Fifty years in business in Europe and looking to the future. Jubilee HCME builds next generation

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) is celebrating its birthday. The company, founded in Oosterhout in 1972, has turned 50. Looking back is nice, but the focus is on the future. Work is underway on new generations and electrification of some of the extensive machinery.

Within two years after Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (HCM) was founded in Japan, the European branch took shape in Oosterhout and began assembling excavators and cranes. In the 1990s, wheel loaders were added to the product range. Meanwhile, HCME's headquarters have long been located in the Amsterdam port area and it employs more than 500 people.

HCME President Takaharu Ikeda is grateful to them, "We look forward to celebrating our past successes with our employees, their families and our suppliers and dealers. It is thanks to their passion and dedication that we can celebrate this remarkable milestone." HCME will also show how much the "golden" anniversary means to the company at the major equipment trade fair Bauma, to be held in Munich in October, among other things with a special logo.

Sustainable future

HCME President Ikeda said, "Together, we are embracing the future and its challenges as we strive to become the first choice solution provider for our customers to help build a better, sustainable future for all." Electrification of machinery is an important step forward in this regard. One of the first examples is the ZE85, "the green machine" for the construction industry. This 8.7-ton excavator operates emission-free and low-noise, making it ideal for use in enclosed spaces, in residential areas or in areas where internal combustion engines are prohibited.

The ZE85 is prepared to operate on battery or cable only and can automatically switch between the two power sources. The built-in charger has a maximum 44 kW (63 A) charging capacity. With the 100 kWh battery, the charging time is 105 minutes. Meanwhile, work is underway on a mobile "plug-and-play" solution. This would allow a ZE85 with 100 kWh battery to be fully charged in just 45 minutes.

ZX-7 excavators

Even in the more traditional machines, improvements are constantly being made. This has led to the Zaxis-7 series in excavators and wheel loaders. It is a fuel-efficient series with Stage V engine, the first models of which are now available in Europe. Take the Hitachi ZX220W-7 wheeled excavator with its newly designed cab. The operator has more space and comfort and experiences reduced vibration and low noise levels. The cab offers excellent visibility of the job site, thanks in part to the slim steering column (with increased angle of adjustment) and smaller steering wheel. Visibility is further enhanced by the 270-degree bird's eye view of the Aerial Angle camera system. The monitor offers a choice of six image options for viewing the immediate surroundings.

Safest wheel loader

Other nice news is wheel loader ZW310-7, also with Stage V diesel engine. Hitachi calls it "the safest machine on the market," thanks to excellent all-round visibility and intelligent systems. In particular, visibility at the rear and on both sides of the narrow hood is excellent. Again, the Aerial Angle camera system gives a 270-degree bird's eye view, while the obstacle detection system lets you know immediately if something is (too) close to the rear of the machine.

In the new cab, operators will find features such as an improved seat with mounted electric control levers, new monitor controls and a convenient side switch panel. The payload control system allows for more accurate truck loading, saving time and money. Fuel consumption can be monitored instantly thanks to the new ECO gauge, and various adjustable features improve overall performance.