Increasing urban density and congestion are forcing construction contractors to opt for earthmoving equipment that they can transport easily from one location to another while minimising damage to streets and curbs. As a result, wheeled excavators are gaining popularity as alternatives to conventional crawler excavators because of their lifting capacities, stability and manoeuvrability.
Responding to these trends in the Middle East, Hitachi has relaunched its range of wheeled excavators in the region. The company showcased its revamped Zaxis range of excavators recently at the Big 5 Heavy 2018 expo held in Dubai.
The Zaxis range of wheeled excavators includes three models, the ZX170W-5A, ZX190W-5A and ZX210W-5A. The letter W in the model numbers indicates Hitachi’s wheeled range. All three models are equipped with Isuzu G1-4HK1X engines that meet Tier 3 emission standards.
According to Piet Bakergem, General Manager Marketing, Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East Corp., advantages of the new wheeled excavators compared to Hitachi’s conventional model ZXW-3 include lower running costs due to 10–14% reduction in fuel consumption in the PWR mode and increased performance with 6–7% higher lifting capacity and 6% more hydraulic lift power.
“The Zaxis ZX-5 range offers the same productivity and multi-function operations as the crawler excavators. An attachment replacement support system enhances the versatility of the machines. The excavators have features that enable to change set flows easily using a multifunctional monitor and register easy-to-remember names for each of the settings. In addition, the new models come with more ergonomic cabs with more legroom for operator comfort. The new door pillar is shifted rearward by 70mm to widen the entry space for easy access,” says Bakergem.
Hitachi Zaxis ZX210W-5A wheeled excavator.
Wim Aernouts, director, Middle East Crane Equipment Trading, the authorised dealer of Hitachi Construction Machinery, estimates that increase in road construction work in the region will create a new market for wheeled excavators, generally.
“These excavators are suitable for earthmoving, transporting materials and groundworks, and they have enhanced specs for road construction work. We are offering attractive discounts to encourage buyers and boost market adoption of wheeled excavators. We will have fresh stock by Q32018,” says Aernouts.
Bakergem projects double digit growth for the Zaxis ZX-5 range despite uncertainties in the construction industry and the popularity of crawler excavators.
“Infrastructure spending and increase in road construction activity will drive the market for our wheeled excavators. Irrespective of economic trends, we’ve developed our machines for higher operating efficiency. These machines are easy and comfortable to operate. We aim to provide practical solutions to the specific challenges faced by our customers in the Middle East who demand simple, reliable machines and systems. They want to minimise machine downtime and reduce the burden on operators as much as possible, particularly when working in remote areas. That’s why we strongly believe our wheeled excavators will occupy a sweet spot in the market among all other types of excavators,” says Bakergem.
