Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd has embarked on the production of remanufactured parts for construction machinery, such as medium to large sized hydraulic excavators and medium sized wheel loaders, from March 2023 at Hitachi Construction Machinery Southern Africa Co (Pty) Ltd in Boksburg, Hitachi Construction Machinery’s base for sales and services in the Republic of South Africa.
It states: “In addition to parts remanufacturing for mining machinery conducted in Zambia from 2012, the target will be expanded to construction machinery to strengthen our parts remanufacturing business in southern Africa. We will also contribute to reducing environmental impact and realising circulating society through further reduction in CO2 emissions and industrial waste.”
Its customers in South Africa can purchase remanufactured parts with warranty and thus reduce component procurement costs. The supply of remanufactured parts within South Africa shortens lead time to delivery and keeps down transportation costs. In the future, the remanufactured parts will be supplied to neighbouring countries as well.
“Our customers are faced with the issues of improving jobsite safety and productivity and reducing machine lifecycle costs. In addition, changes in the markets are driving up operating costs for customers to keep their machines operating. As one approach to solving such issues, the Hitachi Construction Machinery Group is developing the parts remanufacturing business. Specifically, we collect genuine components such as hydraulic cylinders and pumps from machinery in use by customers, disassemble and repairing them at the works, and provides them as remanufactured parts with performance equivalent to new parts.”
Currently in southern Africa, Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia and H-E Parts are collaborating in Zambia to remanufacture parts for mining machinery such as ultra-large hydraulic excavators and dump trucks. “As the next step, we have completed the development of necessary facilities for remanufacturing parts for construction machinery at Hitachi Construction Machinery Southern Africa’s site in South Africa, the largest construction machinery market in the southern African region.”
Hitachi Construction Machinery Southern Africa also plans to provide maintenance and servicing of ultra-large hydraulic excavators and dump trucks, as well as repair work for hydraulic equipment and components, using the same facilities.
“As supplying remanufactured parts to South Africa from other countries or regions takes extensive lead time and has high transportation costs, we needed to build a framework in South Africa for remanufacturing parts for construction machinery. Going forward, in addition to strengthening the value chain business, including the parts remanufacturing business, and contributing to the reduction of environmental impact and the realisation of circulating society, the Hitachi Construction Machinery Group will continue to work toward resolving customer issues of ‘improving safety,’ ‘increasing productivity’ and ‘reducing lifecycle costs.'”