HITACHI Construction Machinery has announced an agreement to develop electric machinery for the European market.
The manufacturer has formed the agreement with KTEG Kiesel Technologie Entwicklung GmbH – the group company of European Hitachi Construction Machinery’s distributor, Kiesel GmbH – to establish a new company to develop electrical construction machinery and special application products.
Hitachi has developed wired electrical excavators with small to medium sized equipment used in plants as a base, with over 100 supplied into the Japanese market to date.
The manufacturer has also supplied wired electric ultra-large hydraulic excavators for mining applications. Its first venture into the development of battery-powered excavators was in 2006, with the ZX70B.
Meanwhile, KTEG has a wealth of know-how for regulating and commercialising electric construction machinery in the European market, Hitachi said in a statement.
The joint venture company – EAC European Application Centre GmbH – intends to combine Hitachi’s electrical technology with KTEG’s technical knowledge. It will be headquartered in Stockstadt am Rhein, Hessen, Germany with Hitachi owning 49.9% of the company, and KTEG owning 50.1%.
