The machine was bought by groundworks and infrastructure contractor MV Kelly, which has snapped up more than 3,000 Hitachi excavators over the years. The company currently has 543 Zaxis machines working across 227 sites in central England.
Doug Curran, MV Kelly’s asset and fleet director, said, “The Hitachi ZX130-6 is the perfect tool for the job that we do and so when Hitachi offered us the opportunity to buy the first ZX130-7, we were really pleased to add it to our fleet. The machine has been assigned to our experienced operator John Ritchie, who is very happy with the comfort in the cab, and the speed and performance of this latest model.”
John uses the machine for tasks including digging foundations, drainage, grading and other works to get each house plot up to floor level.
Describing his experience of the redesigned Zaxis-7 cab, John said, “The working environment is ideal with all the room I need to do my job. The quality of the cab is first-class, with less vibration and noise than the previous generation, and more storage for my phone, lunch bag and drinks. I also feel the difference in comfort with the adjustable arm rests, and the combined movement of the seat and console is excellent. The controls and switches are easily accessible, and the levers are comfortable with the added convenience of the buttons for simple operations.
“The large 8” screen is clear and easy to view, and the oil and water can be checked on the monitor rather than having to climb on top of machine. All of this makes my working day more effortless and enjoyable.”
John is also impressed with the machine’s performance. “Like all Hitachi machines, the latest hydraulic system feels smooth and precise. The new Stage V engine doesn’t require AdBlue – and this saves me time, because I don’t have to refill the tank and there’s no longer any risk of contamination,” he added.
John was also full of praise for the safety features. “The camera system gives me peace of mind with an exceptional view of what’s happening around the machine,” he said. “The monitor is in a better position and it’s closer to my line of vision while operating.
“My view is also better when it’s raining, as the windscreen wiper has an increased sweeping area and it now covers the lower front window. The longer refuelling hose saves time and is more convenient. And finally, the pilot shutoff lever is easy to reach and safer, as it won’t activate if you accidentally touch a lever.”
