Hitachi Construction Machinery: the excavator specialist

Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) is a Japanese manufacturer best known for hydraulic excavators. Its orange machines, sold under the Zaxis name, are a common sight on construction sites in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, and its giant EX-series shovels load trucks in many of the world's largest mines.

History

Hitachi built its first mechanical excavator in 1949 and its first all-hydraulic excavator, the UH03, in 1965. The construction machinery business was established as a separate company in 1970. For decades Hitachi excavators were sold in the Americas in green paint through a joint venture with John Deere; that partnership ended in 2022, and Hitachi now sells under its own brand in North America. Hitachi also builds wheel loaders (originally from a joint venture with Kawasaki), rigid dump trucks and, in some markets, compact equipment.

What Hitachi is known for

• Smooth, precise hydraulics that operators often describe as the best in the industry for fine grading and lifting.
• Reliability and long life, which gives used Hitachi excavators strong resale value.
• Mining: ultra-class shovels such as the EX5600 and electric-drive trucks like the EH5000AC-3.

Lineup

Mini, compact, medium and large excavators, wheel loaders, mining shovels and rigid haul trucks.