My

My name is Antti Vanonen and I am the co-owner of Maanrakennus Vanonen Ky. The company was established in 1963 by my father and specialises in forestry, as well as small construction projects. It is based in Halmeniemi, 190km north-east of Helsinki, in Finland.

We use a Hitachi ZX110M-3 excavator to build and maintain ditches for irrigation and to prepare the ground for new trees to be planted.

Hitachi

The ZX110M-3 has been modified especially for forestry applications by the official Hitachi dealer in Finland, Rotator. It has a strengthened undercarriage with track support skis to enhance its durability. The 900mm wide tracks ensure low ground pressure, which is particularly important on soft, damp terrain.

The ZX110M-3 was delivered in April 2009 and it now has 1,740 working hours. Rotator installed Xenon lights to enhance visibility, hydraulics for the quick coupler, and additional protection on the side of the machine and top of the cab.

Experience

Our first Hitachi machine was a used EX100M, which we bought in 2004. When my father started the company, he used a backhoe loader to maintain ditches, which was hard work compared to working with Hitachi machines.

The EX100M worked reliably for 6,000 hours, so we decided to buy another Hitachi model. We wanted the same kind of machine with similar capabilities. And the resale value for Hitachi models is relatively high in Finland.

Compared to the EX100M, the ZX110M-3 is slightly faster and more powerful. Speed is important because our company works mainly on a contract basis. In a typical working day, it can maintain trenches in a 1,000m² area and also create approximately 1,800 shallow holes in a 4,000m² area, where new trees will be planted. It is also easy to handle and precise.

Finland > ZX110 > Forestry