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

  • Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) aims to be number one
    January 6, 2017
    Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has ambitions to be the number one construction equipment supplier in Europe, revealed president and CEO Moriaki Kadoya. He was speaking at INTERMAT 2015 where his company unveiled a host of new products.
  • Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) aims to be number one
    April 22, 2015
    Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has ambitions to be the number one construction equipment supplier in Europe, revealed president and CEO Moriaki Kadoya. He was speaking at INTERMAT 2015 where his company unveiled a host of new products.
  • Hitachi appoints dealer in Latvia
    November 30, 2012
    Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) has appointed Repa SIA as its new dealer for customers in Latvia. Repa, who replace Laadur OU, was established in 1991 as a dealer for used construction equipment. The head office is located in Riga and includes a 280m² office and 600m² workshops. The company employs seven sales personnel, ten technicians and six administrative staff. A subsidiary of the MONO Group, one of the largest enterprises in Latvia, and owner of companies specialising in highway engi
  • ECT's sustainability in action
    February 7, 2012
    French company ECT (Enviro Conseil Travaux) has opted to take advantage of the Caterpillar Certified Power Train (CPT) rebuild service for two of its Cat 740 Ejector articulated trucks. These are the first rebuilds worldwide for articulated trucks, and both were carried out by the French Cat dealer Bergerat Monnoyeur. What you get with CPT: Restores power train to like-new performance, Covers radiator, engine, transmission, torque converter, final drive and axle, Approximately 200 tests and inspections of p