FIRST ISSUE 2005

Ready for a Real (Earth)moving Hitachi’s

Experience? P ut Hitachi On
Your Ne xt Jobsite .

ALWAYS ORANGE
www.hitachiconstruction.com

PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Okla. City, OK
Permit No. 862

Weaver Welding
Zaxis 270LC Profile page 3

Wrecking Corporation of America (WCA) page 8

Texas Sterling Construction page 12

DKD1034 Litho in U.S.A. (05-03) Hitachi Construction and Mining Products • 1515 5th Avenue • Moline, IL 61265 • www.hitachiconstruction.com
 Winter or Summer,
Backhoe Specs (Standard)
• Backhoe arm —
10' 2" (3.10 m)

The Power
Marsh or Concrete • Max. digging reach —
35' 2" (10 710 mm)
• Max. dumping height —

of Orange — A Proven Performer 23' 2" (7070 mm)

• Bucket digging force* —
Give lease The Zaxis 270LC is powered by the matically controls engine speed in
37,500 lbf (166.7 kN)
a chance Tier-II-compliant Isuzu CC-6BG1T response to the amount of lever • Swing speed — 10.6 rpm
turbocharged, direct-injection engine. operation. In light-load applications,
• Swing torque —
Operating at 165 hp (123 kW) @ this helps reduce fuel consumption
by Domenic G. Ruccolo
2,050 rpm, it kicks to 173 hp (129 by up to 6 percent. Auto Idle reduces 51,622 lb•ft (7203 kgf•m)
kW) @ 2,150 rpm when in H/P mode. engine speed automatically when the *At power boost.
You have to give John Deere Credit credit.
These guys are the best when it comes to working Two work modes simplify operator puts the lever in neutral. panel and switches are located near
with Hitachi and our customers to present a full excavating operations. “Digging” The Machine Information Center the operator to minimize fatigue and
spectrum of finance options. One of their areas of ensures smooth and speedy front (MIC) is an internal monitoring system enhance operator control. The “set-
expertise is in offering the hottest contracts in the operations, while “Attachment” that continually logs equipment status it-and-forget-it” air conditioner and
industry — leases. The myth that a manufacturer activates the necessary hydraulics for such as movement or pressure data. bi-level air ducts tame the weather
would just as soon sell as lease is just that … breakers, compactors, and crushers. This information can be downloaded extremes, keeping the operator alert
a myth. We need to put butts in seats so the The implement maxi-mum relief for further analysis, which aids fleet- and focused.
customers can see and experience the advantages setting is 4,980 psi (350 kgf/cm2) management efforts and improves For more information about
exclusive to Hitachi. Whether the customer signs with a power boost to 5,260 psi productivity and profits. the Zaxis 270LC, stop by our
a sale or rental contract, he will be experiencing (370 kgf/cm2). Hitachi cabs are known for comfort dealership or go online to
the equipment. And nothing builds brand loyalty The Auto Acceleration feature auto- and operator-friendliness. The monitor www.hitachiconstruction.com.
like daily operation.
Besides, our ultimate goal is to make our
customers happy, and leasing helps accomplish
this goal.
Why are lease customers smiling?
You demand a lot from your excavator. • Leasing generally saves them money and
The Zaxis 330LC will meet your highest improves liquidity.
expectations. Demolition work? No • A “tax lease” creates a new tax deduction.
problem. Mass excavation? Piece of cake. • Customers can buy a machine after the lease
Loaded with a 247-hp (180 kW) Isuzu expires, in most cases.
engine, a bucket digging force of 48,220 • Leasing helps them deal with issues on
bonding capacity.
lbf (21 870 kgf), Auto Power Lift for an
• Short-term fleet expansion helps them win
extra nine percent during heavy-lifting
bids on larger, more profitable projects.
operations, and even smoother multi-
• Leasing promotes regular replacement of
functioning operations, the Zaxis 330LC machines, which keeps newer machines in
will impress the toughest critic — you. the fleet and improves uptime.
So bring it on — the Zaxis 330LC is
ready to perform.
So there you have it — many of the reasons
customers, and Hitachi, like leasing. And you
Zaxis Speed, power, balance, and durability are built into every Zaxis 270LC. The
result is increased productivity, reduced maintenance costs, and a greater
can leave it to John Deere Credit to continue to
push the envelope in developing financial products 270LC asset to bottom-line profitability.
Armed with plenty of dependable power for traveling, the Zaxis 270LC has a
that ensure the sale, or the lease, will go to a
maximum traction force of 56,074 lbf (25 435 kgf) — ensuring secure travel over
Hitachi dealer.
all kinds of underfoot conditions. In its standard configuration, the excavator
weighs 62,800 lb. (28 500 kg) and has a ground pressure of 5.83 psi (0.41 kgf/cm2).

