Research and Development drives progress at Hitachi Construction Machinery

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd (HCM) has revealed an increase in spend on research and development, signalling the growing importance of innovation in the construction industry. As a leading construction equipment manufacturer, HCM is constantly improving and updating its product offering to meet customers’ evolving needs. However, the growing demands for digitalisation and decarbonisation, among other industry trends, are driving the need for greater innovation and more rapid technological advancements.

In light of this, HCM increased its R&D spend – in terms of the share of its total sales in 2024 – to 2.7%. This equates to 219.6m euros (258.6m US dollars) and represents an increase in share compared to 2.2% in 2023, returning to the level of 2.5% it spent in 2021.*

Solutions beyond machinery

HCM established the LANDCROS concept in 2024, focusing on its future direction and responding to the significant changes occurring within the construction industry. This indicates the company’s aim to become a true solutions provider, and its desire to deliver innovative products and services. HCM considers the transition from ownership to usage and increasing environmental awareness within the sector. It also recognises the need for high-quality, high-performance machinery, as well as solutions for optimised operation throughout a machine’s life cycle.

More recently, Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) presented the futuristic LANDCROS One concept excavator at Bauma 2025. Developed in collaboration with Granstudio, the machine embodies the Hitachi vision for a smarter, safer and more sustainable future in construction.

„LANDCROS One is more than just a machine,” said HCME President and CEO Francesco Quaranta. „It’s our commitment to deliver solutions beyond machinery in a new construction ecosystem. We’re proud to lead the new wave of innovation, empowering the next-generation workforce and redefining possibilities in the construction machinery industry.”
*As reported by Construction Briefing, ‘How much do the world’s biggest OEMs spend on R&D’, June 2025

About Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME)

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) is a subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (HCM) established in 1972 in Oosterhout, The Netherlands. It is responsible for the manufacture, sales and marketing of Hitachi construction equipment throughout Europe, parts of Africa, and Israel. Today, HCME employs over 500 people, based at its headquarters in Amsterdam, and locations in Germany, France and the UK.

About Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd (HCM)

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6305), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a construction machinery manufacturer which globally deploys development, manufacturing, sales, and service businesses for its hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, compaction equipment, and mining machinery, etc. In addition to its new machinery business, Hitachi Construction Machinery is expanding its „value chain businesses” of parts and services, remanufacturing (parts and machines), rentals, and used equipment as it aims to grow together with customers as a true solutions provider that offers innovative solutions to customers. As our vow to all stakeholders to achieve this mission, we established and are currently disseminating and promoting the LANDCROS as our new concept. With roughly 26,000 employees around the world, the consolidated sales revenue for Hitachi Construction Machinery was 1,405.9 billion yen for fiscal year 2023 (ended March 2024) with an overseas sales revenue ratio of 84%.

For more details, please see the company’s website