R&D drives progress at Hitachi Construction Machinery
Manufacturer reveals increase in spending on research and development to meet customers’ evolving needs
HITACHI Construction Machinery Co. Ltd (HCM) have revealed an increase in spend on research and development (R&D), signalling the growing importance of innovation in the construction industry.
As a leading construction equipment manufacturer, HCM are constantly improving and updating their product offering to meet customers’ evolving needs. However, the growing demands for digitalization and decarbonization, among other industry trends, are driving the need for greater innovation and more rapid technological advancements.
In light of this, HCM increased their R&D spend – in terms of the share of their total sales in 2024 – to 2.7%. This equates to €219.6 million (US$ 258.6 million) and represents an increase in share compared with the 2.2% spent in 2023, returning to the level of 2.5% the company spent in 2021.*
Focusing on their future direction and responding to the significant changes occurring within the construction industry, HCM established the LANDCROS concept in 2024, indicating the company’s aim to become a true solutions provider, and its desire to deliver innovative products and services.
As well as the transition from ownership to usage and increasing environmental awareness within the sector, HCM say they also recognize the need for high-quality, high-performance machinery, as well as solutions for optimized operation throughout a machine’s life cycle.
More recently, Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) presented the futuristic LANDCROS One concept excavator at Bauma 2025. Developed in collaboration with Granstudio, the machine embodies the Hitachi vision for a smarter, safer, and more sustainable future in construction.
‘LANDCROS One is more than just a machine,’ said HCME president and chief executive officer Francesco Quaranta. ‘It’s our commitment to deliver solutions beyond machinery in a new construction ecosystem. We’re proud to lead the new wave of innovation, empowering the next-generation workforce and redefining possibilities in the construction machinery industry.’
*As reported by Construction Briefing, ‘How much do the world’s biggest OEMs spend on R&D’, June 2025