ALWAYS ORANGE Boom length is 19' 8" (6.0 m). Two different arm lengths are available: the standard
www.hitachiconstruction.com Domenic G. Ruccolo, 10' 2" (3.10 m) or the longer 12' 4" (3.75 m). Backhoe bucket sizes range from
Director, Hitachi Mining & Construction
.95–2.03 cubic yards (.73–1.55 m3).
 W
ay up north in the Canadian Grande Prairie. They immediately
provinces the winters are delivered a Hitachi Zaxis 270 for a
brutal, but under the deep trial, and that was all she wrote.
white snow and frozen earth is a black “What a great machine the 270 is,
gold that won’t wait until the spring especially working in the extreme
thaw. As oil refineries across Canada temperatures up here,” continued
and the United States increase their Darren. “The operators love it. For
reliance on Alberta’s bounty of oil one thing, it has a superior HVAC
and gas, the need for pipelines — system that does a great job heating
and companies to lay those pipelines up that big comfortable cab. And
— has grown. It’s challenging work, when you work in a typically –25ºC
but someone has to do it. In this case, climate, you don’t want to shut down
that someone is the president of your diesel; you want to keep it warm
Weaver Welding, Darren Weaver. and running all day.
Wait a minute, Weaver Welding?
“Suddenly, fuel efficiency is the
Please explain, Darren.
number-one concern — at least to
“In 1994, we started as a welding the business office. Our old Komatsu
company here in Peace River. But would drink 425 liters in a week —
in 1999, oil companies and their the Hitachi only 320. That’s a huge
contractors started asking us to weld savings for us. Huge.”
sections of new pipeline together.
Another advantage Hitachi brings
The scope of work evolved quickly,
to these frigid worksites is Super
and we went for it, becoming a full-
EX 46HN hydraulic oil, a benefit
service pipeline service.”
not lost on Darren Weaver. “The first
Darren bought a Komatsu excava- thing you notice in the cold is stiff
tor and rented other machines as he hydraulics. Hitachi’s Super EX not
needed them. In the middle of a local only has the best flow characteristics,
Peace River job, his dealer couldn’t you only have to change it out every
Seven Hitachi Zaxis excavators are tackling
this 11-mile (18-km) pipeline. The pipe is laid supply him with additional excavators. 4,000 hours. More savings”
5.9 feet (1.8 meters) deep.
So Weaver called Wajax Industries in

4 5
 Once introduced to Hitachi, there from 547 yards (500 meters) up to
was no turning back. Weaver currently 40 miles (65 kilometers).
owns five Zaxis excavators and has “Each operator takes care of his own
five more rental Zaxis that he’ll buy machine,” says Weaver. “We also have
in the spring. His three 330s and six two full-time mechanics. When we run
270s are all equipped with quick into something we can’t handle, we
attach couplers so Weaver operators call our dealer. They bend over
can swap buckets without having to backwards to help us. A great dealer
wrestle sub-zero iron. makes the right machine better as far
“On the pipeline, my Hitachi as I’m concerned.”
excavators do about 70 percent of When asked if the folks from their
the work,” states the Weaver Welding Hitachi dealer made cold calls, Darren
Hitachi has a long history
prez. “They stump the right of way, groans at our lame weather pun. It Darren Weaver, President, Weaver Welding of long-running equipment.
pile the brush, ditch, lower the pipe, seems he’s heard them all. We’ve all heard stories about
backfill, and then clean up. Our 270s
Weaver Welding is serviced by Wajax how the first Hitachi sold in
and 330s are equipped with a ripper Industries in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
shank, a handy item when you’re North America is still out there
dealing with frozen earth.” Weaver’s running strong and making
nine excavators are split between four money. Well, let’s go find it.
crews. Projects can range in length

