Mechanic Amber Competes in Shanghai for the World Title of Best Mobile Equipment Mechanic

Ever since her childhood on the farm, she has had a deep love for tractors and large machinery. Now, Amber van Gosliga (21) from Hommerts, Friesland, will represent the Netherlands at WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai as a Mobile Equipment Technician.

Amber explains that she has just completed the Level 4 Mobile Equipment Technical Specialist program at Firda in Heerenveen. One of her instructors repeatedly encouraged Amber to participate in the Skills competition in Tiel, organized by the Tech in Motion (TIM) platform. As a partner and initiator of TIM, Fedecom is committed to promoting mobile technology and encouraging young talent to develop and grow their expertise.

280 training hours

“I placed third at the Skills competition in Tiel in February,” says Amber. “Since the first- and second-place finishers were unwilling or unable to invest the required training hours, I got the chance to compete in Shanghai.” Participation isn’t automatic: the 280 training hours are a requirement. “This includes training at school and on the job, such as at SMT and Zeppelin Cat,” Amber explains. “But we’ve also had practice competitions in the Netherlands and Denmark. And I’m still heading to Poland for training with LiuGong, a Chinese brand of heavy construction equipment.”

Offringa B.V., Amber’s employer, plays a key role in these intensive preparations. “I’m given the opportunity to train externally; they’re supportive, and at work they encourage me to troubleshoot issues. I also learn a lot from my day-to-day work. The fact that my coworkers think it’s so cool makes me feel at ease.”

The competition as a learning experience

In Shanghai, Amber will compete as a mobile machinery technician against 15 other participants from other countries. “The competition consists of four tasks, each lasting three hours. These tasks can cover all aspects of mechanics, such as engine diagnostics and troubleshooting,” Amber explains. She sees the competition as an opportunity to learn many new things. “Working under pressure, with unfamiliar brands, and with people watching. And all in English. These are all useful skills that will help me in the field as well.”

Off to Shanghai for training and awards

In addition to gaining valuable experience, Amber is, of course, also aiming for a prize. “I’m hoping for a top-3 finish or the Medallion for Excellence. You win the latter if you score exceptionally well on a specific task, by exceeding the average of the rest of the field by a certain percentage.” WorldSkills will take place from September 22 to 27, where Amber will represent our country with a team of 25 young professionals. “It’s an honor, and at the same time a lot of fun; it quickly felt like a close-knit team. Above all, we’re really looking forward to it!”