

testing the system to ensure that it provides the required information,”

explains Marten Bootsma, Manager of Service Development in Product

Support at HCME. “We are now in the process of visiting several official

Hitachi dealers, accompanied by HCM colleagues that specialise in the

Owner’s Site. This has been undertaken to collate feedback from users, which

will help the future development of the Site.

“Preventative maintenance is one way of helping to increase productivity

and reduce downtime. The Owner’s Site is an efficient tool for this process,

as diagnostic engineers do not have to be sent to inspect the machines in the

first instance.

“Initially the dealer and customer can view the data online and decide on

what action, if any, needs to be taken. HCME dealers carry their own stock of

recommended parts and so these can be supplied without delay.”

HCME works closely with its dealers to help them establish which parts they

need to stock and how many of each they should store. This is co-ordinated by

its European Parts Centre at Oosterhout in The Netherlands. The impressive

7,600m2 site at Oosterhout is the hub of the parts logistic service offered to

HCME’s dealer network in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Russia.

The majority of components stored at the Centre arrive from Hitachi

Construction Machinery (HCM) in Japan, but a number of items are sourced

globally. It has over 55,000 line items in stock and provides a fast and

responsive delivery service.

“Our aim is to ensure that all HCME dealers carry the necessary items to

support the machines in their territory,” says Ferry Biemans, HCME Parts

Sales and Marketing. “This can only help to enhance the efficiency of the

Owner’s Site. In the unlikely event of a fault being reported, the required parts

are available without unnecessary delay.”

HCME will demonstrate the benefits of the Owner’s Site and parts service

at Bauma in Germany (see P.10-11). A team of experts will be available

throughout the exhibition to explain the development of after-sales and the

added value that it provides to the new generation of Hitachi excavators and

wheel loaders.


Dealer listingALBANIA, BOSNIA, HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA,MACEDONIA, REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO,REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, SLOVENIASCAI S.P.A06080 OSPEDALICCHIO BASTIA UMBRA(PG)ITALYT: +39 075801501F: +39 0758010142

AUSTRIABaumaschinen Handel GmbH1140 VIENNAT: +43 1 577 22 88F: +43 1 577 22 88 - 13

BELGIUMElsen-Traktor NVCOMPACT LINE3130 BEGIJNENDIJK (BETEKOM)T: +32 (0)165 665 44F: +32 (0)165 665 12

Eurosupply Hoogwerksystemen BVAERIAL PLATFORM4782 PP MOERDIJKT: +31 (0)168-32-93-31F: +31 (0)168-32-77-30

Firma Luyckx NV2960 BRECHTT: +32 (0)313 95 51F: +32 (0)313 90 40

BULGARIAZ&M Private Co.BG-1000 SOFIAT: +359 (0)2 986 5855F: +359 (0)2 986 5916

CZECH REPUBLICBaumaschinen Handel GmbH1140 VIENNAT: +43 1 577 22 88F: +43 1 577 22 88 - 13

Kohlschein61900 BRNOT: +420 547 212 505-7F: +420 547 212 271

DENMARKH.P. Entreprenørmaskiner A/SDK-4632 BJEAVERSKOVT: +45 (0)56-87-10-10F: +45 (0)56-87-12-14

ESTONIALaadur OÜEE-11415 TALLINNT: +372 6053600F: +372 6053601

FINLANDRotator Oy33700 TAMPERET: +358 (0)3 28 74 111F: +358 (0)3 26 53 760

FRANCEHitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) N.V.Sales And Service92441 ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX CEDEXT: +33 (0)158 042 572F: +33 (0)158 042 648

ALMAT S.A.66700 ARGELES SUR MERT: +33 468811213F: +33 468815666

Atlantique Service Materiel79000, NIORTT: +33 (0)5 49 09 59 15F: +33 (0)5 49 09 29 85

