On the road to success in Finland

As with other European capitals, Helsinki relies on contractors and suppliers to support its infrastructure and redevelopment initiatives. The city has long been an attractive proposition to both tourists and residents, and regularly tops polls of the most ‘liveable’ places in the world.

A key supplier

To maintain its global reputation, Helsinki depends on the vibrancy of its construction activities. From its headquarters in the village of Hauho, contractor Nieminen Sora Oy (Nieminen) has long been a noted supplier of aggregates. Founded in 1974, the family-owned company switched emphasis in 2002 to focus on supporting the capital’s construction industry.

It produces around 40 types of gravel and stone and delivers approximately one million tonnes of materials per year. One of its key locations in southern Finland is nestled in the municipality of Hausjärvi – part of the Tavastia Proper region.

The eight-hectare site mainly supplies sand to three concrete factories nearby, and also yields screened and crushed gravel, chippings and stone ash. In addition, Nieminen supplies five different types of stone, including red granite, and in total, the quarry produces around 800,000 tonnes of materials per year.

Stable and powerful

Since February 2016, Nieminen has relied on a Hitachi ZW370-5 wheel loader at the Hausjärvi quarry. Initially the company rented the machine from authorised local dealer, Rotator, for three months and were so happy with its performance that they bought it outright.

The feedback from Nieminen’s chief operator Henri Petman was an important factor in the company’s selection of the ZW370-5. “Hitachi wheel loaders are particularly suited to the work we do here, because of their excellent carrying capacity and grip,” he says. “The traction control means there is no wheel spin in slippery conditions. They perform to a high standard, even when operating at -15°C.”

Owing to the successful introduction of the ZW-5 wheel loader, Nieminen agreed to test the new ZW370-6. “My initial impressions were that the new wheel loader performs better when travelling uphill,” says Henri, “and is more powerful when driving into the pile. The engine offers more than enough force – especially when you hit the power button!”

Highly recommended

“In terms of its acceleration, speed and torque, the ZW370-6 has one of the best engines and transmissions I’ve experienced,” adds Henri. “The stability of the machine is consistent in tough conditions and the brakes are responsive. If you consider its lifting height, the wheel loader is the perfect size for loading trucks on site.”

Visibility of the quarry is also superior from the cab of the ZW370-6. This is thanks to the 360˚ panoramic view, the rear-view camera and wider side mirrors. In addition, the exhaust pipe and air intake have been repositioned to the back of the machine to improve visibility. These make a significant contribution to safety on site.

Overall, Henri has been impressed by both the reliability and performance of the machine. “It has been a great experience to test the ZW370-6,” he says. “I would certainly recommend it to anyone working in a similar industry.”