Kenya-based cement producer Mombasa Cement Limited (MCL) has invested in a second Hitachi EX-1900-6 large mining excavator procured through Rock Plant, the official dealer of Hitachi Construction Machinery in Kenya and the East Africa.
The EX-1900-6 is a large excavator known for its strong horsepower, efficient engines, advanced hydraulics, tough frames, powerful arm and bucket-digging and breaking forces. The excavator is available in both front-shovel and backhoe configurations. The EX-1900-6 acquired by MCL is equipped with a ripper.
MCL is one of East Africa’s leading cement producer with an annual capacity of 1.8 million metric tonnes of cement and 1 million metric tonnes of clinker. The current plant size is 1663 acres and will be expanded to almost 2800 acres. Having started with soil (limestone) production at a rate of 4000 tons per day, MCL increased its capacity to 12,000 tons per day with Hitachi ZX870 excavators. With the addition of the second Hitachi EX1900-6, MCL could increase its production capacity to 19,000 tons per day.
Hasmukh Patel, CEO, Mombasa Cement, said: “Hitachi offers durable machines with unbeatable uptime, and the Rock Plant team provides 24/7, around-the-clock support. That’s why we continue to partner with them.”
MCL took delivery of its first EX-1900-6 excavator in 2017. With its latest acquisition, the company has expanded its fleet of Hitachi machines to 40 units including the ZX870 and ZX350 excavators, ZW310 and ZW180 wheel loaders, and HSC SCX2800-2A crane.
Pritpal Roopra, managing director, Rock Plant, said: “We have been supplying Hitachi machines to MCL since 2011. The second EX1900-6 excavator is identical to their first machine, and it’s the first Hitachi machine in the world used for constant ripping.”
Piet van Bakergem, general manager, Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East Corporation, commented: “The construction and infrastructure sectors in East Africa are expected to see solid growth over the coming years, as evident from the expansion plans of companies such as MCL.
The EX-1900-6 is designed to work 24 hours and thus helps increase productivity on a large scale in the toughest working environments. The reliability of our machines in combination with a strong product support operation will support us in reaching our targets in the years to come.”