B2MTP06510 CARROST: +33 (0) 49 30 82 000F: +33 (0)49 30 87 462

BoudesCOMPACT LINE12100 MILLAUT: +33 (0) 565 600 695F: +33 (0) 565 590 600

BTP Service64300 ORTHEZT: +33 (0)55 9670 363F: +33 (0)55 9672 757

Burckel SA67330 OBERMODERNT: +33 (0)388 908 063F: +33 (0)388 908 605

Cobemat35513 CESSON-SEVIGNÉ CÉDEXT: +33 (0) 29 98 34 444F: +33 (0) 29 98 34 344

Flandres Equipment62223 ST LAURENT BLANGYT: +33 (0) 32 1599 081F: +33 (0) 32 1730 203

Locasud S.A.COMPACT LINE81000 ALBIT: +33 (0) 56 3476 969F: +33 (0) 56 3476 414

Maintenance Du Centre28600 LUISANTT: +33 (0)237 350 555F: +33 (0)237 309 723

Payen77540, ROZAY EN BRIET: +33 (0)164 427 474F: +33 (0)164 077 789

Prodimat S.A.S.21800 CRIMOLOIST: +33 (0) 380 320 480F: +33 (0) 380 329 710

Prowimat S.A.S.13310 SAINT MARTIN DE CRAUXT: +33 (0) 490 478 190F: +33 (0) 490 478 192

RICHARD Manutention S.A.COMPACT LINE52003 CHAUMONTT: +33 (0) 325 321 980F: +33 (0) 325 325 358

Rouen Materiel T.P76380 DIEPPEDALLE-CROISSETT: +33 (0) 23 2830 083F: +33 (0) 23 2831 383

SMTL19330 SAINT GERMAIN LES VERGNEST: +33 (0) 55 5293 200F: +33 (0) 55 5294 222

SorematCOMPACT LINE51430 TINQUEUX REIMST: +33 (0) 32 6081 206F: +33 (0) 32 6087 140

Sud Espace TP81800 RABASTENST: +33 (0) 563 40 26 40F: +33 (0) 563 40 26 44

Teramat69740 GENAST: +33 (0) 47 2794 470F: +33 (0) 47 2794 479

Vienne Service Matériel (VSM) 86130 ST GEORGES LES BAILLARGEAUX T: +33 (0)5 49 62 57 17 F: +33 (0)5 49 52 57 41

GERMANYHitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) N.V.- German Office64589 STOCKSTADT/RHEINT: +49 (0)6158 822 390F: +49 (0)6158 822 3939

Kiesel GmbH88255 BAIENFURT/RAVENSBURGT: +49 (0)751 500 40F: +49 (0)751 500 460

Niederlassung Baden78187 GEISINGENT: +49 770492830F: +49 7704928360

Niederlassung Baden-West79336 HERBOLZHEIMT: +49 764 393 7980F: +49 764 393 7989

Niederlassung Bayrisch Schwaben87700 MEMMINGENT: +49 8331 83680F: +49 8331 836860

Kompetenzcenter Landsberg06188 LANDSBERG BEI HALLET: +49 3460 22690F: +49 3460 226960

Kompetenzcenter Dresden01156 DRESDENT: +49 3514 5320F: +49 3514 53260

Niederlassung Thüringen99085 ERFURTT: +49 361 7377 660F: +49 361 7377 6611

Servicestelle Magdeburg39126 MAGDEBURGT: +49 (0) 391 5051 327F: +49 (0) 391 5051 328

Kiesel West GmbHKompetenzcenter West50354 HÜRTH-BERRENRATHT: +49 2233 39460F: +49 2233 3946111

Kiesel NordKompetenzcenter Nord21035 HAMBURGT: +49 4073 460152F: +49 4073 460190

Niederlassung Bremen28279 BREMENT: +49 (0)421 626 710F: +49 (0)421 626 7111

Kiesel Mitte GmbHKompetenzcenter Mitte64589 STOCKSTADT/RHEINT: +49 6158 82300F: +49 6158 8230177

Kompetenzcenter Bayern85386 ECHING B. MÜNCHENT: +49 (0)816 564 7360F: +49 (0)816 564 73640

Niederlassung Würzburg97291 THÜNGERSHEIMT: +49 (0)9364 817 630F: +49 (0)9364 817 6320

Kiesel Ungeheuer GmbH76227 KARLSRUHET: +49 (0)721 949 302F: +49 (0)721 949 3252

Niederlassung Mannheim68229 MANNHEIMT: +49 (0) 621 484 840F: +49 (0) 621 484 8435

