Five Models from the Innovator of Hydraulic Diggers
Hitachi has had a long history with compact excavators. In 1965, the very first hydraulic excavator Hitachi ever made with its own engineering and technology was the UH03 — roughly a 6-metric-ton machine — a compact. The EX60 was introduced in 1987. The EX27, 35U and 50 were introduced in 2000 and the EX17 in 2001. The 60 was an ultra-short radius machine when launched in 2008. Hitachi compacts have progressively become more rugged, durable and comfortable, says the company, as well as smoother to operate and easier to maintain. Hitachi makes a wide variety of excavators ranging from super-small compacts to massive machines used in mines and quarries.
Hitachi’s compact excavator lineup includes the ZX17U-5, ZX26U-5, ZX35U-5, ZX50U-5 and ZX60USB-5. The ZX17U-5 and ZX26U-5 are the smallest excavators Hitachi sells in North America. These tiny titans are nimble, powerful and designed to keep their tails close to their tracks rather than bashing into fences or walls. The company has reduced the size and footprint without sacrificing the Hitachi qualities customers have come to expect — long life, high productivity, multifunction operations, smooth hydraulics and easy maintenance.
The ZX35U-5, ZX50U-5 and ZX60USB-5 deliver the same efficiency, reliability and durability as the preceding Dash-3 Series, with numerous customer-driven enhancements. Their nimble yet durable design makes it easy for operators to squeeze in and out of small spaces. This makes the machines particularly well suited for rental, commercial/residential building, landscaping, underground and site development segments.
Advice to Buyers
“If you are using a breaker or hammer attachment on a compact excavator, consider installing rubber or steel pads on the machine,” says Crail LaMarque, division manager at Hitachi Construction Machinery — Americas. “This will enhance durability and increase uptime. The rubber belts are great for areas where you need flotation or if you are working on landscape areas you do not want to damage. However, keep in mind that rubber belts are susceptible to damage in jagged rock or re-bar.”
