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 excavator introductions from Doosan and Hitachi
    November 26, 2021
    The crawler excavator market is highly competitive and Doosan and Hitachi are keeping up the pressure with the introduction of high performing new models
  • Cat's new mini excavators
    February 7, 2012
    The new Caterpillar D Series mini hydraulic excavators, (303.5D CR, 304D CR, 305D CR and 305.5D CR) are said to be powerful, versatile, compact-radius machines that work comfortably in confined spaces and build on the quality design and reliability of their C Series predecessors (303C CR, 303.5C CR, 304C CR and 305C CR). With model designations closely reflecting their operating weights (3.5-5.5tonnes), the new machines feature enhanced stability for greater productivity, a redesigned work-tool coupler, loa
  • OEMs unveil raft of major new excavator and wheeled loader models
    May 13, 2025
    Original equipment manufacturers have launched a range of new excavators and wheeled loaders including electric models, and features such as autonomous driving, remote control advanced driver assistance and special applications. Liam McLoughlin reports.
  • Danish days for a Hitachi ZW220-6 wheel loader
    February 6, 2018
    A new Hitachi ZW220-6 wheeled loader has been delivered to Jysk Kloak Entreprise, a sewage and landscaping contractor in Tjæreborg on the coast of Denmark. It is the latest addition to the company’s Hitachi fleet, which includes a ZX250LC-6 medium and three mini excavators , the ZX10U-2, ZX18-3 and ZX27-3. “We needed the most versatile model available for our requirements,” said company owner Jan Christensen. Fitted with additional lights and a larger 4m³ bucket, the wheeled loader was supplied in Februa