Skip to main content

Zaxis-5s biggest-ever project

Norwegian contractor Carl C Fon has secured its largest-ever road construction contract to complete a 4.6km section of the E18 in the Mysen region of its home country. It started the €25million project in August 2012 and it is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2014.
January 27, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
Carl C Fon has engaged a total of nine Hitachi excavators on the project
Norwegian contractor 7596 Carl C Fon has secured its largest-ever road construction contract to complete a 4.6km section of the E18 in the Mysen region of its home country. It started the €25million project in August 2012 and it is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2014.

The Sandefjord-based company’s fleet of 233 Hitachi Zaxis excavators and other construction equipment has been moving 600,000m³ of soil and 300,000m³ of other materials. There is a large deficit of Stone on the land, which consists mainly of clay, and this is being overcome by bringing in aggregates from a national rail construction project at Holmestrand.

The E18 European route runs from Craigavon in Northern Ireland, through parts of Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden and Finland, to Saint Petersburg in Russia. Within the overall route, Carl C Fon’s demanding E18 contract will create an impressive new four-lane highway, complete with central reservation and a 100kph speed limit. It will also include the construction of four new bridges and a 150m tunnel. The traffic will be moved on to the new southbound road in September 2013, allowing for the completion of the northbound carriageway.

The old route – which will remain open for local traffic – has only two lanes, with variable speed limits of between 50 and 80kph. The overall aims of the E18 expansion project in the Mysen region are to enhance road safety – by avoiding urban areas – and reduce journey times.

Carl C Fon has engaged a Total of nine Hitachi excavators on the project (one wheeled and eight crawler machines), including the new ZX250LC-5, two ZX470LCH-5s and a ZX670LCH-5, Plus five articulated dump trucks, two bulldozers and two other excavators. A team of 30-35 personnel has been working on the project on an 11-hour, four-day (Monday to Thursday) week.

“This is the biggest job that the company has worked on to date,” said owner Carl Christian Fon. “Prior to this, our largest contract would have been around €8million. As the main contractor, we are responsible for everything from the drainage to the earthmoving and construction of the highway up to, but not including, the asphalt, bridges and concrete work.

“The ground here is relatively soft, due to the high clay content, and so we are using the lightest machinery that the job will allow. We have invested in a range of new Zaxis-5 excavators from the official Hitachi dealer Nasta to cope with the increased workload. Nasta provides us with an excellent after-sales service, with its team of highly skilled and experienced personnel.”

Fon said that the Total cost of ownership was very important to his firm. “We assess the running costs and resale value of each machine before making a purchase decision,” he explained.  “Hitachi is certainly very strong in these areas. It also leads the way with the overall quality of the hydraulics and design, and our operators enjoy working with the Zaxis machines.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Italy's strategic tunnel link
    August 21, 2012
    The world's largest tunnelling machine is completing Italy's important road connection between Bologna and Florence - Adrian Greeman reports For just under a decade a huge programme of highway construction has been underway in the mountainous region between Bologna and Florence, realigning a section of the A1 highway nearly 70km long. The new section, through major tunnels and across high viaducts, will greatly increase capacity on Italy's most important highway.
  • Poland's A1 motorway progressing well
    February 9, 2012
    The second major phase of a north-south motorway in Poland is well underway. It will reduce congestion and improve safety as Patrick Smith reports Before the whistle blows to herald the start of Euro 2012, Poland's main seaport Gdansk will boast new roads, a new airport and a new stadium. The historic city in the north of the country on the Baltic coast will be one of the venues for football's 14th European Championship, being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.
  • Auckland Harbour bridge celebrates 50 years
    April 5, 2012
    The bridge over Auckland Harbour celebrates its half century this year, and it has been given a major upgrade to ensure that safety is maintained in New Zealand's largest city. Mary Searle reports. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, home to nearly a third of the entire country's population. It's a sprawling metropolis, and its 1.3 million people are spread over 637km² of city, suburbs and islands. The Auckland Harbour Bridge, which celebrates its 50th birthday in May, is a vital link in the city's road
  • Auckland Harbour bridge celebrates 50 years
    February 22, 2012
    The bridge over Auckland Harbour celebrates its half century this year, and it has been given a major upgrade to ensure that safety is maintained in New Zealand's largest city. Mary Searle reports. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, home to nearly a third of the entire country's population. It's a sprawling metropolis, and its 1.3 million people are spread over 637km² of city, suburbs and islands. The Auckland Harbour Bridge, which celebrates its 50th birthday in May, is a vital link in the city's road