A HITACHI CONSTRUCTION & MINING PRODUCTS PUBLICATION
ALSO INSIDE
Boosting Production Through Operational Efficiencies page 8
Celebrating 30 Years of an Unbeatable Partnership page 10
Perfectly Packaged Production: ZX345USLC-6 page 14
SUMMER ISSUE 2018
page 4
POWERHOUSEFROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO
CONTRACTOR
When it comes to construction and forestry equipment, what’s the formula for an unbeatable partnership? Try combining Hitachi’s world-leading hydraulic excavator technology with John Deere’s outstanding distribution and marketing channels. Add it all up, and you get superior customer value.
This year, Hitachi is proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corporation, a 50/50 joint venture company formed with John Deere. You’ll find out more about the partnership in this issue of BREAKOUT.
On page 4, see how Hitachi excavators are making a major impact in western Washington thanks to Pivetta Brothers Construction Inc. Find out why Mark Pivetta, owner of the company, chooses Hitachi excavators as his “digging machines” for all types of projects.
Are you looking to increase operational efficiencies within mining operations? The Hitachi Mining Applications Group stands ready to assist with jobsite visits, performance studies and recommendations for boosting production. Read more on page 8.
The ZX345USLC-6 is here and ready to work for you! Hitachi is excited to add this new model to its line-up in the Americas. This 30-metric-ton size reduced-tail-swing (RTS) excavator is perfectly packaged with all the power you need and a three-pump hydraulic system delivering the industry’s fastest cycle times. It’s also one of the only RTS excavators in the industry that features a full-size cab. Find out more on page 14.
Hitachi is dedicated to delivering the efficiency, reliability and durability that you need day after day. Thanks for continuing to choose Hitachi for all your jobs, and we look forward to hearing more about your experiences.
Dan Fitzpatrick
Director, Sales, Hitachi Division
Have an article idea or address change for BREAKOUT? Contact Kristin Stires at [email protected] or 855.646.3347.
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japan日本からのメッセージ
Kotaro HiranoPresident, Chief Executive Officer and DirectorHitachi Construction Machinery Group (HCM)
cabfrom the
CODY TEIXEIRA-VICKERY
Operating a ZX350LC-6 Goodfellow Bros., Inc.Serviced by American Machinery, Kona, Hawaii
Working in rock is a game changer; you have to hammer before you dig. And the Hitachis can handle that.“ ”
“ In the civil engineering industry, we forecast that the utilization of ICT and IoT will be developed rapidly in the field. In our mid-term management plan, a major theme is to establish ourselves as one of the unchangeable top three global construction machinery manufacturers by continuously providing ‘Reliable solutions’ throughout our value chain beyond the customer expectations and thereby gaining the unwavering trust of our customers.”
[ message from japan ]
| 3Summer Issue 2018 BREAKOUT
4 | HitachiConstruction.com
IT WAS 1979. MARK PIVETTA WAS JUST A GUY WITH $600 AND AN IDEA TO START A CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS WITH HIS BROTHER.
FAST-FORWARD TO 2018, AND LIFE IS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD WITH A GROWING DEMAND FOR WORK AND HITACHI EQUIPMENT TO GET THE JOBS DONE.
F R O M H U M B L E B E G I N N I N G S T O P O W E R H O U S E C O N T R A C T O R
6 |
lthough Pivetta Brothers Construction, based in Sumner, Wash., started from humble beginnings, owner Mark Pivetta has grown the family-run company into a powerhouse contractor while keeping a down-to-earth business culture.
“My brother and I started this thing in 1979 with $600 each,” he said. “Most people would laugh at you like you were crazy if you said you started a construction company with $600. But my philosophy has always been that if
somebody else built it and designed it and figured it out, I can figure it out. As I always say, it’s not rocket science; we’re moving dirt here, we’re not building nuclear missiles.”
But don’t let Pivetta sell himself short. After nearly 40 years in business, Pivetta Brothers Construction is doing a lot of things right. And one of those things is having reliable equipment on job sites – like its fleet of Hitachi excavators.
AA D D I C T E D T O M A C H I N E R YPivetta, a former heavy equipment mechanic, will be the first to admit he’s got an addiction – to construction equipment.
“I’m kind of hooked on machinery,” he said. “It’s a big reason I started the business – so I could have the machinery! We purchased our first excavator in 1985, and we used a variety of brands over the years. We purchased our first Hitachi in 2000 when Papé Machinery originally brought the Hitachi line on.”
Before investing in his equipment, Pivetta definitely does his homework.
“Years ago, I did a comparison and I went through and measured the thickness of the body, the turntables, the booms, the cylinders and other things,” he said. “So when I bought my first Hitachi excavators after the comparisons, I was pretty impressed with them. They’ve been wonderful machines. We have a good maintenance program,
but as far as repairs, the machines have been very limited and they’ve been very reliable.”
