Schmidt Equipment Inc. has entered into an agreement to represent Hitachi in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The announcement was made by Schmidt President Dennis Neslusan at a gala ceremony featuring a mini-equipment expo, cocktails, and dinner for more than 200 Schmidt customers, employees and Hitachi representatives. The event was hosted at the Sheraton Tara Hotel in Framingham, MA. Also on hand were representatives of John Deere. Schmidt has represented the Deere line since 1956.

“This is a really great day for our company,” Neslusan said. “With this agreement we now have what we feel are the top two names in the construction industry — John Deere and Hitachi. It’s a combination that simply can’t be beat. These two companies have long been associated with excellent value, innovation and rugged durability. While we are broadening our line to better serve our customers, we’re now able to offer them the best in the business.”

The Hitachi line will be handled out of all five of the company’s locations in Massachusetts, including its headquarters in North Oxford, and offices in Swansea, Springfield, Billerica and Plymouth.

Hitachi has come out with a new line of excavators it calls Zaxis excavators. All of the new excavators rely on monitoring systems that allow the operator to download performance information on a PDA (personal digital assistant). The information can be transferred to a laptop or desk computer.

“Over the next two years, Hitachi will be introducing more and more of these types of excavators,” Neslusan said. “We think it will have a great impact on the construction equipment market.”

Schmidt Equipment is a full-service equipment supplier to its market area. Along with sales, the company handles rentals, service, parts, painting, line boring, preventative maintenance and undercarriage work. The company employs 115, including 18 sales representatives. In addition to the full lineup of John Deere Construction and Forestry equipment, and the newly-added Hitachi Construction line, Schmidt represents Interstate trailers, JRB couplers and attachments, Indeco hydraulic hammers, Rogers trailers and a full lineup of products to support the construction industry.

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