Close ties between Hitachi customer and dealer – in more ways than one

Building the Hitachi fleet

The two companies have been working together since Ronnie and Esther took over. Groenen Groep has since diversified into groundwork and demolition, and has expanded to four locations across the south of the country, employing 125 people.

Throughout that time, the company has invested in building up its Hitachi fleet, which today includes 20 models ranging from the one-tonne mini ZX10U-6 to the 30-tonne ZX300-6 medium excavator. “The main benefit of Hitachi is that they are reliable machines – they keep going and don’t break down,” says Ronnie. “The resale value is also strong.”

The relationship with Pellen BV has developed over the years and is based on mutual respect. “They are a reliable partner for us, we feel well treated by them,” says Esther. “Pellen always takes the extra step if we have a problem, either fixing the issue on the same day or providing us with a rental machine until it is resolved.”

Appreciating the operator

Ronnie and Esther allow their operators to choose options and customise their machines. “We want to show our appreciation for our operators,” says Esther. “Allowing them to have their own bespoke excavators helps them feel valued.”

One such member of the Groenen Groep team is Danny Dietermann, who has worked for the company for 24 years. In that time he’s operated five Hitachi excavators, including the latest – a ZX180W-7, which arrived in 2023.

“This model has the power and stability we need for demolition sites,” says Danny, who even has his name on the excavator seat. “The settings on the joysticks for the blade and pedals have been adjusted, so the machine is exactly as I want it.”

As an experienced Hitachi operator, Danny has witnessed many changes across the various generations of machines. The latest significant change to the cab and one of the main benefits of the Zaxis-7 model is the window wiper: “It clears a wider area of the glass and this makes a real difference to visibility when you are sitting in the cab,” he says.

The latest addition

The smaller ZX150W-7 wheeled excavator is the latest addition to the fleet and is operated by Bart Jansen, who appreciates its versatility and accurate performance. “I like the dozer blade and outrigger for stability,” he says. The Zaxis-7 model has also been fitted with a Trimble machine control guidance system, which is also beneficial for Bart’s daily tasks: “All the information is easily available and I don’t need to measure anything – I know exactly where to dig and how deep.”

Looking to the future

Providing their operators with high-quality, customisable Hitachi machines has proved to be a success for Groenen Groep, as has its loyalty to the brand and Pellen. Esther and Ronnie are now preparing to integrate the company’s four locations into one purpose-built facility in Veldhoven – but still very close to their trusted Hitachi dealer.