Skip to main content

Hitachi upgrades European mini excavator facility

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) has upgraded its European mini excavator factory to boost manufacturing efficiency. The firm has officially opened its mini and compact excavator factory at Oosterhout, in the Netherlands. The new 8,000m2 facility is the result of an extensive modernisation programme, which commenced in January 2018. The firm says that the upgrade will increase efficiency at the factory that is responsible for producing the ZX10 to ZX85 models. It will also meet the growing
July 19, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Hitachi has officially opened its new mini excavator facility in the Netherlands

233 Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (1139 HCME) has upgraded its European mini excavator factory to boost manufacturing efficiency. The firm has officially opened its mini and compact excavator factory at Oosterhout, in the Netherlands. The new 8,000m2 facility is the result of an extensive modernisation programme, which commenced in January 2018.

The firm says that the upgrade will increase efficiency at the factory that is responsible for producing the ZX10 to ZX85 models. It will also meet the growing demand for Hitachi mini and compact excavators across Europe.

The factory’s general manager, Marco Verhoef, said, “We have already doubled our output since 2014 from 2,500 to 5,000 machines by 2018. The renovation of the factory was necessary to help us grow further, and will enable us to produce more than 7,000 machines/year, according to market demand.”

As part of the upgrade, a state-of-the-art, semi-automatic assembly line has been installed, as well as new equipment and paint booths. The staff at the factory have adopted a new approach, which means completing tasks within a certain amount of time, optimising work flow. Inventory has also been reduced by following the latest lean manufacturing methods.


“Thanks to all of our dedicated personnel, we now have a fully redesigned and modernised factory, and are very proud of what we have achieved. We are ready for the future, to supply more machines at shorter delivery times and lower costs.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • NUH Cement sticks with Hitachi
    July 30, 2012
    The cement factory with the highest output in Europe can be found some 130km east of Istanbul, Turkey, and belongs to NUH Cement. In 2007 the company's quarry in Hereke produced 4.3 million tonnes of limestone, and after on-site processing with additives such as gypsum, iron oxide and coal, this resulted in a yield of 5 million tonnes of Portland cement. Founded in 1966, the company's mission statement is to "serve Turkey's development programme with its production of cement, and huge investments in facilit
  • Capital move by Turkish Hitachi dealer
    July 31, 2012
    ENKA Pazarlama, one of the longest-serving distributors of Hitachi Constriction Machinery (Europe)/HCME, has opened a new branch in Turkey's capital city, Ankara. ENKA Pazarlama has been serving the Turkish market with Hitachi excavators, wheel loaders and crawler cranes since 1981. The new 12,000m² development is the latest addition to the Turkish dealer's branch network, which includes a number of regional offices, service centres and sub-dealers. Founded in 1972 ENKA Pazarlama is a sub-division of the la
  • Versatile small construction equipment
    February 9, 2012
    Smaller construction equipment offers versatile options, particularly on highway repair and maintenance projects. Patrick Smith reports. Visitors to any highway construction site across the world will see a sizeable amount of utility equipment in action carrying out a variety of tasks. Indeed, because of its smaller, more compact size, such multi-task equipment is essential when repair and maintenance projects are being carried out, particularly in urban areas where space may be limited.
  • Easily transportable mini excavator
    March 2, 2012
    HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (Europe)/(HCME) has expanded its popular range of mini excavators with the introduction of the ZX27-3, a model which is said to be easily transportable, and to offer improved handling, comfort and safety. Joep van den Maagdenberg, HCME product sales manager Compact Line (EMEA), said: "The ZX27-3 is a highly versatile machine and is suitable for a broad range of applications, including utilities and general groundworks. Like all Zaxis minis, it is easy to operate and this model