REWARDING LOYALTY WITH RELIABLE MACHINES
Two Hitachi ZXW-7 wheeled excavators are the latest additions to the fleet of Groenen Groep, selected for their reliability and versatility, as well as a token of appreciation for their loyal operators.
When siblings Ronnie and Esther Groenen purchased a road construction company with their father in 2000, they didn’t have to go far to find a reliable construction equipment supplier. Located across the street on the same industrial estate in Veldhoven is authorised Hitachi dealer Pellen BV, and the two companies have been working side by side ever since.
Within the last two decades, Groenen Groep has diversified into groundworks and demolition projects, in addition to road construction, and now works on up to 100 projects at any one time. In terms of personnel, the company has grown from 15 to 125 people, and it now has four locations in the south of the country.
Ronnie and Esther took over the company following their father’s retirement in 2022, and have continued to invest in their fleet of Hitachi construction equipment.
Today they have 20 Hitachi models, ranging from one-tonne mini (ZX10U-6) to 30-tonne medium (ZX300-6) excavators. “The main benefit of Hitachi is that they are reliable machines – they keep going and don’t break down,” says Ronnie. “The resale value is also strong.”
Their relationship with Pellen has also continued to go from strength to strength over the years. Account Manager Jan Smolders regularly advises them on new investments and opportunities: “He’s here every week – not only selling, but he’s almost too much a part of our team!” says Esther, with a laugh.
On a more serious note, there is clearly a mutual respect between the two companies: “They are a reliable partner for us,” adds Esther. “We feel well treated by them – a good relationship works both ways. Pellen always takes the extra step if we have a problem – either fixing an issue the same day or providing us with a rental machine until it is resolved.
“This model has the power and stability we need for demolition sites.
Relationships are important within Groenen Groep too, and the company has built a culture that is based on loyalty and trust. Ronnie and Esther also go the extra mile to support their employees, allowing them to choose options and customise their own excavators. “Every operator has their own machine with their individual settings – arranged with help from Pellen,” explains Esther.
“Many of our staff have worked here a long time. They start as young apprentices, complete their training and stay with us. When we invest in Hitachi excavators, we want reliable machines, but we also want to show our appreciation for our operators. Allowing them to have their own bespoke excavators helps them to feel valued.”
Details make the difference
Operator Danny Dietermann has worked for Groenen Groep for 24 years and operated five Hitachi excavators during that time: one crawler and four wheeled excavators. The versatility of the wheeled excavators appeals to him: “I like to be mobile,” he says, “sometimes I have two jobs in one day.”
His latest model is the ZX180W-7, which arrived in 2023. Equipped with a monoboom and an OilQuick automatic quick coupler, it works with heavy attachments such as shears and a grapple, required for small demolition projects: “This model has the power and stability we need for demolition sites,” adds Danny.
The machine has been customised with his name on the seat, and has additional options such as extra lights and dual flow, which helps to manage the stability of the boom while he is driving on the road between job sites. “The settings on the joysticks for the blade and pedals have been adjusted, so the machine is exactly as I want it.”
As an experienced Hitachi operator, Danny has witnessed many changes across the various generations of machines. The latest significant change to the cab and one of the main benefits of the Zaxis-7 model is the window wiper: “It clears a wider area of the glass and this makes a real difference to visibility when you are sitting in the cab,” he says.
Another improvement is the smaller, adjustable steering column, which can be moved to ensure a comfortable position. “I still think it could be smaller, though!” he adds.
“The main benefit of Hitachi is that they are reliable machines – they keep going and don’t break down.
Stable and versatile
The newest addition to the Groenen Groep fleet is the smaller ZX150W-7 wheeled excavator, operated by Bart Jansen. It is the only machine he needs for the activities required on a housing development in Riethoven. “Here we do everything except the house building: removing trees, digging trenches to install pipes for the sewer system, constructing the pavements and roads – and even helping archaeologists with their research,” says Bart.
Like Danny, Bart appreciates that he can do everything on site with this versatile model, and the stability of the ZX150W-7 is a major advantage: “I like the dozer blade and outrigger for stability, they were especially useful when building the sewer system on this site.”
The Zaxis-7 model has been fitted with a Trimble machine control guidance system, which is also beneficial for Bart’s daily tasks: “All the information is easily available, I don’t need to measure anything. I know exactly where to dig and how deep.”
Rewarding their operators with highquality Hitachi machines that can be customised to their individual requirements has proved to be a successful strategy for Groenen Groep. Its loyalty to Hitachi and Pellen for a quarter of a century has also contributed to its success. Looking to the future, Esther and Ronnie are now preparing to integrate their company’s four locations into one purpose-built facility on a 25,000m2 space in Veldhoven. A new location, yet still close by to its local Hitachi dealer.