HITACHI Construction Machinery (Europe) has opened its renovated mini and compact excavator factory in Oosterhout, The Netherlands, which will allow the business to produce more than 7,000 machines annually.
The manufacturer said an “extensive” modernisation programme, which began in January this year, will enhance efficiency at the factory that is responsible for producing the ZX10 to ZX85 models.
The upgrade includes a new semi-automatic assembly line, new equipment and paint booths. Staff have also adopted the ‘takt time’ approach, which means completing an activity within a certain amount of time.
The factory’s general manager Marco Verhoef explained, “We have already doubled our output since 2014 from 2,500 to 5,000 machines by 2018. The renovation of the factory was necessary to help us grow further, and will enable us to produce more than 7,000 machines per year, according to market demand.”
