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

  • Efficient recycling with FAE
    June 11, 2020
    FAE has updated its heavyweight, multitask attachment with improvements to the systems that control working depth and water injection
  • Doosan’s new 6 tonne compact excavators
    December 3, 2013
    Doosan has launched two new generation 6 tonne compact excavators, the new DX62R-3 reduced tail swing (RTS) and DX63-3 conventional tail swing models. Designed as replacements for the existing DX60R and DX55E machines, the new models are said to benefit from a significant improvement in hydraulic performance, through a 33% increase in maximum flow rate to 132l/min. The hydraulic system now also incorporates a load sensing system said to guarantee high hydraulic performance and smooth and efficient combined
  • Bobcat showcases compact excavators
    April 23, 2018
    Bobcat is showcasing its new 2-4 tonne compact excavators which it says provide better operator comfort, improved controllability and smoothness of all working functions. The company’s E26 has a transport weight reduced by around 40kg, increased over-the-side lifting capacity and a robust workgroup with a cylinder-inside-boom feature. Bobcat’s Zero House Swing E27z aims to deliver higher 360-degree stability and a lower weight for easier transportation. The model also features an optional long arm and
  • Smart excavators coming to market
    March 23, 2021
    New excavators coming to market offer a combination of increased performance and smart technology