Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)
A new chapter for Norwegian Hitachi operator and his wheeled excavator
Helge Leikarnes has been a machine operator for over 60 years. For many years, he worked with his trusted Hitachi ZX210W-3 at Gjermundsnes Naturstein AS Quarry for Busengdal AS in Vikebukt, Norway. When Hitachi dealer Nasta AS spoke to him in 2022, he was clear he had no plans to replace it.
A reliable machine
Helge had been driving the wheeled excavator since it was a couple of years old: “I have been driving this one almost all the time,” he said. “Hitachi is a good machine, no nonsense and reliable. I know this one. No nonsense – and it works.”
The machine had well over 19,000 hours on the counter and it was Helge himself who serviced and maintained the machine.
A modernised fleet
Following on from Nasta’s previous visit, Busengdal AS continued updating their fleet to modernise and meet environmental targets. As part of this, Helge was assigned a new machine, the Hitachi ZX220W-7.
Although initially hesitant, he has now logged nearly 2,200 hours on the machine and adjusted to the change.
“I realised it was because of the environment, but I didn't want to at first. It just kind of happened,” Helge says. While he acknowledges that the new machine is a little stronger and has a better driver environment, he maintains that the core functionality remains the same.
A preference for wheeled excavators
Helge has always preferred wheeled excavators due to their flexibility and efficiency. “Since I came here, I’ve always driven wheeled machines,” he says. “I like the control and how quickly they move,” he explains.
Helge continues to be a key part of Busengdal AS, bringing decades of knowledge to his role. With many more hours ahead on the ZX220W-7, he remains committed to his work.
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