Kerleroux’s Hitachi ZX250LCN-7 is the total package

The French contractor Kerleroux has expanded its fleet of Hitachi construction equipment with the acquisition of a ZX250LCN-7 fitted with a Leica 3D machine control system as part of the new Hitachi Customised Solutions service. This is the first medium Zaxis excavator in Europe to have such an option installed at the Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) factory in Amsterdam.

High level of reliability

“We have been buying Hitachi machines for over 30 years,” says Matthieu Leon, Kerleroux’s Managing Director. “The biggest benefit of Zaxis excavators is their reliability. Each of our machines works an average of 7-8,000 hours, and statistically there have been few breakdowns. This means that there is limited downtime and this is a tribute to their high level of reliability.”

Kerleroux has been working in partnership with Cobemat – the Hitachi dealer in Brittany, Normandy and Pays de Loire, as well as Paris and the northern part of France – for more than 20 years. “The advantage of working with Cobemat is that we have one point of contact who meets all of our requirements, from the start of the sales process for a new machine to after-sales service relating to the entire Hitachi fleet,” adds Matthieu.

“The decision-making criteria are the costs associated with the purchase of the machine and the ongoing relationship we have with the dealer. Our policy is to change each machine after five years and so the support we receive is vital. After this period, we will usually invest in the next generation of machine and that enables us to benefit from better fuel efficiency, operator comfort and the other latest technologies.”

A beautiful machine

Thierry Le Brun started working as an operator in 1988 and has spent the past eight years with Kerleroux. He didn’t have the opportunity to operate a Hitachi machine for the company before, but the choice of excavator on this occasion was his, and he really wanted a Zaxis-7 excavator. As part of the decision-making process, Thierry was able to try out a Hitachi ZX300LC-7 at Cobemat’s local branch at Servon-sur-Vilaine: “I immediately liked the power, smooth operation and the comfort of the cab.”

One of the ZX250LCN’s first assignments was a three-week project to prepare a new 6,949m2 housing development, including the utilities for 16 plots (from 312 to 762m2) in the village of Plouguin, 20km to the northwest of the city of Brest. This is a typical site for Kerleroux, and therefore an excellent project for the new excavator and machine control system to demonstrate their capabilities.

“My impression of the ZX250LCN-7 is that it’s smooth and precise thanks to the hydraulics, as well as being powerful, stable and very comfortable – it’s all about the total package… a beautiful machine,” explains Thierry. “I appreciate the space inside the cab, and the synchronised motion of the seat and console.

“The visibility of the job site is excellent from the cab, not just the front view, but also to the side and rear, and the bird’s-eye view, thanks to the cameras. This makes it very safe to operate on relatively small sites such as this. The monitor is easy to use and I access it to connect my phone to Bluetooth and change attachments. This machine is top of the line with all of the latest technologies.”

Landscaping and infrastructure projects

Kerleroux was established more than 60 years ago in the Finisterre region in western Brittany. Since then, the company has evolved in line with the needs of the market and currently specialises in demolition, asbestos removal and public works contracts.

In the public works sector, the 120-strong Kerleroux team is engaged by local authorities, property developers and industrial concerns to work on landscaping and infrastructure projects. It has a mixed fleet of construction machinery, including a range of Hitachi Zaxis excavators to carry out earthmoving and groundworks.