Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. was formally established on 1 October 1970 through the merger of Hitachi Construction Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and the (former) Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., with an initial capital of ¥3.8 billion. The origins of the company, however, trace back to earlier construction machinery activities within the
Hitachi Group. In December 1955, Hitachi Construction Machinery Service Co., Ltd. was established as a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. In April 1965, this company was incorporated together with the construction machinery sales divisions of Hitachi, Ltd., resulting in the formation of the first Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. In November 1969, Hitachi, Ltd.'s construction machinery manufacturing division was spun off and reorganized as Hitachi Construction Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., with production facilities in
Adachi and
Tsuchiura. These restructuring steps culminated in the October 1970 merger that created the present company. In October 1973, the company merged with Sagami Kogyo Co., Ltd. (established on 30 January 1951), resulting in a change to the par value of shares and an increase in capital to ¥3.85 billion.
International expansion (1970s–1990s) Beginning in the 1970s, the company expanded internationally. In 1972, Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) N.V. was established in the
Netherlands. Subsequent decades saw the creation of operations and subsidiaries in
Singapore (1984), the
United States (1988, through Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corp.),
Indonesia (1991),
China (1995), and
Canada (1998). The company was listed on the Second Section of the
Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 1981 and moved to the First Section in September 1989. It was also listed on the First Section of the
Osaka Securities Exchange in January 1990.
Consolidation and acquisitions (2000–present) During the 2000s and 2010s, Hitachi Construction Machinery strengthened its global position through strategic joint ventures, acquisitions, and internal restructuring. In 2002, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Cranes Co., Ltd. was established as a joint venture. In 2010, the company acquired management rights in Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Pvt., Ltd. in
India. Notable acquisitions included
Wenco International Mining Systems Ltd. (2009), H-E Parts International LLC (2016), and Bradken Pty Limited (2017), expanding the company's presence in the mining equipment and aftermarket parts sectors. At the same time, the company carried out multiple internal reorganizations, including mergers of subsidiaries, transfers of business operations, and rationalization of manufacturing and logistics structures. In January 2022, the parent company,
Hitachi, sold 26 percent of its remaining 51% stake to
Itochu Corp. In October 2025, the company's board announced that the company will change its corporate name and brand to "LANDCROS" in April 2027 and would being a transition process. In December 2025, the company announced that it was launching LANDCROS Development Center Europe GmbH in Germany as of 1 January 2026. This new research hub will focus on battery-powered excavators and other technology solutions. It is also the first corporate entity to use the company's new LANDCROS name. ==Products==