A stable investment for Mermans Beton

concrete plant Mermans Beton. The material handling
machine offers more precision, greater stability and higher
lifting capacity than the company’s previous model.
Since 1969, Mermans Beton NV has produced high-quality,
ready-mixed cement for customers across Belgium and The
Netherlands. It delivers concrete to construction, agricultural,
industrial and private companies within a 40km radius of its
depot on the banks of the Dessel-Schoten canal in Arendonk,
near Eindhoven.
The plant has 25 employees and takes delivery of sand and
gravel from 500-tonne ships up to four times a day. To unload
the cargo and load a conveyor belt that transports the sand
and gravel to containers, Mermans Beton relies on the Hitachi
ZX360W-3 material handling wheeled excavator.
The ZX360W-3 is ideal for canal-side applications. It has a
reinforced chassis and strong undercarriage, which keep the
machine stable during operation. The hydraulic raised cab can
lift up to 5.4m high and gives the operator greater visibility
when loading and unloading. The advanced hydraulics allow
for precise operation and enhanced productivity. The
concrete plant’s daily production target of up to 1,000m³ is
easily met with the help of the ZX360W-3, which is fitted
with a 1.8m³ clamshell bucket. Within two months of delivery
in May 2009, the excavator had 385 hours on the clock.
Before the ZX360W-3 arrived at the concrete plant,
Mermans Beton used a machine supplied by another
manufacturer. However, the level of service provided by
official Hitachi dealer Luyckx, and its close proximity to the
job site, convinced the company to invest in the ZX360W-3.
Operator Geert Huysman says, “In this case, Mermans
Beton is now closer to its supplier than it was before. The
Luyckx depot is only a 30-minute drive away, which is
reassuring in the unlikely event of a breakdown, especially
when we’re expecting four ships in one day.”
Since the ZX360W-3 started work at the site, its
performance has impressed both the company’s owners and
operators. Productivity is boosted by its lifting capacity of 3.6
tonnes at a reach of 15m, and its maximum reach of 16.1m is
the furthest in its class.
“The Hitachi ZX360W-3 is much smoother to operate
than the previous model due to its hydraulics,” says Huysman.
“The arm is also shorter, which makes it easier to
manoeuvre.”