Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)

Search
Global website

Real-time surveying system delivers speed and efficiency on site

News
16 Jun 2025
Sodex Innovations was a winner of the inaugural Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge. The company has developed a system to capture terrain in real time for faster surveying of job sites.

Surveying construction sites could soon be made easier and faster thanks to a system developed by Sodex Innovations – one of the winners of the inaugural Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge 2024. The company’s solution equips machines with a laser scanner unit that enables operators to become surveyors while carrying out their work, but with no extra effort.

Creating a digital twin

The data collected by the scanners is used to create a digital twin of the construction site in real time. The information is then sent to the customer who can use it to plan their work, visualise any hazards and create documentation seamlessly. This makes the entire process quicker, more efficient and safer because it eliminates the need to pause work while surveying is carried out manually.

More than 100 scanning units have already been retrofitted to a variety of machines – including several Hitachi models – across Europe, the USA and Australia. Users can access the Sodex cloud platform from anywhere to analyse the data almost immediately. Dashboards show important metrics – such as inventory and progress information, as well as comparisons with design models – in an easy-to-understand way.

Building relations

The Austria-based start-up won the Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge pitch under the “Construction Planning” theme and is looking forward to expanding its work with Hitachi.

“We’re currently in a proof-of-concept phase to see how we can add value to Hitachi’s product portfolio,” say Ralf Pfefferkorn, CEO and Co-founder of Sodex Innovations. “Right now, we’re looking for a pilot customer who can help us test the best way to integrate our technology into a Hitachi machine.”

Sodex was invited to join the Hitachi stand at Bauma 2025, which proved to be a highly valuable experience. “The number of leads and feedback we got was incredible and would be impossible to get elsewhere,” adds Ralf.

Providing holistic solutions

Commenting on the Machinery Challenge, Masahiro Yamada, Hitachi Construction Machinery Vice President of the New Business Creation Unit, says: “This event is very important to us because it shows the world that Hitachi Construction Machinery is more than just excavators, wheel loaders, and mining trucks. We are also a technology company that listens to their customers’ needs and provides holistic solutions.”

Why stop reading now? Others liked:

The key to preventing theft and simplifying fleet management

One of the winners of the inaugural Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge 2024 has devised an access control system that protects machinery from unauthorised use.

Rewarding operators with Hitachi construction machinery

Two Hitachi ZXW-7 wheeled excavators are the latest additions to the fleet of Groenen Groep, selected for their reliability and versatility, as well as a token of appreciation for their loyal operators.

Interview with the President and COO of HCM Group, Masafumi Senzaki

President and COO of HCM Group, Masafumi Senzaki, offers his thoughts on the development of the construction industry and its future, as well as the company’s prospects.