This is a call-to-action. A search for

an aging star, so to speak. We’re looking
for the oldest running Hitachi hydraulic
excavator, and we’ll make it worth your
while if you help. All we need is a digital
photo, a brief history of the machine,
and a serial number (if you can find it.)
Top ten winners (oldest) will receive a
Hitachi jacket and cap. The oldest Hitachi
excavator gets a free oil change, and the
owner receives a framed treatment of the
story we’ll run in “Breakout.”
It’s time to show your orange pride —
and perhaps your age.

Send entries to:

Dave Garton
Marketing Manager
Hitachi Construction & Mining
“On the pipeline, my excavators do PO Box 8806
Moline, IL 61266-8806
about 70 percent of the work.” GartonDave@JohnDeere.com
— Darren Weaver, President *Entries must be received by July 1, 2005.

6 7
 N o sooner had area
residents felt the “shot
heard round the Capital”
— the implosion that brought down
the DC Convention Center — then
outdated almost from the time of its
completion. Replaced by a new 2.3-
million-square-foot convention center
in October of 2003, it was leveled in
December of 2004, when a 20-second
sequence of explosions literally
brought down the house.
According to Project Manager
the real work on the four-city-block Bill Zell, WCA depends on its fleet
site began. Cleanup efforts are now of attachment-equipped Hitachi
in full swing to remove the estimated excavators to clear the site and make
10,000 tons of structural steel and it ready for commercial and residential
rebar and 50,000 cubic yards of development. “This project is pretty
concrete debris left in the wake of typical of the work we do in the DC
the demolition. And, with Wrecking area. After the implosion, the roof
Corporation of America’s (WCA) eight collapsed onto the first-floor slab,
Hitachi excavators providing the bulk which collapsed onto the slab on
of the cleanup and processing muscle, grade. Right now, we’re getting all the
the area hasn’t seen this much orange steel out. Then, we’ll process the first-
Eight Hitachi excavators clean up the old
since Syracuse University was in town. 800,000-square-foot DC Convention Center. floor slab, columns, and footings.”
Out with the old
The massive pile of debris facing “We have the attachments to recycle in
WCA’s crew was once a prominent,
800,000 square-foot multi-level volume. But an attachment is only as good
structure — home to countless
Washington-area conventions, as the unit powering it, and we’ve really been
expos, fairs, and monster-truck
rallies. Unfortunately, due to a lack
pleased with the performance of our Hitachis.”
of sufficient exhibition space, it was — Bill Zell, Project Manager, WCA

8 9
 nothing other than normal mainte-

Compacts with Attitude

The A-list
nance. The same holds true for both
To make all that happen in a timely
our EX330s, which are approaching
and efficient manner, WCA is relying
5,500 hours. We’ve gotten tremendous
upon Hitachi excavators equipped

