HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY

The incineration of municipal waste has been the subject of media scrutiny for many years. As a result, many waste management companies in The Netherlands are turning towards recycling and re-use rather than disposal.

NV Afvalzorg in Amsterdam has decided to lead by example. It has located its headquarters on top of nine metres of waste to prove that living on - and working with - rubbish does not cause problems if managed correctly.

Waste materials deposited at the tip are either recycled or used as landfill. Afvalzorg also runs a water-cleaning system and processes used soil into different grades of gravel and sand. The end products are then stored and sold to the construction industry. It is important that this work is carried out as quickly as possible to minimise the impact on the environment.

De Koker has been contracted to help shift the thousands of tonnes of waste and soil that are deposited every week. It is using a Hitachi Zaxis ZX280LC-3 excavator to efficiently load the materials on to the back of trucks. The machine has been hired from Rental Force - the largest rental company in The Netherlands.

"On average I am loading one vehicle every three minutes," says Piet de Koker, Managing Director of De Koker. "Productivity is an important consideration when using plant. The trucks need to transport a constant supply of waste to the processing plant.

"As well as owning De Koker, I like to operate my own machinery every day. In my opinion, the ZX280LC-3 is the perfect excavator for this type of work. Efficiency and output have increased because it is easier to use. I can also work for longer periods of time without feeling tired. This ensures that I am able to meet my daily targets."

The ZX280LC-3 is just one of the new generation of Zaxis-3 range excavators launched earlier this year by Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV. The machines are already renowned for better performance, ultimate comfort and safety, and reduced running costs.

The Afvalzorg facility is helping to educate people about waste and how it can be recycled and processed. With the help of the ZX280LC-3, it is literally being kept in tip-top condition.