Top Operators Showdown at Europe's Toughest Construction Skills Contest
Since 1998, the prestigious Operators Club has put Europe's top construction equipment operators to the test in one of the industry's most demanding arenas. This year, Germany's Bernard Vogt rose to the top, claiming victory at the 2025 Volvo CE Operators Club Final in Eskilstuna, Sweden.
Hosted at the Volvo Customer Center, the annual event brought together 27 finalists from 14 countries in an intense display of operator excellence. Vogt secured the crown after edging out Othmar Pletzer from Austria and Arne Brals from the Netherlands in a Super Final challenge spanning excavators, wheel loaders, and articulated haulers.
27 top operators from 14 countries participated in the 2025 final
”It’s an incredible feeling,” said Bernard Vogt. “You can’t even put it into words. I’ve dreamed of this since I was a kid. It’s kind of crazy when you finally reach that goal. After so many years, it’s truly exhilarating.” By claiming the title of Europe's best construction equipment operator, Vogt added a new chapter to his family legacy, following his father's footsteps as a second-generation champion.
The event also marked a new chapter for Iron Women, Volvo CE's vocational training program empowering women to build careers in construction, as graduates competed in the Operators Club Final for the very first time. Among them was Liubov Kalantaievska from Ukraine, who qualified through national rounds after completing the program: “Just a year ago, I had never operated an excavator,” she said. “Thanks to the Iron Women program, I now have the skills and confidence to compete alongside the best.”
Water bucket challenge: Wheel loader operators race across rough terrain with water-filled buckets where every spilled centimeter costs 5 seconds in a high-stakes test of speed versus smoothness.
Since its start in Germany 27 years ago, the Operators Club has grown into Europe's leading construction skills competition with more than 25,000 members in 18 countries, with Sweden and Latvia joining this year. Participants in the 2025 final tackled challenges such as The Tire, The Water Bucket, and The Puzzle, using Volvo CE's latest machines, including EC230 Electric, ECR58, and the A30 hauler.
The Tire challenge: Operators use an articulated hauler to pick up a tire with a stick and reverse it precisely into a target zone - where millimeter-perfect control separates champions from everyone else
“The Operators Club celebrates the craft and connection of operators,” said Hanna Jaschke, Operators Club Manager at Volvo CE. “Welcoming elite operators each year is such a joy for us, and the participation of Iron Women graduates marks a powerful step toward a more diverse operator community.”
The Nine Piece Puzzle: The top five operators race against the clock to place nine puzzle pieces perfectly using only a grapple.
About Iron Women
The Iron Women program by Volvo Construction Equipment, in partnership with ETS Group and Swedish non-profit Beredskapslyftet, trains women as certified construction machinery operators. Launched in Ukraine to support national rebuilding efforts, the program equips participants with government certification to operate excavators and wheel loaders using Volvo CE machinery and sustainable technology. It forms part of the wider Reskilling Ukraine initiative and is now expanding internationally, which aims to empower women, provide employment opportunities, and foster a more inclusive workforce in reconstruction.
Journalists with enquiries, please contact:
Sandra Jansen
Media Relations & Communication Manager
Region Europe & Region International
Volvo Construction Equipment
sandra.jansen@volvo.com