Pivetta’s collection of Hitachi excavators has grown over the years. He currently has about 15 in his fleet, which includes a mix of veterans and shiny, new iron.
“Hitachi builds an excellent piece of equipment,” he said. “We’re still running our first Hitachi – a 225 with over 12,000 hours on it! Some of the biggest items that have attracted us to Hitachi are the longevity, reliability, hydraulic systems and Isuzu engines. We’ve had nothing but good luck with Hitachi. They work every day, don’t let us down, are very reliable, fuel-efficient and do the job that’s needed. That’s what pays the bills.”
Pivetta also meticulously outfits his equipment for maximum efficiency.
“The Hitachis are our digging machines,” he said. “Every Hitachi I buy, I buy it
with a minimum of three buckets – two sizes of digging buckets and a clean-up bucket – and a hydraulic quick coupler. This makes the machines more efficient and you waste less material by using the proper-sized bucket. Dig as narrow a ditch as possible to get your utilities in, use less backfill, and get more pipe in the ground at the end of the day.”
“ THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I APPRECIATE WHAT WE’VE DONE.”
Mark Pivetta Owner
Pivetta Brothers Construction
L E A V I N G F O O T P R I N T SArmed with its Hitachi fleet, Pivetta Brothers Construction has made a big impact on the western Washington area. The company completes public, private and governmental projects from pump stations, lift stations and water tanks to mass excavation, road work, infrastructure, bridges and more.
“The exciting part is to drive by and see something you built and it’s still there; it’s still used,” Pivetta said. “The older I get, the more I appreciate what we’ve done. My people and our company have kind of left our footprints all over western Washington.”
With the Seattle and Tacoma ports nearby, the company has taken on a growing demand for building warehouse space.
Among other projects, the company is working to complete phase one of a 575,000-square-foot warehouse on the Port of Tacoma and just recently completed a 550,000-square-foot warehouse project with 15,000 feet of storm water and sewer pipe as well as fire line and fire protection in Lakewood, Wash.
A major project in progress for Pivetta Brothers Construction is the Harrison Medical Center expansion in Silverdale, Wash., which includes a nine-story hospital, a four-story medical center, a five-story parking garage
and 11 acres of site development. The location itself is impressive – set between backdrops of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.
The company has completed work for the medical center and parking garage and has moved on to the hospital structure. The new $350 million Harrison Hospital, which will replace an older hospital in Bremerton, will offer private patient
rooms, critical acute care services including heart care, a Level III trauma center and an integrated cancer center.
“Overall, it’s a five-year project for the CHI Franciscan Health Group,” Pivetta said. “It’s approximately a 24-month project from start to finish on our portion of the work.”
Among other Hitachi excavators, Pivetta has dedicated his new ZX350LC-6 as the primary workhorse on the job.
“Our work performed for the hospital phase will be mass excavation; digging the footings with cuts as deep as 47 feet; excavation for electrical and plumbing; civil work for the storm drain, water and sewer; fire protection system on the outside; and prepping for paving and sidewalks,” he said. “So far we have moved 105,000 cubic yards of material.”
S E C R E T T O S U C C E S SWhen it comes to the company’s secret to success, Pivetta said the machinery makes life easier, but the people make the real difference.
“Papé Machinery, our local dealer out of Fife, has been an excellent partner,” he said. “They have put together excellent financing packages; they have great parts and service; and their sales department has been excellent to deal with. They know what we need and have programs that help us get the equipment out on the jobs.”
Along with dependable dealer support, Pivetta also knows how to hire outstanding employees.
“We have a lot of long-term employees – many that have worked for me for 25 to 30 years,” he said. “We run about 55 field employees and I know every one of them. They’re good people; we’re like a family and it’s made it fun.”
As Pivetta looks toward the future, his down-to-earth attitude and uncompromising work ethic continue to be reinforced with a dose of true grit.
“I can’t do it all myself,” he said. “It’s about the people that I’ve brought along on the journey with me and it’s all worked out for us so far. When things get hard, we put our heads down and figure out a way to make it through it. Never give up.”
Pivetta Brothers Construction Inc. is serviced by Papé Machinery, Fife, Wash. ■
FROM HUM
BLE BEGINNINGS TO POW
ERHOUSE CONTRACTOR
WEBWATCHCheck out the video at HitachiConstruction.com/Pivetta
8 | HitachiConstruction.com
Truck positioning and shovel movement on the digging face
For this customer, the Applications Group identified opportunities to improve operational efficiencies and increase production for the shovels and excavators.
