Skip to main content

Hitachi digs deep in Paris

A Hitachi excavator has enabled the creation of a subterranean six-floor car park in the centre of Paris. The ZX225USRLC-3 was used to dig deep below ground in the French capital and remove 65,000m³ of earth before construction of the facility could begin. For Saperfe Travaux Publics, a sub-contractor working on the project, the Hitachi machine was the only specialist equipment required. The clamshell telescopic arm of the ZX225USRLC-3 can reach depths of up to 25m.
February 15, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The Hitachi ZX225USRLC-3 excavator was used to dig deep below ground in paris
A 233 Hitachi excavator has enabled the creation of a subterranean six-floor car park in the centre of Paris.

The ZX225USRLC-3 was used to dig deep below ground in the French capital and remove 65,000m³ of earth before construction of the facility could begin.

For Saperfe Travaux Publics, a sub-contractor working on the project, the Hitachi machine was the only specialist equipment required. The clamshell telescopic arm of the ZX225USRLC-3 can reach depths of up to 25m.

At the site, the small footprint achieved with the zero-tail swing maximised productivity as it enabled trucks to stop directly adjacent to the excavator for immediate loading. As a result, the Hitachi excavator loaded each of the 13 trucks productively.

According to operator Marco Ferreira, the ZX225USRLC-3 was ideal for digging deep below ground and beyond the range of conventional excavators.

"The extension/retraction device in the arm moves quickly to enable a smooth telescopic movement. The sliding cab and extended window make it comfortable to operate," he said.

According to Hitachi, the ZX225USRLC-3 also coped well with the earth's high-water content which presented the toughest challenge. As the ground was so soft, a network of pipes was used to hold the car park's underground structure in place.

The excavator had to work in and around these pipes, which proved a delicate task.

Site manager Laurent Petain explains: "The excavator worked in 5.5m deep sections at a time and had to be extremely precise." Supplied by official French Hitachi dealer Payen, the ZX225USRLC-3 is the third Hitachi addition to the Saperfe fleet. The company also has a ZX210W-3 wheeled excavator and a ZX25 mini excavator.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New Zaxis, new performance
    July 4, 2012
    Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has announced a significant new addition to its popular Zaxis-3 range of excavators, the ZX14-3, highlighting a new level of performance. Filling an important gap in the 1-2 tonne class, the new model has been developed to compete in the general construction sector and strengthens the Japanese manufacturer's position in the mini excavator market. Basic and durable, the ZX14-3 is easy to operate, while its compact and lightweight design allows it to be transported by t
  • Growth in a versatile workforce
    July 19, 2012
    Some of the biggest names in the construction industry have released innovative new utility machines and equipment in the first few months of 2012. Guy Woodford looks at some of the latest models To mark the 25th anniversary of the Bobcat compact excavaor range, the Doosan-owned company recently unveiled a new limited edition version of the Bobcat E16. The special 1.6 tonne model is said by the company to provide an attractive complement to the also new and enhanced versions of both the E16 and 1.4tonne E1
  • Volvo adds punch and precision to 3&4tonne compact excavators
    March 16, 2016
    The new ECR35D, EC35D and ECR40D compact excavators from Volvo Construction Equipment feature comfortable cabs and advanced, easy-to-use controls for precise operation. The ECR35D and ECR40D short swing versions are designed to work with power and precision in tight spaces. The more conventionally designed EC35D features similar architecture and delivers high levels of comfort, performances and versatility. The cabs are FOPS, TOPS and ROPS rated with a large door and three-point-access to allow saf
  • Utility machine innovations coming to market
    December 1, 2022
    A wide array of new items of compact utility equipment are coming to market, with low emissions and noise as key machine trends