plant hire brand
Hitachi
An excavator specialist with a long reputation for hydraulic smoothness. Operators who spend all day in the seat tend to have strong opinions about Zaxis machines, and fleets that serve civils work stock them for that reason.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Built in
Japan
UK availability
Good UK dealer coverage
Established UK dealer network, strong in the excavator classes.
What Hitachi builds
Hitachi model ranges
| Range | What it is |
|---|---|
| Zaxis | Excavator range |
How Hitachi compares
These are the makes buyers actually cross-shop against Hitachi.
Hitachi vs Komatsu
A full-line manufacturer strongest in the mid and heavy excavator classes. Turns up in UK hire mainly through larger fleets and civils contractors rather than local tool-and-plant shops.
Hitachi vs Caterpillar
The global heavyweight. In UK hire it shows up most at the larger end and on long-term contract hire, where dealer support and machine availability across a whole project matter more than day-rate.
Hitachi vs Kubota
The mini excavator most hire fleets standardise on. Reliability and the zero-tail-swing U series are the reasons - on a domestic driveway or a garden job, the ability to slew without catching a wall is worth more than extra breakout force.
UK companies hiring and selling Hitachi
No listed company has told us they carry Hitachi yet.
That does not mean nobody near you does - most plant hire firms carry several makes and list none of them. Start with the companies covering your area:
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GetBrent is an independent directory of UK hire and sales companies. We are not a Hitachi dealer and have no affiliation with, or endorsement from, Hitachi. The Hitachi name and model names are trademarks of their owner, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - always confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.