Construction machinery giant Hitachi has announced the release of the new ZW-5 range of wheel loaders, including three completely new models that greatly increase the capacity of the ZW-5 range and mark a push into large quarries and the lower end of the mining market.
Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia’s national sales manager for construction and forestry, Frank Gili, says reliability and ease of use are vital at the larger end of the wheel loader market, and these factors were central to the design of the ZW-5 range.
“Those [models] at the big end are all about getting the job done in a way that is as quick and efficient as possible, with no compromise on safety or comfort,” he says. “For customers in the quarry and mining sectors where work happens around the clock, this level of reliability and ease of use is essential.”
Besides the three new models (ZW550-5, ZW370-5 and ZW330-5), the ZW-5 range includes updates to the six existing ZW-5 models: the ZW140-5, ZW150-5, ZW180-5, ZW220-5, ZW250-5 and ZW310-5.
The loaders have been designed with two work modes to get the most out of the machine in specific situations. In standard mode engine revs are controlled to maintain smooth operation in normal conditions. In power mode engine revs are increased and extra traction delivered for heavy digging or travelling uphill.
All new models, apart from the smallest ZW140-5 and ZW150-5 models, feature planetary automatic transmissions similar to those found in cars. The two smaller models have a hydrostatic transmission, but still share the standard and power modes of the larger models.
Increasing operator comfort and safety has been another key driver in the design of the ZW-5 range.
The cabin has been expanded over previous models and has pillarless windows made from reinforced glass which increase operator visibility and decrease noise and vibration from the machine.
The cabin also features a heated air-suspension seat, double-filtered air-conditioning and a sloped ladder with wide steps for ease of access.
Hitachi says that, despite the new models’ larger size, they have been designed for ground level access to daily maintenance points.
When working in dusty environments, the ZW-5 loaders can automatically reverse the direction of the radiator fan to allow dust to be cleared easily, extending the machine’s life.
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