Zaxis 35U-2 and the Zaxis 50U-2

support from our dealer. Parts avail-
with a broad range of hydraulic
ability has been excellent, and support
attachments.
is second to none. Any issue we have
“We use a Zaxis 270 with a thumb usually gets a service person onsite
to load-out material and two EX330s, within hours. You just don’t hear of Dash-Two upgrades to compact with the optional cab. An additional
one with a bucket and thumb, and one that kind of support much anymore.” excavators are sure to make them counterweight can be ordered as well.
with a grapple, for material handling. Backhoe Specs
Keeping it out even more popular with contractors. The new cab layout includes a large,
The pulverizer on our Zaxis 330 Zaxis 330LC with grapple carefully removes (Canopy version, rubber shoes)
structural steel and debris. of the ground The shape of the new Dash Twos easy-to-read LCD monitor and fold-
downsizes concrete and extracts • Backhoe arm —
Wrecking Corporation of America has changed, thanks to a newly devel- away foot pedals. The canopy version
rebar,” says Zell. “We also have a 35U-2 (4' 4"/1.32-m arm)
It’s all about is slated to be at the Convention oped box-section frame. A larger features a new, roof-mounted sun
Zaxis 450 with a new LaBounty 50U-2 (4' 6"/1.38-m arm)
availability Center cleanup site for about six counterweight and a weighted under- visor for better upward visibility.
100HDR grapple and two EX450s • Rated power —
According to Zell, poor parts avail- months. Because the structure was carriage help lower the center of The roof’s overhang helps keep the
— one with a concrete pulverizer and 29.9 hp (22.3 kW)
ability from their previous excavator stripped prior to implosion, Zell gravity and increase stability. The new operator’s knees dry in light rain.
the other with a LaBounty MSD 70R 39.9 hp (29.8 kW)
supplier — at a time when they could estimates that about 95 percent of Hitachi-designed rubber undercarriage Additional structural improvements
that cuts structural steel.
least afford it — prompted them to the material left behind will either features a steel-cored structure and include a rounded X-beam track frame • Max. torque —
“Our Zaxis 600 has a LaBounty 79.6 lbf•ft (11 kgf•m)
switch. They’ve been strong advocates be recycled or reused onsite. a special high-hardness rubber to help for easy mud removal, a tilt-up floor,
MSD 100R mobile shear for heavier 101.3 lbf•ft (14 kgf•m)
of Hitachi machines for about four divert forces that crack shoe edges. and a sliding engine cover for fast
steel processing. We have loaders Wrecking Corporation of America is
years now, and have been impressed For tougher applications, optional and easy servicing. • Weight —
and other machines with hydraulic serviced by J.W. Burress, Warrenton,
with their consistent performance. steel grouser shoes can be ordered. 7,672 lb. (3480 kg)
hammers, but there’s no mistaking Virginia. For more information, stop
Air conditioning is standard 10,428 lb. (4730 kg)
the prominent role Hitachi machines “Our oldest machine, the EX450, by your dealership or go to
play in our operation.” has 5,700 hours on it and has needed www.hitachiconstruction.com • Ground pressure —
4.49 psi (31 kPa)
4.35 psi (30 kPa)
• Bucket range —
1.7-5.9 ft3 (.05-.17 m3)
2.1-8.3 ft3 (.06-.24 m3)
• Overall height —
8' 1" (2460 mm)
8' 3" (2510 mm)
• Overall width —
5' 8.5" (1740 mm)
6' 6.7" (2000 mm)
• Track shoe width —
12" (300 mm)
16" (400 mm)
• Swing speed —
9.3 rpm (min-1)
Zaxis 35U-2 The new Dash Twos provide
increased operating comfort,
9.3 rpm (min-1)
• Arm crowding force —
enhanced safety, and easier
Zaxis 50U-2 maintenance. The proven three-
pump hydraulic system and arm
4,296 lbf (19.1 kN)
5,398 lbf (24.0 kN)
regenerative circuit have been • Breakout force —
improved to make combined 6,185 lbf (27.5 kN)
operations and fine control 8,276 lbf (36.8 kN)
easier and smoother.

10
 “Historically we don’t turn our Hitachis. We run them till
they are parts. And that’s a good long while.”
— Terry Williamson, Vice President, Texas Sterling Construction

