At SaMoTer, the Italian construction equipment show held in Verona from 6 to 9 March, Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe (HCME) unveiled the LANDCROS Mini, a prototype mini excavator developed directly from operator feedback. The concept reflects the company’s new product direction ahead of its planned 2027 rebrand, with a stronger focus on designing around real jobsite needs.
Still under development, the LANDCROS Mini won two recognitions from the SaMoTer jury: the Design Award and a technical mention in the hydraulic excavators category.
“LANDCROS is built on a simple principle: the customer comes first, and technology serves that, not the other way around. LANDCROS MINI is what happens when you take that seriously. We are deeply honored by the award. The operator’s verdict will drive us.”
Said Francesco Quaranta, President and CEO of Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe.
That “operator’s verdict” is not a slogan. HCME has been collecting structured feedback from operators throughout the development process, including hands-on evaluation sessions supported by surveys. The same approach was used at SaMoTer, where visitors could step into the cab and share their impressions, inputs that will be used for ongoing refinements.
“This concept model is based on the ZX55U-6, but what we’re really testing is a new design philosophy. We’ve given operators a unique opportunity to have a direct influence on the machines that will shape tomorrow’s job sites. We’re listening, and what they tell us here in Verona will drive the decisions we make in the engineering room”
Said Norihiko Kinugawa, Product Manager at HCME.
Among the headline features is an audio link between the boom area and the cab, designed to make communication easier without opening the door or shouting. For safety, the prototype also integrates LED lighting signals to warn of pedestrians near the machine, reducing the need to constantly shift attention to the display. The display features a slide-out design and a customisable interface.
Inside, the cab is designed to feel more like a workspace than a compromise. HCME highlighted extra storage, dedicated spaces for personal items, and magnetic phone charging. Ergonomics have also been revised, with a switchable pedal layout, a longer and more comfortable handle, and easier access thanks to an additional step.
Beyond the physical features, Hitachi is also pushing a new development process. The LANDCROS Mini was created using virtual design and augmented reality tools, methods widely used in automotive but rarely applied at this depth to compact construction machinery. The prototype was tested, refined and validated in a digital environment before any physical components were built. HCME describes this approach as “phygital”, a seamless conversion of digital design intelligence into physical reality.
For Quaranta, that is exactly the point: technology should serve a clear goal, making operators’ work easier rather than asking them to adapt to the machine.
The LANDCROS Mini is expected to reach the market in the coming years. In the meantime, HCME is preparing for the wider transition to the LANDCROS identity, stressing that the name will change, but the value and customer trust associated with the Hitachi brand will remain.
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