Ground Control 14 - Luyckx

NEWSAnother first for HitachiZaxis-5 range unveiled at TKDHitachi launches ZW250-5wheel loaderFollowing the successful launch of its Zaxis-5 excavators,Hitachi has unveiled the first of its ZW-5 wheel loaders. The newZW250-5 has been designed to comply with EU regulations onemission standards and satisfy the requirements of Europeancustomers. It offers an exceptional level of comfort, excellentproductivity, advanced technology, and a range of features forenhanced sustainability, safety and easy maintenance.The cab is more spacious than the previous model and it hasgreater visibility thanks to a pillar-less windshield and large sunvisor. The 7.8-litre six-cylinder water-cooled turbo engine enablesa powerful digging performance, impressive travel speeds andexcellent fuel consumption.An example of its advanced technology is the quick powerswitch, which boosts the power when required by changing workmodes. One work mode is for regular operations, with the benefitof efficient fuel consumption; the other is for more demandingjobs and increases productivity.The sustainability of the ZW250-5 is highlighted by the mufflerfilter. It captures air pollutants, which are automatically burntthanks to an oxidation catalyst and exhaust temperature control.Easy maintenance features include the redesigned engine andradiator cover, which can be opened fully to provide quick accessfor daily inspection.Wilbert Blom, HCME International Sales, says, “We believethat the new ZW wheel loader not only meets our customers’expectations of high quality and reliability, but also providesa safe working environment, a comfortable cab with easy-to-usecontrols, and overall, a machine that responds quicklyand precisely.”The first Hitachi hybrid excavator has been presented to theEuropean market. Developed using decades of experience inhydraulic, battery-powered and electric excavator technologies,the ZH200 model was presented earlier this year at the Intermatexhibition.Better for the environment, easier for the operator and moreeconomical for the owner, the ZH200 hybrid heralds the startof a new generation of Hitachi excavators. It is equipped witha high-performance TRIAS HX system – a combination of ahybrid system with the energy-efficient TRIAS hydraulic system.This reduces fuel consumption and CO2 by 20 per cent (fuelconsumption is compared with the ZX210-3 in P-mode).The excavator’s user-friendly design incorporates a monitoringsystem, which highlights fuel usage on an average hourly anddaily basis. It also features low maintenance and highly durableelectrical components.Yusuke Kajita, General Manager of the Construction EquipmentDevelopment Centre at Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.,says: “Technically advanced machines make Hitachi stand outfrom the crowd. Advanced technology is necessary to maintainour position in the market – not just for the hydraulics and engine,but also for electrical technology.“Hitachi is the biggest electrical products manufacturer in Japanand so we are very strong in this area. So, when fossil fuels are inshort supply and become more expensive, electrical technologywill be the key to the future and we will be in an excellent positionto capitalise on this.”Unique paint process forfactoryHitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) hasimplemented a unique process to reduce chemical waste fromthe painting process at its factory in Amsterdam. Developed incooperation with Advantage Chemicals Ltd., the process willsave an estimated €60,000 per year on labour and energy costs,as well as disposal costs for waste water and sludge.The old painting process produced approximately 260 tonnesof waste per year. The paint would sink to the bottom of the poolof water beneath the paint facility. Twice a year, the pool had tobe cleaned, and the water and paint had to be removed, whichwas costly in terms of labour, energy, water and waste removal.HCME Production Engineering Manager Robin Huijsman, whois also Compliance Officer for Environmental Regulation, says,“Cleaning the pool was a difficult and dirty job. With the newsystem, we are able to remove the overspray paint and reuse thewater. The facility is cleaner and the filtering system that removespaint particles from the air functions better. Less solvents arereleased into the factory air and there is less dust.”The new process combines real-time CoAg (coagulation)systems with waste water treatment systems. Instead of sinking,the paint is suspended in the water and pumped to a wastetreatment tank. “Advantage Chemicals developed a chemicalthat makes the paint float. What is really innovative is that we onlyneed to run this process for four hours per month,” adds Robin.“The floating paint sludge is then skimmed off the top of thetank and is estimated at 30 tonnes per year. The new systemhas improved the overall carbon footprint of the HCME factoryin Amsterdam.”The biennial TKD (Technische Kontakt Dagen) event took place inWezep, The Netherlands in June. The three-day exhibition is one ofthe most important for the domestic market of Hitachi ConstructionMachinery (Europe) NV (HCME). It allows visitors to test driveconstruction machinery on display and make comparisons betweencompetitive products.HCME and its domestic dealer took the opportunity to present thenew Zaxis-5 excavators to the Dutch market. Several models wereon display, including the ZX250LC-5, ZX290LC-5, ZX350LC-5 andZX470LCH-5. The manufacturer also showcased the ZX250LC-5with a 15-metre super long front and a ZX470LCH-5 with a25-metre demolition front.Dutch owners and operators were drawn to the Hitachi standby two other special attractions: the new ZW250-5 wheel loaderand the ZH200 hybrid excavator. Both were on display in TheNetherlands for the first time. In addition, the ZX60USB-3 miniexcavator, ZX145W-3 wheeled excavator and the ZW150 wheelloader were available to test drive and proved extremely popularamong visitors.Director of Domestic Sales Pieter Weerts was pleased to see manyexisting Hitachi customers at this year’s TKD and delighted with theresponse to the stand: “The exhibition has been a huge successonce again, with 20,000 visitors. I think people were particularlyimpressed by the Hitachi stand because it was spacious, with lotsof machines to try out and one of the few to show larger machinesover 25 tonnes at work.”04 Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NVGROUND CONTROL 05