Skip to main content

Hitachi ZX135US-5 and ZX210LC-5 excavators work in Sjodalen valley

Norwegian contractor Skogen has started building a service road for a log-cabin development in Norway’s Sjodalen valley. More than 90 of the 120m2 cabins are being constructed to order and the project is scheduled to be completed within the next 12 months. The Vågå-based company was set up in 1982 by owner Ola Skogen and is firmly focused on general construction activities including groundworks and roads, as well as foundations, drainage and utilities for log cabins. The contractor’s medium excavat
July 7, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
Hitachi logs time in Sjodalen valley
Norwegian contractor Skogen has started building a service road for a log-cabin development in Norway’s Sjodalen valley.

More than 90 of the 120m2 cabins are being constructed to order and the project is scheduled to be completed within the next 12 months.

The Vågå-based company was set up in 1982 by owner Ola Skogen and is firmly focused on general construction activities including groundworks and roads, as well as foundations, drainage and utilities for log cabins.

The contractor’s medium excavator fleet is now 100% 233 Hitachi from which the company deployed a ZX135US-5 and ZX210LC-5 to start work at the scenic location. Sjodalen is a wide, gently sloping valley in southern Norway and in which flows the river Sjoa from the deep mountain lake Gjende.

Skogen’s strategy is to use relatively new machinery. So after each model reaches between  6,000-7,000 working hours it is updated from the authorised Hitachi construction machinery dealer in Norway, Nasta. “This is especially the case for the latest generation of Zaxis excavators,” said Ola Skogen. “which has comparatively low fuel consumption and overall running costs.”

The company’s Zaxis excavators are supplied with HELP - Hitachi Extended Life Programme - extended warranty and service contracts. With a duration of five years/8,000 hours, this level of cover allows the contractor to plan ahead with fixed costs and well maintained equipment.

Rune Morten Ryen has been working as an operator with Skogen for 15 years. “The ZX135US-5 is so versatile,” he explained of his previous machine. “You can use it wherever you want, even in gardens and between buildings. The cab is spacious and well equipped for our needs. It’s easy to turn and manoeuvre, plus the short-tail swing is hugely beneficial in confined spaces.”

He has recently been allocated to the ZX210LC-5. “It is very stable, powerful and offers more capacity. This is the machine’s first job and it’s been useful to test it with different attachments, such as the hammer, which is only required occasionally to break up rock. The monitor is also useful for checking information and the rear-view camera is ideal.

“The two machines are working well together and they have proved to be a strong combination for this job. They can operate in restricted areas and there is enough power when we need it.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Hitachi’s new ZV-R and ZV-RLS vibratory rammers
    February 6, 2015
    Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has introduced the ZV-R and lightweight ZV-RLS series of vibratory rammers to its new range of light compaction equipment. Described as ideal for working in a variety of applications, including foundations and trenches in soil or sand, the models’ robust and compact design makes them extremely versatile, efficient to maintain and easy to transport between job sites. The Hitachi ZV-R and ZV-RLS series of vibratory rammers are user-friendly and offer a high power outp
  • Hitachi’s new ZV-R and ZV-RLS vibratory rammers
    January 6, 2017
    Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has introduced the ZV-R and lightweight ZV-RLS series of vibratory rammers to its new range of light compaction equipment. Described as ideal for working in a variety of applications, including foundations and trenches in soil or sand, the models’ robust and compact design makes them extremely versatile, efficient to maintain and easy to transport between job sites. The Hitachi ZV-R and ZV-RLS series of vibratory rammers are user-friendly and offer a high power outp
  • SDLG machines supporting growth in Ghana
    June 30, 2014
    As the West African country of Ghana has been maintaining consistent GDP growth, substantial investment in industry and infrastructure has followed. One leading Ghanaian company, Justmoh Group, is using SDLG equipment to help the country achieve its economic and social ambitions
  • Norway's bridge meets tough environmental targets
    May 2, 2012
    One of the world's longest bridges is being built in Norway – for traffic volumes of just 2,000 cars/day reports Adrian Greeman. The stunning landscape of the long sea fjords in Norway is one of its glories, attracting thousands of tourists every summer. But the high mountains and deep sea inlets are also one of the great obstacles to transport and development.