A consistent excavator dig pattern An improved excavator bench height
The Applications Group made several suggestions for improvement, such as:
RECOMMENDATIONS
At Hitachi, our Mining Applications Group is dedicated to maximizing the efficiency, reliability and durability of your fleet. This team supports you with technical knowledge, job site visits and more to optimize your operation.
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIESBOOSTING PRODUCTION THROUGH
Last summer, the Applications Group performed an operational efficiency study for a customer in South America. The purpose of the study was to identify areas for operational improvement due to the low production rate the customer was receiving from the shovel/excavator and truck operation.
The proper loading and hauling tool setup along with operator effectiveness is critical to the performance of Hitachi machines. In this study, the Applications Group found that there were areas where the customer could improve efficiency, which could lead to an increase in production.
There are a few reasons why mines may not be achieving optimum efficiency:• New operators• Unique application challenges• Hitachi machines operate differently than the competition
FINDINGS1
2
The Applications Group then followed up on its initial visit a few months later. The feedback from the customer was positive, with mine production increasing to a record level – an increase of 30 percent in production the month after the performance study.
This customer was thrilled with the results and requested that the Applications Group return for future studies.
If you’re interested in a performance study, contact your local Hitachi dealer for more information. ■
RESULTS3
| 9Summer Issue 2018 BREAKOUT
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Be the first to get new product announcements, see photos and awesome video footage of hardworking Hitachi equipment, check out recent deliveries and more. And while you’re there, post and share about your Hitachi experiences – we want to hear all about them!
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Summer Issue 2018 BREAKOUT | 11
12 | HitachiConstruction.com
When Deere & Company and Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. created a 50/50 joint venture in 1988 called Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corporation, they established an unbeatable partnership.
Utilizing united manufacturing facilities and integrated marketing and parts distribution, the two companies take the “best of both parent companies” to provide more value to customers by producing high-quality products backed by a robust dealer network. Since the start of operations as a joint venture 30 years ago, Deere-Hitachi has manufactured more than 55,000 hydraulic excavators for the North, Central and South American markets.
“The 30-year Deere-Hitachi partnership is unlike any other joint venture in the industry, and is a testament to the longstanding mutual respect and dedication of our teams,” said Jon Chase, president of Deere-Hitachi. “Combining the strength of Hitachi’s world-leading hydraulic excavator technology with the resources and might of the 180-year-old John Deere brand, the alliance produces excavators for the world’s best customers.”
ORIGINS OF THE PARTNERSHIP
The relationship between Deere and Hitachi dates back to the 1960s, when the two companies began collaborating with each other. That bond was formalized in 1983 when they signed an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supply agreement for construction excavators.
As the North American excavator market continued to grow throughout the 1980s, Deere and Hitachi created Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corporation in Kernersville, N.C. to reduce logistics costs and improve response times to market demands. Excavator track and main frames were manufactured in
THE 30-YEAR DEERE-HITACHI PARTNERSHIP IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER JOINT VENTURE IN THE INDUSTRY...
“
”Jon ChasePresident Deere-Hitachi
1988
| 13Summer Issue 2018 BREAKOUT
AT A GLANCE: DEERE-HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CORP.
4 Deere-Hitachi core values: Safety, Quality, Integrity, Kaizen
123,561 m2
(1.33 million ft.2)total operational space
13- to 47-metric-ton models produced at the plant
8days for a machine to go from “steel to real”
Japan and then shipped to Kernersville, where the machine fronts were fabricated and the machine was assembled.
Success with the “front” manufacturing strategy led to more than 10,000 units being fabricated and assembled by 1998. To build growth, a “Base USA” strategy is implemented on two models for both brands. Machines are fabricated, painted and assembled complete from the ground up. Today the facility produces conventional Hitachi and Deere 13- to 47-metric-ton world-class hydraulic excavators.
This approach was so successful that since 1998, two additional companies with respective manufacturing facilities were established: Deere-Hitachi Specialty Products (DHSP) in Langley, British Columbia, Canada in 1998; and Deere-Hitachi Máquinas de Construção do Brasil S.A. (DHB) in Indaiatuba, São Paulo, Brazil in 2011.
KERNERSVILLE FACTORY
The over 1-million-square-foot Deere-Hitachi manufacturing facility in Kernersville, N.C. brings together the latest in technological innovation and a skilled workforce of over 800 employees.
Operations are housed in two facilities: the Main Campus and the East Campus. The Main Campus is where all the welding, machining, plate processing and paint operations take place, while the East Campus focuses on assembly and logistic operations. Together both campuses occupy 145 acres.
The state-of-the-art factory uses high quality materials, advanced welding robotics, CNC machining centers, plasma plate-cutting machines and cranes capable of transporting as much as 25 tons. A lean manufacturing system combined with a thorough quality assurance process enables the facility to produce made-to-order machines with a quick time to market.
