The Challenges for the UK Plant Operator of the Year are listed below, as you can see there are 11 challenges in all. (Challenge 10 “Lift Loader” is for crane operators only).
For the majority of finalists, you will be asked to select a maximum of five challenges from the ten open to you.
Whilst the challenges and sponsors are locked in, we will make every effort to ensure the machine on the day is as described below. We apologise in advance should any last-minute alterations need to be made.
Each task will have two independent judges whose decision will be final. They will give a final brief before your task starts. Whilst a number of the challenges are timed, getting the task completed safely and accurately will be as important.
CHALLENGE 1: Trench Box Transfer
A challenge designed to test the operator’s skill and judgement, using the Tiltrotator on a JCB 13 tonne excavator to demonstrate the control required to transfer spoil from one sunken, angled box to another.
CHALLENGE 2: Backhoe Precision Showdown
A challenge to test the operators control and judgement, as you will be asked to navigate around a track in both forward and reverse, whilst undertaking a bucket transfer.
CHALLENGE 3: Straight & Narrow
A classic challenge of digging a straight trench, to a prescribed depth in the allotted time.
CHALLENGE 4: Grapple Grab
Fitted to a Takeuchi 3-tonne excavator Operators will be tasked using skill and control to safely lift a sleeper from point A slewing and carefully positioning to point B.
CHALLENGE 5: Tipping Point
Using a Thwaites 2-tonne Hi Swivel filled with footballs, Operators will negotiate a short course, before executing a controlled tip of half of the balls into a skip.
CHALLENGE 6: Skip Tip
Operating a Volvo 13-ton Excavator with fitted forks, Operators will be asked, using their skill and control to carefully pick up a series of basketballs and carefully drop in the series of Conquip concrete skips.
CHALLENGE 7: Make The Grade
Flannery, grading challenge. Using a JCB 13ton Excavator Finalists will be asked to dig a specified trench, change the digging bucket to a grading bucket and then back fill.
CHALLENGE 8: Reverse Engineering
An ADT Manoeuvring Challenge. Sponsored by Astrak, Operators over a laid track marked by cones, will use their skill and control to drive both forwards and then back up onto an incline.
CHALLENGE 9: The Big Push
Operating a CAT D6 Operators will look to accurately level ground spoil all to within the tolerances laid out by the judges.
CHALLENGE 11: Lock N Load
This new 24ton all electric LiuGong machine will be used to load a Volvo ADT to a specified weight, within the given time.
WHICH CHALLENGES WILL YOU COMPETE IN?
Now you have seen all of the information regarding the different challenges at the event this year, please click the link below to select the FIVE challenges you would like to compete in on the day, best of luck to you all.
* Please be aware that should any challenges be over subscribed a ballot will be held.
