Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)
The European subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, responsible for manufacturing, sales, marketing, parts distribution and customer support across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV, commonly known as HCME, is the European operating subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. It was incorporated on 1 April 1972 in the Netherlands after the collapse of Hovers Constructie NV, a former exclusive importer of Hitachi construction equipment in the Benelux. The subsidiary was created to preserve support for existing customers and to give Hitachi a direct regional platform for equipment manufacture, distribution and marketing. HCME's responsibilities developed beyond importation. During the 1970s it produced locally designed crawler cranes, some of which attracted interest outside the region. In the following decades the company expanded its manufacturing, logistics and commercial infrastructure. A parts distribution centre opened in 1981, helping support equipment users across its territory. Manufacturing at Oosterhout grew during the 1990s, particularly through production of mini excavators. Expansion of market coverage, including Russia, contributed to a substantial increase in production volumes. The company has also operated through industrial and distribution partnerships. In 1986, Hitachi and FIAT established a production, distribution and marketing partnership for plant machinery. The original arrangement included plans to build selected Hitachi crawler excavators at FIAT's San Mauro facility near Turin, Italy. The relationship ended in March 2001. HCME also entered a distribution partnership involving Euclid dump trucks; a dedicated parts distribution centre opened at Oosterhout in April 2000 so that HCME could take responsibility for exclusive Euclid dump-truck parts distribution in its territory. The Netherlands became the centre of HCME's European manufacturing and support activities. The company later moved its factory to another site in Oosterhout as operations expanded. In 2002, the plant introduced production of the Zaxis mini excavator range. The same year, HCME headquarters, a medium-excavator factory and a Training and Demonstration Centre were established in Amsterdam. In 2006, the company expanded its existing facilities with an additional wing and built a new production plant alongside them. HCME's United Kingdom operations evolved through HM Plant, a machinery distributor established in Bridgwater, Somerset, in 1979 by Graham Hall. HM Plant became an official HMCE distributor in 1980 after initially representing several equipment brands and was later focused on distributing and servicing the FIAT-Hitachi partnership's products in the United Kingdom. A management buyout led by John Jones took place in January 2000. HM Plant moved to a purpose-built seven-acre site in Hebburn, South Tyneside, in 2004, improving import access from the Netherlands and domestic distribution. In April 2007, it became wholly owned by HCME, and in May 2014 it was formally rebranded Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK) Ltd. The regional business covers excavators, wheel loaders, dump trucks and cranes, supported by parts logistics, training, demonstration and dealer or distributor services. Its role is distinct from that of the global Hitachi Construction Machinery parent: HCME is the regional manufacturing and commercial organization serving Europe, Africa and the Middle East rather than the entire worldwide construction-machinery company.
History
Hitachi's European construction-equipment presence began before HCME itself was created. In 1968, Hitachi appointed Hovers Constructie NV of Tilburg as the exclusive importer of its construction-equipment range in the Benelux. Hovers also participated in the development of locally designed crawler cranes during the 1970s. When Hovers Constructie ceased operating in 1972, Hitachi established Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV on 1 April 1972 to maintain customer support and assume responsibility for regional manufacturing, distribution and marketing. It became Hitachi Construction Machinery's first foreign branch. The new organization initially served Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Its activities included manufacturing locally developed equipment and distributing the wider Hitachi product range. In 1981 it strengthened regional after-sales support by opening a parts distribution centre. The company subsequently expanded production in Oosterhout, with mini excavators becoming an important part of its manufacturing activity during the 1990s. Increased geographic coverage, including Russia, helped drive a major rise in production volumes. A significant industrial development came in 1986, when Hitachi and FIAT agreed to cooperate on the production, distribution and marketing of plant machinery. The initial plan called for selected Hitachi crawler excavators to be built at FIAT's San Mauro factory near Turin. HCME and its United Kingdom distribution organization supported the commercial side of this relationship. The Hitachi-FIAT joint-venture relationship was terminated in March 2001. HCME also expanded its parts and distribution responsibilities through a relationship with Euclid. In October 1998, Euclid and Hitachi agreed on a distribution partnership. A further parts distribution centre opened at Oosterhout in April 2000, enabling HCME to handle exclusive distribution of Euclid dump-truck parts in its territory. The company's Dutch facilities continued to grow. Its factory moved to its current Oosterhout location as operations expanded. In 2002, HCME introduced the Zaxis mini excavator range at the plant. During the same year, Amsterdam became the location for HCME's headquarters, a medium-excavator factory and a Training and Demonstration Centre. In 2006, the existing factory received an additional wing and a new production plant was constructed alongside it. The United Kingdom business developed through HM Plant. Founded by Graham Hall in Bridgwater in 1979, HM Plant initially distributed several construction-equipment brands and became a regional sub-dealer for HCME. It was appointed HCME's official United Kingdom distributor in 1980. Following the FIAT-Hitachi arrangement, HM Plant concentrated on the partnership's products and their distribution and servicing in Britain. A management buyout led by John Jones occurred in January 2000. HM Plant moved in 2004 to a purpose-built seven-acre facility at Hebburn in South Tyneside, chosen to improve both access to imports from the Netherlands and distribution throughout the United Kingdom. The business became a wholly owned HCME subsidiary in April 2007 and adopted the name Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK) Ltd in May 2014. HCME's resulting regional organization combines manufacturing, sales, marketing, parts distribution, training and customer support. Its principal equipment categories are excavators, wheel loaders, dump trucks and cranes, with operations directed toward the European, African and Middle Eastern markets.
