Eesti Energia purchase new Hitachi dumptrucks

Baltic energy firm invests in 11 Hitachi EH1100-5 rigid dumptrucks for hauling operation in Estonia

HITACHI Construction Machinery (Europe) (HCME) have sold eleven EH1100-5 rigid dumptrucks to Estonia-based Eesti Energia. Supplied by local authorized dealers Rotator Estonia, the first machine is already in operation at Narva Quarry, near the Russian border, while a further seven units have recently been delivered to the customer. The remaining three dumptrucks will be supplied later this year.

The decision to invest in the Hitachi machines was based on criteria set by the state-owned company in an online tender process. This included a calculation of the capital cost of the machine and a guaranteed buy-back after a number of years.

After succeeding at this stage, Hitachi had to prove to Eesti Energia that the EH1100-5 could carry a nominal payload of 63.5 tonnes. The Japanese equipment manufacturer sent a new Hitachi EH1100-5 dumptruck to a work site, to demonstrate its capability and secured the order following the model’s impressive performance.

The new Hitachi dumptrucks will haul material on an unusually long route, ranging between 3km and 15km (from loading to tipping), with slope increases of up to 9%. According to the Eesti Energia, the length of the route could increase to a one-way 25km route in the future.

Hitachi will provide after-sales support for the new machines, including comprehensive parts support and training through Rotator Estonia.

Malcolm Edwards, HCME’s manager of mining and quarrying, said: ‘Rotator already have a wealth of experience in the mining and quarrying industries in Finland, which will support Eesti Energia with all of their after-sales requirements.’