CULTURE OF SAFETY AND QUALITY
One of the drivers to Deere-Hitachi’s manufacturing success has been its commitment to safety and quality.
In 1998, the company adopted a safety program that is built on the principle that every accident can be prevented. As a result, Deere-Hitachi broke its own record in 2018 of more than six million hours (four years and counting) without a lost-time injury.
Its quality program, which mimics the safety program, is built on the similar philosophy that all defects can be prevented. In addition, Deere-Hitachi has implemented a culture of DHLean and Kaizen, which means “change for the better” and is one of the company’s core values. This approach to lean manufacturing and continuous improvement is one of the main reasons why the facility is able to maintain its “steel to real” process, in which the plant produces a complete machine in eight days.
John Deere and Hitachi commemorated the 30-year milestone this spring with an employee and parent company celebration day. More than 1,500 attendees including employees, family members and guests participated in the event. ■
”
1989
EFFICIENCY• Certified Final Tier 4 (FT4)/EU Stage IV
Isuzu engine with 186 kW (249 hp) – no DPF or regenerations needed due to improved piston design.
• 30-metric-ton reduced-tail-swing model provides powerful performance in congested areas.
• Single-lane footprint for road projects.
• Exclusive TRIAS II three-pump hydraulic system provides multifunction performance and the fastest cycle times in the industry.
• Standard factory-installed auxiliary function lever and optional auxiliary hydraulic lines increase versatility.
RELIABILITY• Extended service intervals help
lower operating costs.
• Standard battery disconnect switch and ground-level access to filters simplify maintenance.
• Compatible with ZX300LC-6 attachments.
• Standard rear view camera enhances jobsite visibility.
• ZXLink™ Ultimate remote machine monitoring.
DURABILITY• One of the only reduced-tail-swing
machines in the industry that features a full-size cab.
• Heavy-duty undercarriage, designed for a 35-metric-ton machine, provides a low center of gravity, greater stability and increased lift capacity.
• Reinforced D-channel side frames provide added strength.
14 | HitachiConstruction.com
PERFECTLY PACKAGED PRODUCTIONWhether it’s road building or work in congested quarters, the new ZX345USLC-6 packs all the power you need into its reduced-tail-swing design. The largest of our ultrashort excavators, this model features a fuel-efficient EPA Final Tier 4 (FT4)/EU Stage IV Isuzu engine – no diesel particulate filter (DPF) needed. You also get our exclusive three-pump hydraulic technology for the industry’s fastest cycle times. This workhorse is also equipped with a comfortable, full-size cab and a hefty undercarriage. And simplified maintenance keeps you running longer. When you choose the ZX345USLC-6, nothing’s stopping you from full-speed performance. ■
Learn more about the ZX345USLC-6 at HitachiConstruction.com/products/ZX345USLC-6.
ZX345USLC-6
CORE PARTS PROMISE FOR PRODUCTION-CLASS EXCAVATORS
SAME-DAY CRITICAL PARTS Critical parts that can down a machine and be installed within three hours will be available the same day from the participating Hitachi dealer – or the part is free. This includes parts such as hydraulic hoses, alternators, starters, water pumps, injectors, switches, relief valves and more.
NEXT DAY MAJOR PARTS On major parts and components, such as engines, transmissions or motors, Hitachi promises to get the parts to customers the next day, or shipping is free.
Eligible models include: ZX470LC-5, ZX470LC-6, ZX670LC-5, ZX670LC-6, ZX870LC-5, ZX870LC-6
This program is offered to customers in the U.S. and Canada through participating dealers. Hitachi’s Core Parts Promise helps keep you up and running – full speed ahead.
See our list of participating dealers, qualifying parts, and full terms and conditions at HitachiConstruction.com/CorePartsPromise.
Hitachi is taking efficiency, reliability and durability up a notch with its CORE PARTS PROMISE program. This dealer stock program promises quick parts replacements for Hitachi’s production-class excavators so you can maximize productivity. The program consists of two components:
IT’S ALL AND NOTHING.
HitachiConstruction.com
With a single-lane footprint, nothing stops the flow of traffic. The 3-pump hydraulic system delivers multi-function power for faster cycle times so nothing stops your productivity. With no DPF, nothing slows you down with regenerations. Did we mention the roomy comfort of its full-sized cab? This machine really is all and nothing.
THE NEW ZX345USLC-6
DKD1802BO Litho in U.S.A. (18-07)
PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE
PAIDSTEVENS POINT WI
PERMIT NO. 272
Hitachi Construction & Mining Division — Americas 1515 5th Avenue Moline, IL 61265 | HitachiConstruction.com
