The inaugural European final brought together operators from nine countries in Amsterdam, highlighting machine skills, dealer support and the Reliable Orange identity before Hitachi Construction Machinery becomes LANDCROS.
Belgian operator Guy Jacobs has been named the winner of the LANDCROS European Operator Challenge, taking the title after a close final held at Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV in Amsterdam.
The competition brought together national champions from nine European countries: Belgium, France, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. For Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe, the event placed the spotlight on the people behind machine performance at a time when the company is preparing for a major brand transition.
In April 2027, Hitachi Construction Machinery will become LANDCROS. The European Operator Challenge gave the company an opportunity to connect that future identity with the familiar “Reliable Orange” machines already used by operators and customers across Europe.
The inaugural final took place on 11 September, following nine qualifying rounds hosted locally by leading European dealers between May and June. The winners of those national rounds travelled to Amsterdam to compete in eight skill-based tasks designed to test precision, control and speed on Hitachi construction machinery.
Guy Jacobs emerged as the overall winner after taking first place in four of the tasks. He finished with the same score as Dutch competitor Tjerk Segers, who placed second, but secured victory by completing the challenges in a faster overall time.
“I doubted myself all day, wondering if I was good enough, particularly after the flying bottle challenge didn’t go so well! I’m usually focused on precision and balance, but it was speed that made the difference today”
said Jacobs.
His prize is an exclusive trip for two to Japan. For the Belgian operator, the visit will also be an opportunity to see the company behind the machines used in the competition.
“I’ve never been before so I’m very curious about the country and I definitely want to see the Hitachi Construction Machinery factory”
he added.
For contractors, fleet owners and dealers, operator competitions also underline the role of skilled operators in getting the best from construction equipment. Precision, balance, speed and machine familiarity can directly affect productivity, safety and performance on site. The LANDCROS European Operator Challenge placed those skills at the centre of the event.
HCME also used the final to recognize the wider operator community and the dealer network that supported the qualifying rounds.
“Congratulations to everyone who competed in the LANDCROS European Operator Challenge 2026. Thank you for your enthusiasm, passion and camaraderie throughout the event. This has been a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the expertise of our talented operator community, highlight the support of our dealers, and showcase the performance of some of our most popular reliable orange machines.”
Said HCME Director Marketing & Brand Communication Laura Hendriks.
For operators such as Jacobs, however, the focus in Amsterdam was immediate and practical: control the machine, complete the task and beat the clock. In the first LANDCROS European Operator Challenge final, that combination was enough to take Belgium to the top of the podium.
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