Niederlassung Stuttgart71696 MÃGLINGENT: +49 (0)7141 648600F: +49 (0)7141 6486015

Kiesel Preissler GmbH & Co. KG31139 HILDESHEIM-SORSUMT: +49 (0) 5121 60030F: +49 (0) 5121 600321

Niederlassung Bielefeld33689 BIELEFELDT: +49 (0) 5205 7671F: +49 (0) 5205 72263

Niederlassung Osnabrück49084 OSNABRÜCKT: +49 (0) 541 589 393F: +49 (0) 541 589 392

Servicestelle Braunschweig38112 BRAUNSCHWEIGT: +49 (0) 531 311 637F: +49 (0) 531 316 928

Bausetra Potsdamer Baumaschinen UndNutzfahrzeuge Service (GmbH)14478 POTSDAMT: +49 (0) 33 1887 80F: +49 (0) 33 1887 8155

Hasken Baumaschinen GmbH49835 WIETMARSCHENT: +49 (0) 5908 9349 0F: +49 (0) 5908 9349 29

KLP-Baumaschinen GmbH95326 KULMBACHT: +49 (0)9221 8011119F: +49 (0)9221 8011122

Kraemer Baumaschinen Vertriebs & Co. KG59557 LIPPSTADTT: +49 (0)2941 2020F: +49 (0)2941 20221

Scholz GmbH08233 TREUEN VOGTL.T: +49 (0) 37468 6320F: +49 (0) 37468 63214

Stoll Baumaschinen GmbH66564 OTTWEILER/FÜRTHT: +49 (0) 6858 348F: +49 (0) 6858 6102

Weigel-Bautechnik GmbH99444 BLANKENHAINT: +49 (0) 364 5961 864F: +49 (0) 364 5961 879

COMPACT LINEBaw Baumaschinen Vertrieb GmbH34414 WARBURGT: +49 5641 76300F: +49 5641 763090

Kohrmann Baumaschinen GmbH77815 BÜHL/BADENT: +49 (0)722 398 610F: +49 (0)722 327 835

MVM Baumaschinen Vertriebsgesellschaft GmbH56566 NEUWIEDT: +49 (0)2631 87080F: +49 (0)2631 870839

Pressluft Frantz - Baumaschinen- UndErsatzteilhandels GmbH08223 FALKENSTEIN / VOGTLANDT: +49 (0)3745 6014F: +49 (0)3745 20954

GREECEAtlas Hellas S.A.GR-10447 ATHENST: +30 2103469696F: +30 2103474428

Ergotrak S.A.GR-14564 KIFISSIAT: +30 2106293400F: +30 2106201845

HUNGARYBaumaschinen Handel GmbH1140 VIENNAT: +43 1 577 22 88F: +43 1 577 22 88 - 13

Kohlschein2370 DABAST: +36 29 560 820F: +36 29 560 821

GROUND CONTROL 35

ICELANDÍshlutir EHF270 MOSFELLSBÃ_RT: +354 575 2400F: +354 575 2401

IRELANDHM Plant Ltd.HEBBURN, TYNE AND WEAR, NE31 2JZ,UNITED KINGDOMT: +44 191 430 8400F: +44 191 430 8500

ISRAELN. Feldman & Son Ltd.26111 HAIFA BAYT: +972 48471229F: +972 48411117

ITALYSCAI S.P.A06080 OSPEDALICCHIO BASTIA UMBRA(PG)T: +39 075801501F: +39 0758010142

KAZAHKSTAN, KYRGYZSTANTurkuaz Machinery480016 ALMATYT: +7 3272 731 995F: +7 3272 731 568

LATVIALaadur Baltic SiaLV-1002 RIGA-02T: +371 7500176F: +371 7500177

LITHUANIALaadur Baltija, UABLT-2038 VILNIUST: +370 5 2159672F: +370 5 2159674

LUXEMBOURGElsen-Traktor NVCOMPACT LINE3130 BEGIJNENDIJK (BETEKOM)T: +32 (0)165 665 44F: +32 (0)165 665 12


Firma Luyckx NV2960 BRECHTT: +32 (0)313 95 51F: +32 (0)313 90 40

MALTASCAI S.P.A06080 OSPEDALICCHIO BASTIA UMBRA(PG)T: +39 075801501F: +39 0758010142

NETHERLANDSHitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) N.V.DOMESTIC DEALER4903 RH OOSTERHOUTT: +31 (0)162-48-44-00F: +31 (0)162 48-44-40


