Interview with Designers of the Mid-Size Excavators

The Zaxis Dash-3 excavators are world-class machines with environmentally friendly, evolutionary performance. In a European construction machinery magazine survey, the Zaxis Dash-3 excavators were rated "No.1" in both the fuel efficiency and the workload divisions. As a result, the Zaxis Dash-3 line is developing a solid reputation all over the world. HitachiConstruction.com had a chance to interview Development Design Center General Manager Kouji Tahara and Senior Technician Kazunori Nakamura, two Dash-3 designers:

HitachiConstruction.com:
The basic performance of Zaxis Dash-3 excavators went through a big evolution.

Development Design Center General Manager Kouji Tahara

Tahara:
Our goal for the new line of Zaxis excavators was to create a "global" machine. What the world market wants, in other words. What users all over the world commonly want in excavators is the improvement of basic performance. Increased horsepower, durability, smooth compound motion, and raising the payload with quick front motion were all requested features. In addition, fuel efficiency also needed to be improved. The Zaxis Dash-3 excavators are the result of the progress made in all the basic performance standards. We were also concerned about environmental performance to ensure that the Zaxis Dash-3 excavators comply with the third generation of United States, Japanese, and European Union emission control standards.

PDI head office Senior Technician Kazanori Nakamura

Nakamura:
To discover the desired levels of basic performance, extensive surveys were done all over the world before development even started. The chief designer traveled to more than 30 countries over two years, mainly in Europe, North America, and Asia, to collect detailed information regarding excavator work and field conditions. He also evaluated current models. By finding both common features and differences, depending on location, we settled on a basic design - a global machine.

HitachiConstruction.com:
I heard that the design and development division in the Tsuchiura, Japan factory underwent a major restructuring for this project.

Tahara:
Determining that the improvement of basic performance was a requirement in order to maintain the uniformity of design in all the classes of mid-size excavators, we established a system which allowed the parts designers to communicate with all the teams responsible for designing each excavator class and across classes. As a result, an efficient system using common parts was established, enabling the more than 200 staff members in Tsuchiura related to mid-size excavator development to share various kinds of information, such as requests from all over the world.

Nakamura:
The motto used as a common focus was "Where quality meets ability". The origin is based on the slogan, "Our Scrupulous Attention to Detail Will Lead to High Quality" and is applied to all product development. Because we also wanted to enhance brand unity in product development, we also saw a need to stress the over-arching idea, "Made by Hitachi".

HitachiConstruction.com:
All the basics were created in the Tsuchiura factory.

The production line of ZAXIS-3 series inside the Tsuchiura factor; also know as the "Mother Design Factory of the world".

Tahara:
Yes.  We designated the Tsuchiura factory as the "Mother Design Factory " from the beginning of the Zaxis Dash-3 development. Previously, products with local specifications were designed at local factories. Local dealers were also sometimes required to make modifications. Now, all the specifications are designed here. The main parts, such as hydraulic pumps and engines, are sent from Japan to other parts of the world.

HitachiConstruction.com:
The hydraulic system and engine were both completely redesigned with the latest technology in the Dash-3 series.

Nakamura:
We have developed core technology that maintains a good balance of increased workloads, using the efficient control of engine rpm, torque, and hydraulic pressure, and at the same time lowering fuel consumption. The redesign of technologies made the tuning of hydraulic controls and engine optimization more complicated. However, we did a number of trials trying to determine a best practice and were able to find a match. Installing the new "E mode" creates a powerful but fuel-efficient machine. We also installed a new swing mechanism and upgraded swing torque. The advanced technology of efficient hydraulic pressure such as "HP mode" and the "New-Type Boom Recovery System" enables the arm to move faster. Know-how that Hitachi accumulated over the years during the development of the hydraulic excavator was optimized to find these solutions.

As a result, the Zaxis Dash-3 excavators not only have enhanced basic operability which increases workload, it also has an electronic control system that adjusts to various kinds of operations before the operator even notices. 
 
HitachiConstruction.com:
About the engine, you have been building partnerships with engine makers such as Isuzu for many years.

Nakamura:
We spent almost four years developing the optimal engine for the Zaxis Dash-3 excavators and utilized requests and information from the field. We made a little over 30 prototype engines. Twenty-five of the units were installed into test machines. Ten of the 25 units were tested in the U.S., Europe, China, Australia, Asia, and Africa to confirm that the Dash-3 machines could be used all over the world. We have done tests abroad at development stages before, but the number of machines performing demonstrations this time was overwhelming.

Tahara:
As far as the engine goes, I think there is merit in building trusting relationships with companies that have technical engine design knowledge and having them develop what we want with their know-how. That lets us concentrate on the development of hydraulic systems and electronic controls. The engine is one of the major parts, but still just one part. A good engine does not necessarily equal to a good excavator. The key to the Dash-3 line's improved performance was primarily due to the evolution and development of other technologies rather than just a better engine.

HitachiConstruction.com:
Since the Zaxis Dash-3 excavators debuted, they have been getting great reviews from all over the world.

Tahara:
Last year, a specialty construction machinery magazine in Holland conducted a performance survey of 20-ton-class hydraulic excavators from the 10 major producers in the world. The results published in the magazine rated the ZX200LC-3 first in both the workload and fuel efficiency. I believe customers who haven't tried the Zaxis Dash-3 excavators should do so. Of course, the main features of the Zaxis Dash-3 excavators are not just increased workload and fuel efficiency. The comfort of the operator, a wide field of view, various kinds of information indicated on multifunctional monitors, improved safety with a stronger cab (ZX200LC-3), increased endurance with a stronger underbody, easy maintenance with a central layout of equipment, and environmental efficiency are also part of the package. I believe we have made differentiation easy to see with just a simple demonstration.

Nakamura:
The trusted relationship built up by listening to customers over many years, as well as technical innovation, contributed to a high level of customer satisfaction.  For example, customers in Europe who purchased Zaxis Dash-3 excavators in 2003 or later requested a large Hitachi logo on the counterweight. Normally, this is a space reserved for the name of the customer's company. This kind of request verifies that customers are enjoying a great deal of satisfaction with Hitachi products. Following delivery, foreign customers often ask if their machine was made in Japan. The main parts are sent from Japan but assembly is done in the closest local factory, shortening the delivery period and cutting the physical distribution cost. So, they are not always entirely made in Japan. But whichever factory assembles an excavator, all were developed and designed in the "Mother Design Factory" in Tsuchiura to ensure thorough quality control. The real answer to the question is, "This machine is made by Hitachi."