A German family-owned business has decided to renew its excavator fleet exclusively with Hitachi construction machinery following the purchase of two Zaxis-5 medium excavators. Demolition and earthmoving specialist Althammer’s strategy is now to concentrate on a one-brand policy in conjunction with the Hitachi Support Chain after-sales network provided by official German dealer Kiesel.
The Pemfling-based contractor was established by Karl Althammer in 1978 as a transport company.
He bought the firm’s first excavator one year later for some earthmoving projects and the business has developed since then to its current team of 20 employees. Althammer’s business is now split equally between demolition and earthmoving projects for the public and private sectors.
Karl’s daughter Kathrin, and two sons, Christoph and Carlo now manage the business, which bought its first two233 Hitachi excavators in 2012 – a ZX130LC-3 and ZX290LC-5. The team at Althammer has been so impressed with the performance of these machines, that they are now replacing its fleet with various models from the new Zaxis-5 range, starting with the purchase of a second ZX290LC-5.
“Our lightweight ZX130LC-3 was customised with wide tracks, a two-piece boom and blade, mainly for working on soft ground to repair flood damage,” said Christoph. “It is a special excavator that was built exactly to our requirements. This successful step into the world of Hitachi also included the first ZX290LC-5. This machine has been assigned specifically to demolition work and has already helped us to establish a strong competitive position within this region.
“The latest ZX290LC-5 has been purchased as a versatile machine for both demolition and earthmoving projects. The price/quality mix, running costs and comfort of Zaxis-5 excavators are very important to us, as is the service that we receive from the7050 Kiesel Südost branch.”
The new ZX290LC-5’s operator is Adam Thomas, who has 15 years’ experience, including a period spent working with a Hitachi ZX470LCH-3 six years ago. “The cab has been designed with the operator in mind,” he said. “It is spacious, relatively quiet and the ergonomic controls allow me to operate efficiently. I like the air conditioning and the new colour LCD monitor is very user friendly.”
Thomas also said that the TRIAS hydraulic system is “excellent” and enables him to work accurately and precisely. “It is also a versatile machine that works so smoothly with a wide range of attachments,” he added. “The undercarriage is stable and durable, and the ground clearance is good at the rear. The fuel consumption is favourable and this is of course an important benefit for us on all projects.”
The Pemfling-based contractor was established by Karl Althammer in 1978 as a transport company.
He bought the firm’s first excavator one year later for some earthmoving projects and the business has developed since then to its current team of 20 employees. Althammer’s business is now split equally between demolition and earthmoving projects for the public and private sectors.
Karl’s daughter Kathrin, and two sons, Christoph and Carlo now manage the business, which bought its first two
“Our lightweight ZX130LC-3 was customised with wide tracks, a two-piece boom and blade, mainly for working on soft ground to repair flood damage,” said Christoph. “It is a special excavator that was built exactly to our requirements. This successful step into the world of Hitachi also included the first ZX290LC-5. This machine has been assigned specifically to demolition work and has already helped us to establish a strong competitive position within this region.
“The latest ZX290LC-5 has been purchased as a versatile machine for both demolition and earthmoving projects. The price/quality mix, running costs and comfort of Zaxis-5 excavators are very important to us, as is the service that we receive from the
The new ZX290LC-5’s operator is Adam Thomas, who has 15 years’ experience, including a period spent working with a Hitachi ZX470LCH-3 six years ago. “The cab has been designed with the operator in mind,” he said. “It is spacious, relatively quiet and the ergonomic controls allow me to operate efficiently. I like the air conditioning and the new colour LCD monitor is very user friendly.”
Thomas also said that the TRIAS hydraulic system is “excellent” and enables him to work accurately and precisely. “It is also a versatile machine that works so smoothly with a wide range of attachments,” he added. “The undercarriage is stable and durable, and the ground clearance is good at the rear. The fuel consumption is favourable and this is of course an important benefit for us on all projects.”
