The 23-year-old Norwegian contractor, Simen Berge, has a high level of expertise beyond his years, driven by his company Berge Bygdeservice’s latest acquisition, a Hitachi ZX65USB-6, and technology available from ABAX. This market-leading software platform enables the new Zaxis-6 range of mini excavators to communicate with Hitachi’s remote monitoring system, Global e-Service.
This not only simplifies fleet management and maintenance for machine owners such as Simen, but also allows them access to operational data on their machines. This in turn helps to increase productivity, enhance efficiency, maximise availability and reduce running costs. The software is available for current Hitachi mini and compact machinery – such as Berge Bygdeservice’s ZX65USB-6 – and can also be retrofitted to previous generation models by the authorised Hitachi European dealer network.
Based in Lillestrøm, Berge Bygdeservice’s fleet consists of four Hitachi excavators (the ZX65USB-6, as well as a ZX17U-5, ZX85US-5 and ZX145W-3) and one wheel loader (a new ZW150-6). The four new machines were supplied by Nasta, the authorised Hitachi dealer in Norway, with full service contracts and extended warranty, while the ZX145W-5 was delivered with a service contract for used machinery.
Saving time and money
One of Simen’s colleagues knows Nasta salesman Tom Ola Bjerkestuen, who started working with the dealer in 2017. This introduction saw the start of the relationship with the Hitachi dealer, whose new office in Oslo is only ten minutes’ drive from Berge Bygdeservice’s base.
“We have an excellent relationship with Nasta and Hitachi,” says Simen. “We get help when we need it and the technical support team is always available with the correct parts at short notice. This saves us time, and means that Nasta and Hitachi’s after-sales services help us to achieve maximum availability.”
When buying the first of a new generation of Zaxis-6 mini excavators, Simen was made aware of the latest ABAX technology available in remote monitoring systems. “I have downloaded the user-friendly ConSite Pocket app on to my phone and already receive the monthly ConSite report from Hitachi for the two medium excavators.
Reduced fuel consumption
“I look at the idling time data, as this is something that we are aiming to improve and it’s topical in Norway at present. It’s also interesting to see how far the ZX145W-3 has travelled and the figure for fuel consumption. As a result, we are turning the engines off as much as possible and trying not to use the full power of the machines unless it’s absolutely necessary. “So, we have used ConSite successfully to reduce the idling time and fuel consumption. With this cost reduction, the reliability of the machines and the excellent working relationship with Tom, I am still as happy as I was when I bought the first Hitachi!”
