Hitachi machines prove their productivity and reliability at Italian steelworks

Gap Services, part of the Piantoni Group, has invested in 10 Hitachi wheel loaders and medium excavators, ranging from -3, -5 to -6 machines, in the past two years. Three recent additions to its fleet are working in Cremona at the Arvedi steelworks, the largest in northern Italy.

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The Hitachi ZW310-6 and ZW250-5 wheel loaders, and a ZX290LCN-5 medium excavator, have been supplied by Gap Services to Ageco2, which is responsible for maintaining a 44,000m² stockyard owned by Arvedi. They arrived on site between February and March this year.

Two types of heavy and abrasive cast-iron materials are kept in stockpiles at the site. The first (Inertex) is sorted and crushed into three sizes (0-20, 20-40, 40-90mm), and is used for concrete, asphalt, sub-base and railway lines, filling material for construction and even ornamental fireplaces. The second product is recovered cast iron and white slag (Calcetek) and available in sizes 0-3 and 3-25mm.

At this site, 20-25 trucks per day deliver Inertex, and a further 10 trucks per day deliver Calcetek. The ZX290LCN-5 is used to move the materials and load the crusher. The two Hitachi wheel loaders move the materials into stockpiles of relevant sizes, and also keep the site tidy. They also load trucks transporting material to customers – 30% goes to private customers in the local area and 70% is used for public works projects.

Director Alberto Gallini says: “We are very happy with our investment in Hitachi machines, the machines are good and our operators are happy. The Hitachi name is a guarantee in itself of quality and reliability. I have seen how the machines have evolved from -3, -5 to -6 in terms of performance, hydraulics, electronics and stability. They are getting better with each generation.

“There are two advantages of the Hitachi machines: power and the hydraulic system – for which Hitachi is famous. The most important factor for us is the productivity of the machine. The wheel loaders are responsive, user-friendly, and offer good traction and breakout force.”

Considering the abrasive nature of the materials at the stockyard, it’s an advantage that all of Gap Services’ Hitachi models are supplied with HELP (Hitachi Extended Life Program) – an extended warranty for 10,000 hours/five years. This is provided by the Assago branch of SCAI, the official Hitachi dealer in Italy.

Alberto adds: “We are very happy with the service we receive from SCAI, and the HELP and maintenance programme they provide for every machine is very important to us.”