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MARKET REPORT COMPACT PLANT


Hanix gears up


A revitalised Hanix Europe is determined to again increase UK sales of its compact excavators from Japan. Nick Johnson reports from the company’s new High Wycombe HQ.


In the competitive world of compact excavators, the Hanix machines from Japan have slipped down the UK sales league in recent years. However, the brand is now set to make a comeback - aided by the financial strength of a new parent company and the creation of a new UK base and team.


Last year, only approximately 20 Hanix excavators were sold in the UK - considerably fewer than 30 years ago when, under the original Nissan name, the brand became one of the mini market leaders. First imported by the Denton, Manchester-based dealer, Brown & Tawse, in September 1980, the Nissan machines proved popular with hire companies and they certainly helped to pioneer the use of smaller excavators in this country.


Such was the demand for the Nissans that a manufacturing facility was established at Denton in 1988 to produce a number of the most popular models. The Hanix name was introduced a year later and, when Brown & Tawse decided to pull out of construction equipment distribution in 1992, a new Japanese owned subsidiary company called Hanix Europe was created.


Japanese compact excavator maker Takeuchi (including half that time here in the UK). Ito-san considers that Hanix has a good future in the UK, and he is aiming to dramatically increase sales here next year to around 300 units. To help achieve this significant upturn he has re-located the Hanix Europe HQ from Denton to a more modern, cost-effective facility at High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Now nearer to all the construction activity in London and southern England, this new base provides covered storage for up to 30 units and a well-stocked spare parts facility.


A new team has been appointed, which includes Paul Clarke, formerly with Takeuchi, as UK Sales Manager, Chris Teasdale from Takeuchi as Service Manager and Mark Beacham, who has extensive Kubota experience, as Parts Manager. The intention is to re-establish a strong UK dealer network and to better promote the brand.


The recently introduced H27DR is one of the machines regarded as having particular appeal to UK hirers.


In 1999 it was decided that all Hanix machines should be made by the Nagano (NKK) factory in Japan. This company, which claims to have produced the first hydraulic 360° slewing mini excavator in the world in 1971, had already been making some Hanix models. NKK then bought Hanix Europe in 2000.


The introduction of new ‘D’ series models over the last four years has helped Hanix to maintain a foothold in the UK market, where it still has some loyal customers. But NKK suffered as a result of the global economic crisis and, late last year, it was purchased by the Chinese industrial machinery manufacturing company, Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Holding Group. This deal gives NKK much greater financial muscle and provides Jingcheng with a construction machinery line and European sales outlets.


Another recent plus for Hanix Europe has been the appointment of Michiro Ito as its MD. He previously spent 28 years working for


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The new HQ is close to the M40 motorway to facilitate travel around the UK. And its proximity to London’s airports will facilitate reaching countries such as Belgium, Germany, Holland, Norway and Sweden, where Hanix excavators remain popular.


Ito-san states that, despite the corporate change, there is no intention to move Hanix excavator manufacture from Japan. The latest production model to arrive here is the zero tail swing H27DR that weighs 2690kg with cab and rubber tracks. Powered by a 14.4kW (19.6hp) Kubota D1105-E3B engine, this 1550mm wide machine can be carried with spare buckets on a plant trailer within the 3500kg towing limit.


Hanix Europe sees particular potential for selling the new H27DR and the 1700kg conventional swing H17D introduced in 2011. Also of interest to EHN readers is the H09D micro that weighs in at 980kg. At the top end of its range, Hanix is set to introduce a new midi model - the 8 tonne class H80D - next year. So things are looking up for Hanix, which appears better placed to achieve its goal of increased UK machine sales.


• 01494 429040 www.hanixeurope.com


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