Big Machines, Practical Skills: Two More Isle of Wight Training Updates

From a 35-metre rotating Merlo telehandler to a compact Yanmar excavator, it’s been another varied spell of on-site machinery training for Wight Training Services.

TL;DR

• Freddie and Charlie from Greenscapes completed experienced operator training on their Merlo ROTO.
• The machine is a Merlo ROTO 50.35 S PLUS rotating telehandler.
• Greenscapes use specialist machinery for demanding tree care and removal work.
• Joe and Sunny Cole of J. Cole Tree Surgery and Landscapes refreshed their 360° excavator skills.
• Their machine is a Yanmar ViO17 zero-tail mini excavator.

One of the things I enjoy about providing on-site training across the Isle of Wight is the sheer variety of machinery I get to work with.



Two recent jobs are a good example. One involved an impressive Merlo rotating telehandler used in specialist tree work, while the other took us out into a field with a compact Yanmar 360° excavator.

Different machines, different jobs, but the same important principle applies: operators need the right knowledge and practical skills for the equipment they actually use.

Freddie and Charlie Get to Grips with the Merlo ROTO

First up were Freddie and Charlie from Greenscapes Treecare and Woodland Management, who were completing their experienced operator course on the company's Merlo.

And yes – it's definitely a telehandler, although it's a bit more specialised than the standard rough-terrain telehandler many people will have seen on construction and agricultural sites.

The machine pictured is a Merlo ROTO 50.35 S PLUS, part of Merlo's rotating telehandler range. Unlike a conventional telehandler where the boom and cab remain aligned with the chassis, a ROTO has a rotating upper structure. That makes it an extremely versatile piece of lifting equipment.

It's also a serious bit of kit. The ROTO 50.35 has a maximum capacity of 5,000kg and a maximum lifting height of around 35 metres. Its stabilisers provide the support required for lifting operations, while the rotating design allows the machine to work across a wide area without constantly having to reposition the whole vehicle.

For Greenscapes, that versatility has a very practical purpose.

The company specialises in tree care and woodland management across the Isle of Wight, including large and hazardous tree removal, ash dieback work and emergency tree work. They invest heavily in specialist machinery to make demanding jobs safer and more efficient.

Their Merlo can be paired with specialist equipment including a grapple saw, and Greenscapes also use it for crane and access applications. When you're dealing with large or dangerous trees near buildings and other property, having the right machinery – and people properly trained to operate it – makes a huge difference.

It's exactly the sort of workplace where experienced operator training is valuable. An operator may already have plenty of practical experience, so the course can build on that existing knowledge while making sure safe operating procedures, machine limitations and good working practices are understood.

Nice work from Freddie and Charlie.

Joe and Sunny Bring Their 360° Training Up to Date

The second job took us onto a very different machine.

Joe and Sunny Cole of J. Cole Tree Surgery and Landscapes were getting their 360° excavator training up to date, with the practical work taking place on their own red Yanmar mini excavator.

The machine in the photographs is a Yanmar ViO17.

It's a compact zero-tail mini excavator with an operating weight of approximately 1.8 tonnes. "Zero-tail" means that, with the undercarriage extended, the rear of the upper structure stays within the machine's track width as it rotates. That's particularly useful when working where space is limited.

The ViO17 also has a variable-width undercarriage. Depending on configuration, it can narrow to around 955mm and extend to approximately 1,280mm. That combination of compact dimensions and 360° rotation makes this type of excavator useful for landscaping, groundwork and jobs where a larger machine simply isn't practical.

Don't let its size fool you, though. A mini excavator still requires proper training.

Operators need to understand stability, safe travelling, positioning, digging techniques, use of the dozer blade, working around other people and hazards, and how the machine behaves on different ground conditions.

Training on the customer's own machine is particularly useful here. Rather than learning on one excavator and then returning to work on something completely different, Joe and Sunny were able to train using the Yanmar they actually operate.



That's one of the main advantages of the way I provide training through Wight Training Services.

Your Machine. Your Workplace. Relevant Training.

Where practical, I come to the client's premises or working environment and deliver training using their own equipment.

It keeps the training relevant and gives operators the opportunity to develop their skills on machinery they will genuinely be using afterwards.

It also means my working week can involve everything from a compact excavator like the Yanmar ViO17 to a sophisticated rotating telehandler capable of reaching 35 metres into the air!

Whether it's a 360° excavator, rough-terrain telehandler, counterbalance forklift truck, reach truck, access platform or another piece of workplace equipment, the basic objective remains the same: give operators the practical knowledge and confidence to use their machinery safely and correctly.



Thanks to Freddie, Charlie, Joe and Sunny for two enjoyable training sessions – and a couple of very different machines to work with.

Need plant, machinery or forklift training on the Isle of Wight?

Wight Training Services can deliver practical training at your workplace using your own equipment, helping to keep disruption and additional costs down while making the course relevant to the work your operators actually carry out.

From telehandlers and 360° excavators to counterbalance forklift trucks, reach trucks and access equipment, courses can be arranged for novice, experienced, refresher and conversion candidates, with accredited options available where appropriate.



Get in touch with Tim Benton at Wight Training Services to discuss the machine you use and the training your operators require.