Why the Hitachi ZX890LCR-7 excavator is a reliable asset for Swiss quarry
Zaxis-7 large excavator arrives in Aargau Jura mountains
Swiss company Steinbruch Mellikon AG has complemented its two longstanding production machines with a ZX890LCR-7 large excavator. This landmark investment in the latest technology is of historic significance, especially for a limestone quarry that was established in 1912 to the north-west of Zurich in the Aargau Jura mountains.
Historic significance
With the arrival of the Zaxis-7 large excavator, a new chapter unfolds amidst the picturesque Aargau Jura mountains, marking a significant milestone for the Swiss company. This landmark investment in cutting-edge technology holds historic significance, particularly for a limestone quarry established in 1912 to the northwest of Zurich in the Aargau Jura mountains.
Tough job site conditions
As part of the decision-making process, André was able to take his main operator Giuseppe Lavorato to Germany, where he tried out the same model. “It quickly became apparent that the Hitachi was the robust machine that we needed for the tough job site conditions.”
Strong relationships
Steinbruch Mellikon AG’s Managing Director André Schärer has worked for the company for 16 years and now has responsibility for the whole operation. His recommendation led to the purchase of the ZX890LCR-7 from Probst Maveg, the Swiss dealer of Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV. “We considered three leading brands of quarrying equipment, and I quickly formed a good relationship with Probst Maveg,” he says.
Reliable and fuel efficient
With 1,500 working hours on the site, the ZX890LCR-7 has made a strong impression on André and his team: “The main benefits of the new machine after one year are reliability and fuel economy! The fuel consumption is impressive and is approximately half of the previous machine. The limestone materials are relatively soft and make life easier for excavators, for example there is little wear on the bucket.”
High-quality Jura limestone
The ZX890LCR-7 prepares and loads the blasted rock into one of the site’s two articulated dump trucks or rigid dump truck. Every year, between 400,000 and 500,000 tonnes of materials are processed in the site’s crushing and screening plant into various sizes of products for a wide range of applications.
A durable excavator for quarrying
The company ordered the BER version (with a shorter, reinforced boom and arm) of the ZX890LCR-7 with a 5m3 bucket. It also was delivered with a 6,000-hour service contract, with the first 4,000 hours on full service for the duration of the warranty period, and a subsequent maintenance-only contract.
