Hitachi indispensable for Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital project in Sweden
The first Hitachi ZX350LC-6 with clamshell telescopic arm (CTA) in Europe has made a huge impact on a high-profile project in Gothenburg. In May, it was used to excavate approximately 10,000m³ of earth from 11 metres below ground in preparation for the state-of-the-art Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital.
The Drottning Silvias Barnsjukhus (Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital) is being extended and its new facilities are due to be completed in 2021. The work carried out by the Hitachi excavator – owned by Kolvikens Gräv AB – will make way for tunnels that will link the existing and new hospital buildings, and pipe systems for sewage, water supply and rainwater.
Part of the overall Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital project is to construct hospital buildings and physical links to the existing children’s hospital, which is a part of the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The older parts of the premises are also to be renovated and connected to the new hospital.
The soft yet heavy clay in this area usually makes deep excavation difficult. However, the Hitachi ZX350LC-6 CTA is perfectly suited to the job and represents a new way of doing things in Sweden.
More efficient way of working
Owner Kenneth Kolviken says: “Previously, we would use long-reach excavators for deep shaft excavation. However, the CTA excavator has a longer reach (25m compared to 12-13m) and twice the bucket capacity (1.3m³) of a long-reach excavator, which makes it more efficient. It loads between 25 and 30 trucks a day on average, with 11 to 13 passes per truck.”
A further advantage of the ZX350LC-6 CTA is that it requires less swing space than a long-reach excavator, making it more suitable for compact locations. And it does not require the construction of ramps into the shafts for trucks to drive down. “In soft clay, that could be a problem,” adds Kenneth. “This machine makes it much safer, as no roads are required.”
Safety is vital on the Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital site, so the enhanced visibility offered by the ZX350LC-6 CTA is also beneficial to operator Patrik Backström. “Safety is of course the main thing. Thanks to the sliding cab and the floor window, you can see right over the edge of the shaft – it’s perfect,” he says. The cab is positioned 96cm further forward than on a standard ZX350-6 excavator and can also slide a further 130cm, giving a clearer view of the ground below.
Confidence in Hitachi
Kenneth decided to invest in Europe’s first Zaxis-6 CTA model following his positive experiences with other Hitachi machines. “Over the years, I’ve noticed small and subtle improvements to the design of Hitachi excavators, but the quality has always remained high,” he says.
“The hydraulics make it easier to do a good job, and I’ve never had any breakdown issues or unscheduled stops, so they are extremely reliable.”
