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 Zaxis 5 excavators deliver improved performance
    January 6, 2017
    Hitachi Construction Machinery has introduced a hydraulic technology known as TRIAS on its Dash-5 Zaxis excavators from the ZX210LC-5 to the ZX350LC-5. Developed to reduce fuel consumption, the system uses three hydraulic pumps and a control valve, which efficiently divides the flow from the pumps into each actuator as required.
  • Hitachi Zaxis 5 excavators deliver improved performance
    April 16, 2013
    Hitachi Construction Machinery has introduced a hydraulic technology known as TRIAS on its Dash-5 Zaxis excavators from the ZX210LC-5 to the ZX350LC-5. Developed to reduce fuel consumption, the system uses three hydraulic pumps and a control valve, which efficiently divides the flow from the pumps into each actuator as required.
  • CJ Holmes choose Hyundai Machines for new Plant-Hire business
    May 23, 2016
    CJ Holmes & Son, a family-run company in, Skegness, UK, has opened a plant hire business, CJ Holmes Plant and Tool Hire. The new company has 12 machines in its fleet which includes 10-Hyundai machines ranging in operating weights from 1.7tonne up to 22tonne. All are supplied by Hyundai dealer EP Industries, based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. Managing director Chris Holmes said one of the main reasons Hyundai machines were chosen is for their reliability meaning they very low maintenance machines and down-
  • Soil improvement vs stabilisation: Wirtgen’s WR 250 in the US
    November 28, 2018
    Many invitations to tender continue to specify that the soil is to be exchanged. However, soil stabilisation is fast becoming a preferred option when it comes to ensuring the load-bearing capacity and quality of soil in preparation for road construction. The targeted addition of stabilising agents can help reduce the moisture content of soil, which is vital for roadworks. Compared to exchanging the entire soil, soil stabilisation is an economical and resource-saving method. Cost savings result from simpl