Skip to main content

Hitachi restructuring its European factories

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) intends to reorganise its European manufacturing operations. The firm has two factories in Oosterhout and Amsterdam and is making the change in a bid to boost both efficiency and competitiveness, with this move planned to be complete by April 2018. The current Oosterhout factory is to focus its entire operation on mini and compact excavators, ranging from 1-8tonnes. Hitachi says that its market share in this segment has risen significantly in recent years
March 14, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Hitachi is reorganising its European manufacturing operations in a bid to boost capacity
233 Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (1139 HCME) intends to reorganise its European manufacturing operations. The firm has two factories in Oosterhout and Amsterdam and is making the change in a bid to boost both efficiency and competitiveness, with this move planned to be complete by April 2018.

The current Oosterhout factory is to focus its entire operation on mini and compact excavators, ranging from 1-8tonnes. Hitachi says that its market share in this segment has risen significantly in recent years and the move will help to meet growing demand by increasing production by more than 50%.

Hitachi will also set up a new distribution centre, which together with the Oosterhout factory will serve as a hub for the delivery of mini and compact excavators. Customers will benefit from considerably shorter delivery times.

Hitachi has made several investments in the Oosterhout factory in recent years, which have vastly improved its overall efficiency and quality standards.

In line with the restructure, production of the ZX85 excavator will move from the Amsterdam factory to Oosterhout. Assembly of Hitachi’s special application machines (including demolition, super long front and clamshell telescopic arm excavators) will move to the Amsterdam factory from Oosterhout later this year. HCME is confident that there will be no compulsory redundancies and any permanent staff affected by the restructure will be redeployed elsewhere within the company.

HCME Director Production and Procurement, Kazutoshi Yoshioka said, “The main objective of the factory restructure is to increase production efficiency and performance in response to growing demand. This is one of the many steps we are taking as a world-leading construction machinery supplier that continuously strives to meet its customers’ needs. I am confident that our competitive position in the market will be enhanced as a result, so that we can continue to be relied upon as a trusted business partner by our customers.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Moffat's app-arent sales solution
    November 12, 2012
    Moffat Consulting & Technology has developed an interactive information application (App) for a leading used construction equipment and machinery supply firm. European Plant & Machinery Sales (EPMS) is the latest company to have a new interactive iPhone / iPad App developed for them by Moffat, the technology arm of Resale Weekly. According to EPMS, the App will improve the overall satisfaction and efficiency of potential buyers and sellers in the global marketplace. The new EPM App, as it has become known,
  • Innovations are pushing boundaries in the concrete road paving sector
    February 18, 2013
    The concrete road paving market continues to develop - Mike Woof reports Concrete road paving technology continues to evolve, with new equipment and techniques coming to market. Although concrete road construction has been used for many years, problems with early generation technologies affected this market segment. The first concrete roads were constructed in sections, which led to problems at joints but these were addressed many years ago with the advent of slipform paving. Concrete roads constructed in t
  • SDLG aims to be top Chinese brand
    April 20, 2016
    SDLG has set itself a target to become China’s number one construction brand by 2021. Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery (known as Lingong), said it is already spending 10% of its sales revenues on research and development, and it claims up to 70% market share in a number of countries for its wheeled loaders, its largest-selling product.
  • Chinese firms embrace CONNEXPO-CON/AGG 2017
    March 21, 2017
    Chinese construction manufacturers were out in full force at the recent CONEXPO/CON-AGG 2017 in Las Vegas. Nearly 130 original equipment manufacturers and their supply Chinese supply chain component makers were represented – the most at any previous CONEXPO/CONAGG event. OEMs included XCMG, Sany, Zoomlion, Shantui, Sunward, LiuGong and SDLG. Nick Yaksich, senior vice-president of AEM – the US’s Association of Equipment Manufacturers and which organised the event - said the large Chinese contingent