Hitachi renovates wheel loader manufacturing facility into new regional headquarters
Sustainable building practices at the forefront of new headquarters facility
Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas has opened a new sustainable headquarters facility in Newnan, Georgia. Hitachi says that this adaptive-use facility will help propel the company's growth in the Americas. It will facilitate the development and production of new machinery and boost customer support.
Since taking the lead for the brand's construction and mining equipment in the Americas, Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas has more than tripled its employee count. Encompassing 88,128 square feet (8,187 square metres) of office space and 27,686 square feet (2,572 square metres) of conference, ConSite command centre, and training space. The design of the new headquarters is aimed at increasing creativity and inspiring future growth.
"In March 2022, we set out on a path to establish a more direct connection with customers. Our culture has been very much involved with listening, understanding, and implementing customer feedback," said Al Quinn, CEO of Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas. "By combining the resources of the excavator, loader and mining businesses, the company has experienced a tenfold demand from previous years. The investment in a regional Americas facility helps strengthen that direct connection to the customer."
The new headquarters will help the company focus on key growth areas. This includes the compact and construction business network. Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas is also expanding sales of mining excavators for construction and quarry sites in addition to mining sites. In addition to the new regional headquarters facility, Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas is also creating operating bases for parts remanufacturing and expansion of the rental business that will also provide additional support and options.
"Establishing a direct connection with customers means listening and aligning with their needs and values," said Quinn. "The industry has actively embraced a move toward sustainable practices, and this thoughtful consideration is reflected in the design of the new headquarters."
The campus spans 19 acres (76,890 square metres) and was initially established as a wheel loader assembly and manufacturing facility in 1987. Embracing sustainable practices, Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas opted for adaptive reuse principles in the development of the existing property. Over 75,347 square feet (7,000 square metres) of greenspace was reclaimed from the site by reconfiguring the employee parking areas and eliminating buildings and concrete.
Noteworthy sustainable practices included the recycling of concrete, steel, and wood already on the site. Reclaimed materials included 5,101 cubic yards (3,900 cubic metres) of recycled concrete repurposed for roadway, fill, and redistribution; 40,580 square feet (3,770 square metres) of exterior metal wall panels recycled, and 125 tons (113 metric tons) of steel frame structure reused. In addition, 69,965 square feet (6,500 square metres) of existing concrete slabs were reused, 4,920 square feet (1,500 square metres) of roof purlins, and 48,976 square feet (4,550 square metres) of old metal roof panels became decking for the new roof. Stairways and stair seating areas utilize 1,545 linear feet (471 metres) of reclaimed heart pine wood. Recycled plastics were used to manufacture all carpet products.
The headquarters stands out for its energy-efficient design, featuring Low-E glass that blocks 62 percent of solar energy while allowing 70 percent of visible light to pass through. Skylights and roll-up doors contribute to natural lighting. An advanced energy management system monitors and optimizes energy consumption and temperature changes.