- 2014
UK business is rebranded
[1]HM Plant officially adopts the name Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK) Ltd in May.
- 2007
HM Plant becomes wholly owned by HCME
[1]HM Plant becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of HCME in April.
- 2006
Dutch production facilities expand
[1]HCME adds a wing to its existing factory and builds a new production plant alongside it.
- 2004
HM Plant relocates to Hebburn
[1]The United Kingdom distributor moves to a purpose-built seven-acre site in Hebburn, South Tyneside.
- 2002
Zaxis mini excavators introduced
[1]The Oosterhout plant introduces the Zaxis mini excavator range, while Amsterdam becomes home to HCME headquarters, a medium-excavator factory and a Training and Demonstration Centre.
- 2001
FIAT-Hitachi relationship ends
[1]Hitachi and FIAT terminate their joint-venture relationship in March.
- 2000
Euclid parts centre opens at Oosterhout
[1]A new parts distribution centre opens at Oosterhout, allowing HCME to take over exclusive distribution of Euclid dump-truck parts.
- 1998
Euclid distribution partnership agreed
[1]Euclid and Hitachi establish a distribution partnership covering Euclid dump-truck parts.
- 1986
FIAT-Hitachi machinery partnership begins
[1]Hitachi and FIAT agree to cooperate in the production, distribution and marketing of plant machinery, including planned production of selected crawler excavators in Italy.
- 1981
Parts distribution centre opens
[1]HCME opens a parts distribution centre to support equipment customers across its territory.
Products and positioning
A regional manufacturing, distribution and support organization for Hitachi construction equipment, combining European production and parts logistics with sales, marketing, training and servicing across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Excavators
Crawler excavators
Tracked excavators form a core part of HCME's regional equipment range. The company's history includes locally designed crawler cranes and the planned production of selected Hitachi crawler excavators through the FIAT-Hitachi industrial partnership. These machines serve general construction, infrastructure, earthmoving and related heavy-duty applications.
Mini excavators · 2002
Zaxis mini excavators
The Zaxis mini excavator range was introduced at the HCME plant in 2002. Mini excavators extend Hitachi's offering toward compact construction, utility, landscaping and site-preparation work, where maneuverability and transportability are important.
Excavators
Medium excavators
Medium excavators are part of HCME's manufacturing and commercial activities. Amsterdam facilities established in 2002 included a factory for medium excavators, supporting the company's role as a regional production and distribution organization.
Loaders
Wheel loaders
Wheel loaders are included in the regional Hitachi construction-equipment portfolio. They complement excavators in loading, stockpiling, quarrying, site preparation and material-handling operations.
Dump trucks
Euclid dump trucks
HCME's historical product responsibilities included Euclid dump trucks and, more specifically, exclusive distribution of Euclid dump-truck parts in its territory. The related parts-distribution capability was reinforced by a dedicated Oosterhout centre opened in 2000.
Cranes
Cranes
Cranes are among the equipment categories associated with HCME. During the 1970s, the company produced locally designed crawler cranes, some of which gained appeal beyond the immediate region.
Marketing campaigns
- HM Plant motorcycle-racing sponsorship
United Kingdom
After the January 2000 management buyout, HM Plant used sponsorship of motorcycle-racing teams and series, particularly in the British Superbike Championship, to increase the marketing appeal of its construction-equipment distribution business.
Outcome. The sponsorship included support for teams associated with rider Ryuichi Kiyonari, who won the British Superbike Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
Brand decisions
2007
Bring HM Plant into full ownershipM&ABackground
HM Plant had served as the official United Kingdom distributor for HCME and its predecessor organization since 1980.
Action taken
HCME made HM Plant a wholly owned subsidiary in April.
Aftermath
The United Kingdom distribution operation was later rebranded Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK) Ltd in 2014.
2002
Introduce the Zaxis mini excavator rangeProduct launchBackground
HCME expanded its Oosterhout manufacturing activities and sought to serve the compact-equipment segment.
Action taken
The Zaxis mini excavator range was introduced at the HCME plant.
Aftermath
The launch formed part of a wider expansion that also established Amsterdam headquarters, a medium-excavator factory and a Training and Demonstration Centre.
1998
Expand Euclid parts distributionStrategyBackground
HCME and Euclid agreed to cooperate on distribution in the heavy-equipment parts market.
Action taken
HCME established a distribution partnership with Euclid and opened a new Oosterhout parts centre in April 2000 to handle exclusive Euclid dump-truck parts distribution.
Aftermath
The arrangement broadened HCME's regional logistics and aftermarket responsibilities beyond Hitachi-branded equipment.
1986
Enter the FIAT-Hitachi plant-machinery partnershipM&ABackground
Hitachi sought an industrial and commercial arrangement for plant machinery production and distribution in Europe.
Action taken
Hitachi and FIAT agreed to produce, distribute and market a limited range of machinery, with planned Hitachi crawler-excavator production at FIAT's San Mauro facility in Turin.
Aftermath
The FIAT-Hitachi joint-venture relationship was terminated in March 2001.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
LANDCROS global brand campaign launch[2]
Reported:
Hitachi Construction Machinery launched a global brand campaign to raise awareness of the LANDCROS name and deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the brand. The company said it would begin unveiling four campaign graphics on November 2 and gradually roll them out worldwide.
Sources2 sources
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