NORWAYNanset Standard ASN-3255 LARVIKT: +47 (0)33 132 600F: +47 (0)33 114 552

POLANDTONA Sp z o.o41 - 940 PIEKARY SLASKIET: +48 322899533F: +48 32 3870229

PORTUGALMoviter Equipamentos Lda2400 823 LEIRIAT: +351 244 850240F: +351 244 850241

ROMANIASTAR WEST CO.410605 ORADEAT: +40 259 425 224F: +40 259 425 225

RUSSIAHitachi Construction Machinery Co., LtdRussia OfficeMOSCOW, 105005T: +7 (0)495-933-5133F: +7 (0)495-933-5130

Tech Stroy Contract125315, MOSCOWT: +7 495 609 6090F: +7 495 609 6090

SOUTH AFRICAHitachi Construction Machinery SouthernAfrica Co., Ltd.1508 DUNSWARTT: +27 11-894-7700F: +27 11-894-1835

SPAINHispano Japonesa De Maquinaria, S.L.24300 BEMBIBRE (LÉON)T: +34 987464046F: +34 987463072

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) N.V.Iberia Office28002 MADRIDT: +34 (0)917 459 900F: +34 (0)917 457 441

Intertrack & Expormac S.A.LOS BALDIOS38291 LA LAGUNAT: +34 (0)922 630 633 / +34 (0) 922 632 801F: +34 (0)922 632 737

Moviter Equipamentos Lda.28022 MADRIDT: +34 (0)913 291 819F: +34 (0)913 292 517

Serex S.A.24560 TORAL DELOS VADOST: +34 (0) 987 545 805F: +34 (0) 987 544 280

SWEDENDelvator AB24138 ESLÖVT: +46 (0)413 69 200F: +46 (0)413 69 218

SWITZERLANDProbst Maveg AG.CH-3250 LYSST: +41 (0)32 387 0808F: +41 (0)32 387 0802

TUNISIASACMI1080 TUNIST: +216 70 837 800F: +216 70 838 951

SEIMA1001 TUNIST: +216 71 334 923F: +216 71 330 177

TURKEYEnka Pazarlama Ihracat Ithalat A.S.81700-TUZLA ISTANBULT: +90 216 446 6464F: +90 216 395 1340

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) N.V.MIDDLE EAST CENTER – ISTANBUL OFFICE80300 ZINCIRLIKUYU ISTANBULT: +90 212 275 3322F: +90 212 273 1243

UKRAINEHitachi Construction Machinery Co., LtdRussia OfficeMOSCOW, 105005T: +7 (0)495-933-5133F: +7 (0)495-933-5130

Euromash Ltd.01013 UKRAINET: +380 44 5457135F: +380 44 545 7136

UNITED ARAB EMIRATESHitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. Middle East CenterPO BOX 61052 JEBEL ALI FREE ZONE,DUBAIT: +971-(0)4-883-3352F: +971-(0)4-883-3368

Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & SonsAL AWIR ROADT: +961 (0)4 330 752F: +961 (0)4 330 902

UNITED KINGDOMHitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) N.V. -UK OfficeLOWER BRISTOL ROADBATH BA2 3EWT: +44 (0) 1225 402 302F: +44 (0) 1225 402 301

HM Plant LTD.HEBBURN, TYNE AND WEAR, NE31 2JZUNITED KINGDOMT: +44 1914308400F: +44 1914308500

UZBEKISTAN Turkuazmachinery2ND FLOOR19, B. ZOKIROV STREETT: +99 890 187 1505, +998 71 150 25 28F: +998 71 150 25 38

The NEW generation ofwheeled excavators

Experience the new generation of Zaxis-3wheeled excavators on stand F5 504/1

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV www.hcme.com Siciliëweg 5 haven 5112 1045 AT Amsterdam The Netherlands T: +31-(0)20 44 76 700 F: +31-(0)20 44 76 750

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