April 2022

Richard
Trench

Service Manager, Muswellbrook


What encouraged you or convinced you to join this industry?
I have always had an interest in all things mechanical and a particular interest in machinery and how they work. Having started my career as a fitter in Ireland in the agriculture and construction machinery sector, when the opportunity arose to interview for Hitachi I grabbed it as the chance to work with a market leading OEM – this isn’t something that comes along every day.

What role did you start out in and has it proven to be a good place to begin your career at Hitachi?
I started my career as a Field Service Fitter, moved up to Leading Hand, then Supervisor. Following that I became Project Manager, then Site Manager and now Service Manager.
Starting out as a field service fitter gave me a good foundation to build my career on at Hitachi by introducing me to company systems, processes and the people within the business. Upon joining Hitachi, I quickly realised that this was where I wanted to be and where I wanted to progress my career. However, in those early stages, it also became apparent to me that in order to further my career at the pace I wanted to, I would need to upskill. For this reason, I enrolled in a number of academic courses over the years and Hitachi have sponsored and facilitated some of these.
My studies coupled with on the job coaching, training and mentoring has helped me to advance to my current role. In each role, I have been able to familiarise myself with the next level. Doing so has prepared me for when opportunities arise, that I have a good understanding of the role and have been able to transition seamlessly.

 



The best thing about working here without doubt are the people

How would you describe your career journey with Hitachi?
I joined Hitachi with the ambition of furthering my career. My journey so far has been thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding. The best thing about working here without doubt are the people. Everyone is and always has been friendly, cooperative and willing to help in whatever way they can. The culture of safety first, collaboration and promoting of personal values and ideas is not something that can be found everywhere and is something I value immensely.

 

Do you feel confident in your future at Hitachi?
Yes, I believe that there will always be opportunities for those who want to take advantage of that. The Muswellbrook branch is a great example to showcase the opportunities. For example, in the service team we currently have 13 Supervisors, all of which have been promoted from within the business. The senior management team; Branch Manager, Service, Parts, Admin, After Sales and Major Projects Managers have also all been promoted from within the business. Personally, having come to Australia with Hitachi on the 357 visa scheme back in 2012, I cannot recommend Hitachi Construction Machinery (Aust) highly enough as a place to work and build a career.





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#TheOrangeFamily

📍See you at AgQuip 2026!

We're looking forward to meeting customers and industry professionals at AgQuip 2026 in Gunnedah.
As one of Australia's premier agricultural field days, AgQuip showcases the latest products, technology and services for the agriculture, earthmoving and construction industries. 
It's the perfect place to discover innovative solutions, connect with industry experts and see what's new.

Stop by Stand X18 to meet the Hitachi team and learn more about our range of reliable equipment, genuine parts and nationwide support network.

We look forward to seeing you there!

#AgQuip2026 #HitachiConstruction #HitachiAustralia #ConstructionEquipment #Agriculture #LANDCROS
Now that’s a prize stack worth taking home! 🔥❄️

Congratulations to our 2026 Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME) competition winner, who scored a brand-new Weber BBQ and bar fridge simply by visiting our stand and entering the draw.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, met the team and entered the competition. We hope our winner enjoys firing up the Weber and keeping the refreshments cold!
Big congratulations to Katon Cronin, who has taken delivery of his brand-new Hitachi ZX17U-5 from our Darwin branch!

After years of experience working across Darwin’s civil construction industry, Katon is taking the next step — backing himself and pursuing opportunities of his own.
Backing yourself starts with the right machine. 💪🧡

And what better way to get started than with a new Hitachi by your side?

We’re proud to be part of Katon’s next chapter and wish him every success as he gets down to business.

Here’s to new ventures, hard work and plenty of hours on the ZX17U-5. 👊
We're proud to be attending Diggers & Dealers 2026 in Kalgoorlie!

Visit the Hitachi team at Stand 69 and join the conversation on the future of mining. 
As the industry continues to evolve, advancements in technology are driving safer, smarter and more productive operations. From innovative equipment and digital solutions to enhanced support and service capabilities, we're committed to helping our customers meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Whether you'd like to discuss emerging industry trends or simply catch up with the team, we'd love to see you
📆3-5 August 2026
🗺️Goldfields Arts Centre, 35 Cheetham Street, Kalgoorlie WA 6430
📍Stand 69
📍See you at AgQuip 2026!

We're looking forward to meeting customers and industry professionals at AgQuip 2026 in Gunnedah.
As one of Australia's premier agricultural field days, AgQuip showcases the latest products, technology and services for the agriculture, earthmoving and construction industries. 
It's the perfect place to discover innovative solutions, connect with industry experts and see what's new.

Stop by Stand X18 to meet the Hitachi team and learn more about our range of reliable equipment, genuine parts and nationwide support network.

We look forward to seeing you there!

#AgQuip2026 #HitachiConstruction #HitachiAustralia #ConstructionEquipment #Agriculture #LANDCROS
Now that’s a prize stack worth taking home! 🔥❄️

Congratulations to our 2026 Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME) competition winner, who scored a brand-new Weber BBQ and bar fridge simply by visiting our stand and entering the draw.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, met the team and entered the competition. We hope our winner enjoys firing up the Weber and keeping the refreshments cold!
Big congratulations to Katon Cronin, who has taken delivery of his brand-new Hitachi ZX17U-5 from our Darwin branch!

After years of experience working across Darwin’s civil construction industry, Katon is taking the next step — backing himself and pursuing opportunities of his own.
Backing yourself starts with the right machine. 💪🧡

And what better way to get started than with a new Hitachi by your side?

We’re proud to be part of Katon’s next chapter and wish him every success as he gets down to business.

Here’s to new ventures, hard work and plenty of hours on the ZX17U-5. 👊
We're proud to be attending Diggers & Dealers 2026 in Kalgoorlie!

Visit the Hitachi team at Stand 69 and join the conversation on the future of mining. 
As the industry continues to evolve, advancements in technology are driving safer, smarter and more productive operations. From innovative equipment and digital solutions to enhanced support and service capabilities, we're committed to helping our customers meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Whether you'd like to discuss emerging industry trends or simply catch up with the team, we'd love to see you
📆3-5 August 2026
🗺️Goldfields Arts Centre, 35 Cheetham Street, Kalgoorlie WA 6430
📍Stand 69

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