What do you do at Aarsleff?
I currently drive a 70 ton piling rig that we use to install precast concrete piles. As a machine operator you have many responsibilities, like planning the best way to carry out the project, ordering the piles and other supplies, fixing the machine when it breaks and the safety of the machine and your work mates.

What are the biggest challenges of your job?
The ground is very unpredictable and it’s my job to order the correct lengths of piles. Each pile needs to reach from the final cutting height to the bedrock below, which can vary greatly in depth, and if we order piles that are too short we risk not reaching it. On the other hand, if we order piles that are too long, we would waste a lot of pile.

Why did you choose the foundation industry?
When I first moved to Sweden five years ago I was in need of a new career. I was looking for something I would find both exciting and well paid. One day I drove past a site with massive machines that were doing groundwork and I knew instantly that’s what I wanted to work with.

What does a typical day at work look like?
Everyday has new challenges but a perfect day’s production would involve unloading trucks of the piles we ordered the day before, picking up each pile with the rig and driving them down to the bedrock. On a good day we can typically produce between 500 to 1000 meters, it goes fast and it’s a lot of fun.

What is the best thing about your job?
The best things are the freedom and excitement, we are always the first onsite so we have the whole place to ourselves and there’s always a lot happening.