Ben Wade is a young plant operator and content creator whose progress we have followed since as a teenager he entered the UK Plant Operator of the Year 2022.
In this piece we hear from Ben in his own words about his recent shift from construction to forestry, the differences he has noticed on the job, why forestry is a whole new level of tough on machines… Plus what it’s like working in the woods.
Ben also talks about the opportunity he took to be part of the Hyundai demo team at Bauma, find out what he was demoing and how he got on.
Watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs2xIwP8EzI
The Move to Forestry
Part way through 2024 a new opportunity came about with a local contractor named Clixby’s who primarily work in forestry. The job advert was initially asking for an experienced tree harvester operator and me being me, with no experience, thought I’d try my luck!
The idea of forestry had been appealing to me for a long while, having spent a lot of my time up in Scotland where forestry is a key part of many communities, it seemed like a great way to spend the working day! After doing a trial shift and loving it, I started the following month.
Clixby’s undertake all sorts of contracts. Being renowned for their bike trails across the UK, as part of their business they also run a business which undertakes both thinning and clear-fell work.
I began on their Case CX145 which is modified to operate a Logset TH65 tree harvester. This machine is a real powerhouse, being able to perform really well in tight areas. I operated the machine on local jobs each lasting a few months.
Get Your Spanners Out.
Clixby recently had some new kit join the fleet, a John Deere harvester and a second forwarder meaning a seat on the old one came available. The forwarder is a John Deere 810E. These are really advanced pieces of kit, with 8-wheel drive, a rotating cab, and a crane! This machine’s job is to collect the lengths of timber produced by the harvester, take them out of the woods, and stack them into neat piles at the roadside ready to be collected by a haulier.
All of these machines are extremely well engineered; however, forestry is a whole new level of tough on a machine when compared to a normal construction site! Branches, tree stumps, and brash sticking up from the ground are always testing on the machine and it’s not uncommon to get your spanners out multiple times a week. This has taught me a great deal though. Fixing the machine yourself with no fitter just isn’t something I’d have been doing on a normal site before.
Working in the Woods.
Working in forestry has really made me see the other side of the industry. Many see trees being cut down and immediately have negative views. However, working in the woods each day has really opened my eyes to the reason behind it. Species common in the UK such as Larch are susceptible to disease, one of these being Phytophthora. It is highly destructive and causes extensive damage to woodland. Infected woodlands must be dealt with to prevent spreading, and this is where our work comes in.
Commercially grown timber is managed to an incredibly high standard and the governing bodies in this country have a huge amount of care for the environment.
Bauma Leaving on a Jet Plane.
Having demonstrated for Hyundai at the 2024 Hillhead Show, I received a hugely exciting offer to demonstrate for them at the upcoming Bauma Construction Show. I leapt on the opportunity and a few months later found myself sitting on a plane leaving Manchester airport heading to Munich! I was extremely nervous at the time, with Bauma being such a huge show and so far from home, the pressure was definitely on!
With myself, Will Goldstone, and Nigel Horton as demo drivers we worked together with Hyundai to master a routine ready for the crowds. The routine aimed to show each machine’s key features with a big emphasis on hydrogen and new technology.
Hydrogen Hyundai.
I took to the controls of Hyundai’s prototype hydrogen wheeled excavator. Having worked with hydrogen during work experience with JCB a few years ago, I was very excited to see how this technology was developing.
Hyundai’s prototype machine runs from a hydrogen fuel cell system, different to the conventional hydrogen combustion technology we often hear about. A fuel cell relies on a chemical reaction that happens between the hydrogen stored onboard and oxygen, which in turn generates power to run the machines pumps and electrical systems.
The process is almost silent, with the only emission being droplets of water and the occasional puff of steam. A full tank lasts around 12 hours and still delivers the same power you’d expect from the diesel alternative.
This was Hyundai’s first time performing a live demonstration at Bauma, meaning their stand was a totally new concept. It featured bright colours, wooden benches, decking, and artificial turf. The demo area was surrounded by an impressive lineup of the new machines on display, all of this looked over by the Hyundai Café balcony. All in all it was a very impressive stand.
Bauma Diary
I spent almost two weeks in Munich however a typical day would see me getting up and leaving the hotel around 6 AM alongside Will and Nigel. Once arriving at the ginormous showground, we’d make our way to the Hyundai stand to enjoy breakfast. Along the way to the stand, it was very easy to be distracted by some of the sights such as Komatsu’s PC7000 (which I had the chance to go on!!)
The show opens its doors early on and runs for the whole day meaning a constant cycle of new visitors to every stand. Our demonstrations were every hour, so it certainly kept us busy!
After the show we always enjoyed eating out or sometimes just enjoying what the hotel had to offer.
During the show, Hyundai Construction’s CEO made a visit to see the stand, he was extremely impressed and as such invited everyone to a Korean BBQ in Munich. This was a first for me, but what an experience it was! I really enjoyed the food and even got to pour the CEO himself a shot! Cheers, or Geonbae!
Power of Social Media
Since the last UK Plant of the Year competition, I’ve been working hard on keeping my social media up to date! A close friend and I “MidlandsAgri” have been working together on a multitude of projects. Both putting our videography skills to use and creating really eye catching and different videos to the norm.
This has primarily been on Instagram for me which definitely sees the most interaction. More recently the Department for Education reached out and asked me to collaborate with them on a project to announce their new skills package which invests in young people to help give them opportunities in construction.
UKPOOTY 25
I’ve been coming to the event for a few years now with this year being no exception! It’s always a great day out and really brings the operator community together. I’m looking forward to entering this year to try out the new challenges and machines on offer. It’s a really good chance to let your skills shine but also to enjoy machines you might not normally get to try!
Best of luck to everyone who enters.
To follow Ben on social media just search ‘Ben the Operator’.
