Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1543322
NUTS AND BOLTS NEWS Hitachi Construction Machinery to Establish LANDCROS R&D Center in Germany Designed to accelerate the development of next-generation products, the new center will focus on the company's battery-powered excavators, ICT-enabled products and digital solutions. struction Machinery Co. Ltd. has announced it will establish LANDCROS De- velopment Center Europe GmbH, a new research and development (R&D) subsid- iary in Germany, effective Jan. 1, 2026. e new center will focus on the company's battery-powered excavators, information and communi- cations technology (ICT)-en- abled products and digital solutions. e new R&D hub is in- tended to help Hitachi accelerate the development of next-generation products by leveraging Europe's stringent environmental regulations and demand for advanced construction technology. e facility is the first new com- pany to be established under the LANDCROS trade name since Hitachi announced its brand transition plan. European Market Drives Innovation Hitachi cited Europe's strict environmental standards and growing demand for zero-emission equipment as key drivers for the deci- sion. e company noted the region's leadership in develop- ing labor-saving technologies and ICT-equipped machinery. "Establishing LANDCROS Development Center Europe strengthens our commitment to working closely with Euro- pean partners and leveraging the region's leadership in sustainability and technolo- gy," said Francesco Quaranta, president and CEO of Hitachi Construction Machinery (Eu- rope) NV (HCME). "is new hub will enable us to co-create next-generation solutions that meet local needs while driving global progress in zero-emission and digital construction machinery." Division of R&D Responsibilities e establishment of the new center clarifies the develop- ment roles between it and KTEG GmbH, an existing joint venture between Kiesel Technology GmbH and Hita- chi Construction Machinery. e company aims to hire approximately 100 developers for the new center from the construction machinery and automotive industries. e responsibilities will be divided as follows: • LANDCROS Develop- ment Center Europe will focus on developing next-generation bat- tery-powered excavators, ICT-compatible products and digital solutions for Hitachi's global roadmap. • KTEG will concentrate on developing and marketing specialized application products tailored to Euro- pean customer needs. Global R&D Network e German facility will be a key hub in Hitachi Con- struction Machinery's global development network, which also includes centers in Japan and India. e company stat- ed it plans to collaborate with European partners, such as automotive industry suppliers and technology specialists, to develop new solutions. H itachi Con- www.forconstructionpros.com 28 IDA Universal Q1 2026