A Swedish family-run construction company has purchased its first new Hitachi wheeled excavator from the local dealer, Delvator. KM Schakt bought the ZX155W-7 to expand its current fleet to more than ten machines, including a used Hitachi ZX210LC-3 crawler excavator.

Kjell Malmenstedt founded KM Schakt in 1989 and now jointly owns the company with his two sons, Fredrik and Philip. The Björklinge-based contractor took delivery of the ZX155W-7 in June 2023. One of its initial assignments was on a project to prepare an extension to an existing school in Vendelsömalm, to the south of Stockholm, which started in December 2023 and is scheduled to finish in June 2024.

“There were some teething issues with the machine when it first arrived,” says Fredrik. “However, Delvator helped us to rectify these and turned it around quickly. Everything is fine now, and we are very happy with the support, parts and service that we receive from our Hitachi dealer.

Reliable reputation

“Along with our employees, I am also happy with the machine. It is working well and proving to be a reliable acquisition. We decided to buy the ZX155W-7 due to the short delivery time, and the reputation held by Hitachi for its hydraulic systems, and Delvator for its service and support. This has proved to be correct and we would certainly consider buying another new Zaxis-7 excavator.”

KM Schakt specialises in earthmoving, sewage and infrastructure work, as well as the groundworks for new houses and other buildings. Operator Johan Larsson has three years’ experience with the company and has been the sole driver of the wheeled excavator since its arrival.

“At this site, we are doing the foundation, water and sewage work,” he explains. “The versatility of the ZX155W-7 is such that I can cover most of the tasks when it comes to this type of project. I can dig the trenches, and load and unload our trailer and the trucks that arrive on site. In addition, I move the materials for the other machines to use, as well as for my own work.”

Johan has a co-driver in the form of Zixten, a one-year-old Beagle. His faithful companion has been accompanying him to work since he was eight weeks old and enjoys sitting on his platform behind Johan’s seat in the cab.

“The cab suits me very well,” he adds. “It’s easy to access and very comfortable. I have no problems to work with the machine for a long time. I’m happy with the small steering wheel, which gives me excellent visibility, complemented by the camera system.

“I like the Hitachi ZX155W-7 because it’s compact and designed with the short-tail swing so that I can work in tight spaces. If it’s too narrow, the long reach is also very good, so I can get into confined areas anyway. Overall, the machine is stable, and does everything that is asked of it well.”