Five things you need to know in the construction industry in 2023

While the outlook for this year may be uncertain – with an expected economic downturn, rising costs, shortages of skilled labour and materials, and the ongoing impacts of the war in Ukraine – the experts at Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) shed some light on what to expect in the months ahead.

2. The digital transformation continues

Further signs of growth are seen in the digital side of the construction industry. “Companies such as Hitachi Construction Machinery are not only manufacturers of equipment and machines, but also solution providers,” says Product Manager Pooja Gupta. “Digital solutions have cut through this industry in almost all areas, both on and off the field, starting from telematics and data-powered machines to remote and fleet management solutions.”

Product Manager James Deighton acknowledges the benefits of such developments in the market: “Customers are increasingly looking for more than just machines, seeking integrated end-to-end solutions, ensuring they can complete work on and off site, with greater precision, efficiency and ease. Think attachments, fleet management, CAD integration, machine control, progress reporting, preventive maintenance and remote diagnostics.”

As a result, we can expect to see even more machines with machine control and guidance, tool tracking and recognition, and safety features direct from the factory – all contributing to greater productivity, safety, and interconnectivity.

The ongoing digital transformation of the construction industry also presents opportunities for it to attract digital native talent, explains James: “These include a new generation of skilled operators, construction teams and managers who expect their tools to be as connected as they are.”

“With plenty of solutions and providers in the market, choosing the right partner for digital construction solutions will be an important consideration for customers in the years to come,” adds Pooja.

3. Rental combats rising prices

While there has been concern over rising prices for new machinery due to macroeconomic factors, and delivery times in the industry, such developments can only benefit the rental sector, which offers customers greater flexibility.

Embracing the popularity of rental equipment, HCME is widening the reach of its rent-to-rent programme to the Baltic countries. “Electric machines will also be included in the offering, and will no doubt contribute to our target of reaching 1,000 active rental machines in 2023,” says Rene Danielsson.

4. New year, new products

The return of in-person events last year brings great expectations for this year’s exhibitions and the opportunity to explore new products and solutions up close. ConExpo in March promises to be bigger than ever with 1,800 exhibitors. In May, SaMoTer returns in Italy, followed by Plantworx in June – the UK’s only live demo construction equipment event.

Sustainability will be a key theme across all events this year, with manufacturers keen to demonstrate how they are helping customers to work more efficiently. The Hitachi electric excavator line-up will see some further developments, meeting the growing need for zero-emission equipment.

Elsewhere in the range, the Zaxis-6 mini excavator range will also see some new enhancements, while the launch of the compact ZX95US-7 and ZX95USB-7 excavators is hotly anticipated. And the Zaxis-7 special application machine range will be expanded with some new additions for forestry, below-ground excavation, and slope finishing.