Hitachi Zaxis-7 excavators are first choice for UK housing development

Two Hitachi Zaxis-7 medium excavators, a ZX225US-7 and ZX350-7, are working on a housing development for Persimmon Homes in Cheltenham, UK. They are recent additions to the fleet owned by Shannonside Civil Engineering Ltd, which is responsible for preparing the infrastructure, roads and drainage system for the first phase of 260 houses. Starting in March this year, the project is expected to last four years.

Shannonside has a fleet of more than 100 Zaxis excavators, ranging from three- to 30-tonnes. Managing Director Brendan Carty has invested in more than 200 Hitachi models over the last ten years. “We have a long relationship with Hitachi Construction Machinery UK,” he says. “The machines are reliable and have a good residual value. And our operators ask for them, they are real fan boys of Hitachi!”

The latest Zaxis-7 machines are equipped with Leica Geosystems machine control and Engcon tiltrotators, supplied by HCMUK’s Hitachi Connected Technology team. “I like the fact that the machines go to work site-ready,” says Brendan. “We’re not waiting a week for other suppliers to come and calibrate the bucket, for example.”

A small machine with big attitude

Operator Tim Philpotts has worked for Shannonside for eight years and was the first to work with the company’s Zaxis-7 models. He operates the ZX225USLC-7, which was also the company’s 200^th Hitachi machine. “It’s versatile enough to fit into any space, but also big enough to make an impact,” he says. “It’s a small machine with a big attitude!

“The layout of the cab is good, with controls in easy reach – everything is where you need it to be. And the Engcon tiltrotator makes life easier, as less movement of the machine is required, and it makes it quicker to do the work.”

The machine is special for another reason too. The logo of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity is displayed on the boom and the counterweight has a specially designed wrap. Each year, Shannonside donates £1 for every working hour of the machine to the hospital and the mental health charity, Mates in Mind. “My son was in the hospital when he was younger, so it means a lot to my family and I,” says Tim.