Hitachi ZX140W-5 excels on Norwegian road construction project

A new Hitachi ZX140W-5 wheeled excavator has been bought specifically for the 36km E6 road construction project by a local Norwegian company. Vågå-based Skogen has been engaged as a sub-contractor by one of the project’s two main contractors, Aurstad, with responsibility for the 12km section between Vinstra and Sjoa (excluding the concrete structures and asphalt).

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The total project is worth 1.6 billion Norwegian krone and it was the biggest contract in the country when it started in early 2014. The ZX140W-5 was delivered directly to the site in April 2015 by Nasta – the authorised Hitachi construction machinery dealer in Norway.

After buying its first Hitachi machine, a ZX140W-3 wheeled excavator in 2011, Skogen’s line-up also includes two ZX135US-5 and two ZX210LC-5 medium excavators. “The current Hitachi model line-up is perfect for our immediate requirements, both in terms of capacity and flexibility,” says owner Ola Skogen.

“As the machines are made in Japan, they are reliable products and offer a high level of performance. They are also user-friendly and the hydraulics are really smooth. In addition, they are excellent value for money, and offer a good return on investment and high resale values.”

The ZX140W-5’s operator Olav Kjaestad has worked with the company’s original ZX140W-3 and the latest machine’s versatility is apparent by the range of jobs that it covers. “The ZX140W-5 does everything well,” he says, “from drainage work to levelling the ground, and from digging trenches to backfilling gravel.

“It’s a first-class machine, with a comfortable cab. I like the ergonomic control panel, the all-round visibility and the amount of legroom. However, the highlight of this new ZX140W-5 is the hydraulic system. It means that the machine is really responsive, and allows me to operate in a smooth and precise way.”

The challenge for Skogen – and the local construction industry – is to overcome the harsh weather conditions. It is common for temperatures to dip as low as -30°C in Vågå, and the average temperature is usually between -20°C and -25°C in winter.

“The main issue for Norwegian construction companies is that our smaller projects grind to a halt in winter, but we can replace some of these with snow removal work. The advantage of the larger jobs, such as the E6, is that the contractors can overcome the arctic conditions and we can continue to work reliably with our fleet of Hitachi excavators.”