story009

RTM Construction, based in Bexar County on the east side of San Antonio, Texas, is a construction company that handles the construction and expansion of warehouses, supermarkets, schools, and other buildings. Upholding the three principles of Responsibility, Trust, and Motivation, the company has grown together with the local community for over 30 years. The founding philosophy of "customer first," valued by founder Tom Smith, has been passed down to his sons, Jeff and Cody, and is now on the verge of being handed off to the next generation.

“I’ve taught my sons to always put customers first,” says Tom. This attitude has built trust with customers, and today the company has grown into an organization of about 200 people. It has become a well-known presence in South and Central Texas. Currently, his sons Jeff and Cody are at the center of the management team, with Tom watching over them. The relationship between the company and Hitachi Construction Machinery dates back about 10 years. The connection was made by Lance, a sales representative from the dealer ASCO. Cody looks back on that time. “Lance persistently and enthusiastically recommended Hitachi Construction Machinery, saying, ‘Just try using it once.’ And when we tried the demo machine at the site, we immediately understood why.” They fell in love with the performance, and RTM Construction subsequently introduced more and more of Hitachi Construction Machinery’s equipment. The relationship with ASCO goes beyond just business transactions. “Jeff and Cody are close to me in age and we have common interests, so we all get along well,” says Lance. His supervisor Kelly says, “They all socialize in their private lives too. That trusting relationship helps business run more smoothly.”

Tom says that RTM Construction, which previously used other companies’ machines, plans to gradually replace their aging excavators with Hitachi Construction Machinery’s machines. “Their warranty period is long, and the price is reasonable. Plus, the trade-in price is high, so we can recover almost all of the purchase cost. Appearance too is outstanding. When you sit in the cockpit, you feel like a pilot.” The north side of San Antonio is all rock. Hitachi Construction Machinery’s equipment powerfully crushes hard rock, and fuel consumption has been reduced by nearly half. This is because the machine is powerful enough to complete the job in fewer cycles than conventional equipment. Furthermore, with 360-degree visibility provided by cameras, excellent breakout force, and smooth maneuverability, work efficiency at worksites has improved dramatically, he says. “All the control panels are within reach. They’re made with the operator in mind. Every morning, there’s a bit of a battle over who gets to use Hitachi Construction Machinery’s equipment,” Jeff laughed.

The cabin is extremely comfortable, less tiring, and leaves enough energy to spend time with family after returning home. That’s very important for Texans who value their families. They are also satisfied with the durability. According to Cody, excavators that have already been operating for more than 4,000 hours have had zero problems so far. “We have complete trust that ASCO will respond immediately to any trouble that might occur, so we have absolutely no worries.” For RTM Construction, which has valued trust relationships with customers above all else, the important things are machines that can be used with peace of mind over the long term, and reliable partners that support them. In that sense, Hitachi Construction Machinery and ASCO are an ideal team for RTM Construction, providing a solid foundation supporting future business expansion.

When asked about future prospects, Tom speaks in a gentle tone, “There are several companies in this region that have lasted 200 years. I would be happy if someday our company could become one of those businesses.” His sons think the same way. “I want to keep this company going for a long time and someday pass it on to my children. I intend to make it the number one company in Texas,” Cody says with conviction. To that, Jeff responds: “Currently, we have a scale of 50 million dollars annually, but we’re aiming for 100 million dollars two years from now, and 500 million dollars in five years. To achieve that, we need excellent machines like Hitachi Construction Machinery’s machines. In the future, we will continue moving forward together with Hitachi Construction Machinery to make RTM’s name even more powerful.” If trust is the foundation of business, then the relationship between RTM Construction and Hitachi Construction Machinery is truly a symbol of that. The trust formed through machinery is making RTM Construction’s future certain.