T
he 750 employees of Texas is looking to continue their phe-
Sterling Construction are nomenal growth through more
celebrating the company’s contracts and acquisitions. But the
golden anniversary. Their 50th is heart of the business remains Texas-
shaping up to be their best year ever, sized heavy underground utilities.
and Hitachi is proud to play even a So where does Hitachi enter the
small part in this great American Sterling Construction picture?
success story. “We bought our first Hitachi
In 1981, Sterling Construction backhoe in 1994,” recalls Terry
founders Jim and Pat Manning moved Williamson, now the company vice “Historically, we don’t turn our Hitachis.
We run them till they are parts. And
from Michigan way down south to the president. “Back then, our volume that’s a good long while.”
booming Houston metro. Then Terry was about $20 million a year. Today
Williamson joined the company in we have 36 Hitachi ’hoes, and we’re
1990, and expanded the company’s up to $180 million a year. You could
capabilities by jump-starting the con- say we’ve grown with Hitachi.” And
crete paving division. The construc- Hitachi has grown as well, thanks to
tion giant has been on the fast track loyal customers like Texas Sterling.
ever since. Three years ago the “Installing large-diameter water
company acquired a competitor’s main and sewer drainage pipe is our
heavy highway division. And now specialty,” continues Terry. “Right
the company’s stock is traded on now we’re installing three large-
the American Stock Exchange. Terry Williamson, Vice President, Texas
diameter water mains — a 36-inch Sterling Construction
With offices in Houston, San (91 cm) and a 48-inch (122 cm),
Antonio, and Dallas, the company combined with a 30-inch (76 cm)

12 13
 A Good P l ace to Start
is to Agree on Color

“We bought our first Hitachi backhoe in 1994.

Our volume was $20 million a year. Today we
have 36 Hitachis, and we are up to $180
million a year. You could say we have grown
up with Hitachi.” — Terry Williamson, Vice
President, Texas Sterling Construction

well-collection line. We’re also the trench. Since we were using the
working on a $12.3-million grade box-and-plate shoring method, we
separation, where we’re building a had to have more strength in the
railroad bridge and putting in new front of the machine. When we
storm drainage … and changing a shoved on the plates in the trench, a
two-lane asphalt road to four lanes lot of the excavators just reared up.
of concrete.” But not a wobble from the Hitachi.
And there’s more! “We’re also That machine stood its ground. We’ve
working for the Metropolitan Transit been running them every since. For
When you’re serious about moving material, you want equipment
Authority in downtown Houston,
three US 59 jobs for the Texas DOT,
“For our application, Hitachi is the
best machine by far.” our application, Hitachi was — and
still is — the best machine by far. We
ZAXIS 800 that can do the job cost-effectively and without excuses.
The Zaxis 800 has a powerful 454-hp (340 kW) engine; an impressive
and four toll roads. Plus we have
some massive storm-drainage contracts
handle up to 10 feet x 8 feet with our
backhoes. Competition-wise, we feel
still have that first 700 we bought in
1994, and it’s still a good machine. EH700-2 76,940-lbf (34 900 kgf) bucket digging force; and a long, low-cost-per-ton

We’ve had luck with them without life. The next-generation EH700-2 truck sports a redesigned cab, a new
at a medical center coming up in a they make a big difference for us on
spending much money.” Allison M5610A transmission with Shift Energy Management (SEM), and
few months.” those bids for deep and difficult work.
a host of other improvements.
Texas Sterling’s fleet of over 1,000 “The reason we initially chose So there you have it: gold, orange,
Call your Hitachi dealer today to find out more about how Hitachi
pieces of equipment includes 36 Hitachi machines was their great and plenty of the long green in the
equipment can provide the perfect fit for your operation.
Hitachi excavators ranging in size center of gravity and balance. In 1994 Lone Star State. You’re looking
from the EX80 to the Zaxis 800. Says we had several different brands of good at 50, Sterling — keep up the
Terry, “We have three 550s, a 700, a excavators, including a Hitachi, out great work.
750, and an 800 that we use to dig on a deep sanitary sewer job. We really Texas Sterling is serviced by
and set a lot of big boxes. We can put them through their paces digging ROMCO Equipment.
ALWAYS ORANGE
www.hitachiconstruction.com

14
 FIRST ISSUE 2005

Ready for a Real (Earth)moving Hitachi’s

Experience? P ut Hitachi On
Your Ne xt Jobsite .

ALWAYS ORANGE
www.hitachiconstruction.com

PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Okla. City, OK
Permit No. 862

Weaver Welding
Zaxis 270LC Profile page 3

Wrecking Corporation of America (WCA) page 8

Texas Sterling Construction page 12

DKD1034 Litho in U.S.A. (05-03) Hitachi Construction and Mining Products • 1515 5th Avenue • Moline, IL 61265 • www.hitachiconstruction.com