Hitachi launches ZW-7 series wheel loaders

Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia (HCA) has announced the launch of its latest wheel loader series – the ZW-7 range – which will eventually replace its ZW-5 series.

According to HCA Product Manager for Hitachi Wheel Loaders, David Gallina, the key focus for Hitachi in the development of the ZW-7 series has been operator comfort.

“It’s so important these days to maintain your staff,” he said. “So, if you provide your operators with a comfortable working environment, they’ll still feel fresh at the end of the day, and they’ll be happy to return the next day.”

HCA recently introduced the country’s first ZW220-7 wheel loader at the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) Annual Conference in Melbourne, in June 2023.

Gallina said the conference is a regular part of the events circuit for HCA, and with the pace at which the organics industry is growing, it was just the right place to introduce the new machine.

“It was quite successful, and we’ve received fantastic feedback,” he said.

“The rest of the ZW-7 range is now starting to filter through into the country. We’ve started off with the ZW220-7, but we’ll be expanding the range from our smallest ZW140-7 through to our larger production loaders over the next eight months or so.”

With the introduction of the ZW-7, HCA is aiming to gradually phase out the existing ZW-5 range.

“The ZW-7 range offers improved environmental performance, improved operability, operator comfort, and enhanced safety,” Gallina said.

“As well as comfort, safety is a particular focus for this range. We think it will be one of the safest loaders on the market.”

A couple of key safety-enhancing features on the new loaders include an Aerial Angle 270-degree bird’s-eye camera and rear detection system with assist braking on some models.

“It also introduces a new pressurised cabin to keep the dust out. The cabin also has roof handrails and steps to help clean the windows,” Gallina said.

The ZW-7 loaders also come with productivity features to help operators of any experience level maximise their time in the machine.

“We have included a payload checker system to help operators load trucks more accurately,” Gallina said.

“It also has a ‘soft stop’ feature and when you operate the loader frame or bucket, it measures the angle and slows down when it’s coming to the end of its travel, so there’s no sudden shuddering.”

Another notable standard feature on the loaders, Gallina added, is approach speed control, which is good for short loading cycles.

“The operator can set a maximum speed, depending on the distance they need to travel. This controlled speed can also give more power to the hydraulics at the front for lifting,” he said.

“If you have a novice operating the machine, you can slow down the speed of the attachments until they get used to it, then speed them back up again – all adjustable from inside the cab.

“This means newer operators can learn to use the machine, but reduce the risk of damage to machinery, hoppers, or trucks.”

Specific visual plain English alerts also provide detailed guidance for any function settings or warning message, allowing the operator to maintain focus on their task, and rectify any issues more easily.

“If you’re low on particular fluid for example, the system will actually display on the sub monitor, ‘Hydraulic oil is low, please refill’, rather than just a sound, or a flashing light,” Gallina said.

The system also provides daily inspection reminders on the cabin’s high-resolution 8-inch monitor.

In addition, Hitachi’s telematics system allows many of these processes to be done from the operator’s phone, providing added peace of mind for operators and fleet managers alike.

For Gallina, operator comfort is where the new ZW-7 wheel loaders really shine.

The loaders feature a spacious and ergonomically designed cabin with intuitive controls and a dual-motion synchronised seat and console assembly to help combat operator fatigue and enable better concentration.

“As for controllability, everything’s at your fingertips through the sub-monitor controller on the operator’s right-hand side,” Gallina said.

“The internal noise has also been reduced to make it one of the quietest cabins in the industry, and the vision from inside the cab has been enhanced too.”

In making the ZW-7 loaders, Hitachi has combined European luxury and Japanese reliability to produce the ultimate work machines, Gallina said.

“Hitachi machines are still 100 per cent manufactured in Japan, but they’ve actually taken customer feedback from Hitachi Europe and designed the cabin specifically around European requirements and expectations regarding comfort,” he said.

“And you’ll see European style cues all around the ZW-7’s cabin.”

Gallina said this will appeal to users who are accustomed to European machinery.

“Most importantly, Hitachi products are extremely well backed up and supported in Australia, via its wholly owned national support structure,” he said.

“Just like Hitachi excavators, you know if you buy a Hitachi wheel loader that it’s going to work, and it’s going to be well supported.”

For further details on the Hitachi ZW-7 wheel loader range, visit Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia’s website.