In September, Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV held some unique events to celebrate its 50th anniversary with customers and dealers, and employees both past and present. The company proudly hosted Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) President Kotaro Hirano, visiting from Japan, during the week-long celebrations.

A hugely popular open day was held at the HCME location in Amsterdam, which was attended by +/-3,500 guests. On arrival, they were invited to view 12 new machines on display in the demonstration area. They were also able to watch specially created movies charting the company’s history and throwing a spotlight on the success of Dutch customers. Visitors of all ages were also able to take a tour of the factory – open to the public for the first time since it opened in 2003 – and enjoy games, fun activities and refreshments in the sunshine.

Celebrating success

An inaugural awards ceremony for the HCME dealer network was another highlight, celebrating their ongoing commitment to the Hitachi brand. Held at a prestigious venue opposite the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium, it gave HCME an opportunity to welcome new dealers from Italy, Ukraine and Greece, while also thanking long-standing dealers from the UK and Netherlands (HCMUK and HCM NL – 50 years), Norway and Belgium (Nasta and Luyckx – 40 years) and Sweden (Delvator – 25 years) for their support over five decades.

Notable achievements of dealers in the parts and rental areas of the business were also celebrated – with wins for Spanish dealer HJM and Italian dealer SCAI, respectively. And the rapid adoption of digital and customised solutions was recognised with awards going to HCMUK and German dealer Kiesel for their successful developments. A lifetime achievement award was presented to Jean-Marc Probst of Swiss dealer Probst Maveg, who was applauded by all attendees for going above and beyond in the promotion of the Hitachi brand and values.

Building our future

Another memorable occasion was the planting of a cherry tree by Mr Hirano and HCME President Takaharu Ikeda, alongside members of HCME’s Management Board. As a symbol of quality of life, luck and good fortune in Japanese culture, the tree pays tribute to those who have helped to build the Hitachi brand in Europe and will represent its continued growth in the years to come.

Mr Hirano commented: “The planting of a tree is a gesture of optimism and faith in the future. I hope that this tree will flourish as healthily and magnificently as Hitachi has in Europe, but also serve as a reminder of our commitment to a sustainable future.”