Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe‘s rental division will supply vocational schools with an excavator or wheel loader free of charge for twelve months, with dealers handling the service
Most construction equipment makers talk about the skills shortage. Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has decided to park a machine in front of it. Its rental division is offering technical schools, colleges and training centres across Europe an excavator or wheel loader free of charge for twelve months, supported by the local dealer network.
The programme was launched this month. Its goal is to help students become skilled operators, technicians and engineers by giving them a real machine to work on, and at the same time to build awareness of the brand among students, teachers and local communities as Hitachi Construction Machinery prepares to become LANDCROS in April 2027.
45% of vacancies hard to fill
The initiative lands on a well-documented problem. In the UK, a National Audit Office report found that 45% of construction vacancies in 2024 were hard to fill because applicants lacked the required skills. Across the EU, construction is among the sectors hit hardest by labour shortages, according to the European Labour Authority. At the same time, the industry is being asked to deliver on infrastructure and building commitments, comply with evolving regulation and absorb new technology.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to contribute to the development of skilled operators and support the next generation of engineering talent within the European construction industry,”
Said Dr Hubertus Muenster, HCME Director Sales, Rental, Distribution Management.
The dealer does the servicing, and the machine goes back to work
The mechanics of the scheme are simple. During the twelve-month placement, any servicing and maintenance is carried out by the local authorised HCME dealer. When the year is over, the excavator or wheel loader returns to the rental fleet and becomes available for normal rental contracts in that market. HCME is still confirming which schools and dealers will take part and which machine types they need.
That structure matters for dealers as much as for schools. A machine on a college site puts the dealer in daily contact with instructors and students who will be tomorrow’s operators, technicians and, in some cases, buyers.
“Having a reliable orange excavator or wheel loader on site will give students invaluable practical experience and set them up for a successful career. It will also enable our dealers to raise their profiles in the locations in which they operate, and build relationships that may lead to potential recruitment and new business opportunities.”
Said Muenster.
For a brand about to change its name across Europe, there are few better places to introduce LANDCROS than the classrooms where the next generation of operators is learning to drive their first machine.
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