HITACHI Construction Machinery (Europe) has revealed details of a number of events held recently in Amsterdam to mark its 50th anniversary with customers, dealers, and employees past and present.
The company hosted Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) president Kotaro Hirano, visiting from Japan, during the week-long celebrations.
An open day was held at the HCME location in Amsterdam, which was attended by more than 3,500 guests. Visitors were able to view 12 new machines on display in the demonstration area and watch movies charting the company’s history. There was also a tour of the factory – open to the public for the first time since it opened in 2003 – and games, fun activities, and refreshments.
An awards ceremony was held for the HCME dealer network at a venue opposite the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium. This gave the business the 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 the 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. The adoption of digital and customised solutions was recognised with awards going to HCMUK and German dealer Kiesel for their developments.
A lifetime achievement award was presented to Jean-Marc Probst of Swiss dealer Probst Maveg, who was applauded for ‘going above and beyond’ in the promotion of the Hitachi brand and values.
Mr Hirano and HCME president Takaharu Ikeda planted a cherry tree during the celebrations. 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 growth in the years to come.
Mr Hirano said, “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.”
