Hitachi unveils a first for the construction industry

Related Articles

• Bobcat is entering the European wheel loader market
• The new Tadano AC 2.040-1 all-terrain crane
• Doosan Infracore demonstrates the unmanned and automated construction site solutions from drone surveying to equipment operations

Hitachi has developed an industry-leading innovation as part of its ConSite remote fleet monitoring system. The first of its kind in the construction industry, it extracts data from two unique sensors that monitor the quality of an excavator’s engine and hydraulic oil, 24/7.

Increased machine availability
Designed to reduce the total cost of ownership, the new oil sensors will enhance customers’ experiences with their Hitachi construction machinery. Increased machine availability and reduced maintenance requirements – which will save owners time and money – are the key benefits of this innovative feature.

The machine transmits sensor data on a daily basis to Hitachi’s remote fleet monitoring system. If the oil quality has deteriorated or the oil has become contaminated, the dealer will be notified via email or text and can take the necessary actions.
For example, an oil sample can be taken and then sent to a laboratory. From this, a complete analysis is generated so that the exact cause is identified. The dealer can then fix any faults quickly and conveniently on site.

Reduced maintenance costs
The new oil sensors will reduce maintenance costs by providing a more accurate estimation of when an oil change is required. This is more efficient than a fixed oil change interval. Hitachi customers can be sure of the reliability and maximum availability of their Hitachi machine thanks to the prevention of unscheduled downtime.

“We are delighted to be the first manufacturer to offer our customers this new technology,” says Manager Service Business Support at Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV, Tom van Wijlandt. “We know that reliability and machine uptime are vital to our customers, and the new oil sensors will help to enhance this further. Combined with ConSite, this unique development will also continue to improve user experiences of Hitachi construction machinery.”

The oil sensors will be installed in the ZX210-6 and ZX350-6 medium excavators as of November 2017, but Hitachi will roll them out to other models in the near future. A retrofit kit is also available from authorised Hitachi dealers for the previous generation ZX210-5 and ZX350-5 models.