The Man and His Machine: Jos and the RJT Tree-Transplanting machine

For nearly forty years, Jos Heijmans has been a fixture at Van den Berk. Always on the move, always busy. A man who does what needs doing, never shies away from hard work, and would rather look ahead than stand still. Problems are there to be solved, preferably by thinking them up and building the solution himself.

Jos is a distinctive character. Well liked, straight-talking, with a positive outlook and infectious energy. A content man, full of life. Someone who knows everyone, and whom everyone knows in return. Anyone who talks to Jos soon discovers a wealth of knowledge, experience, and stories.

Alongside his love for his family, his colleagues, and the work at the nursery, he has another great passion: old tractors. He regularly heads out for a drive in one. But just as characteristic is his drive to make things smarter, better, and more efficient. That trait laid the foundation for one of the most remarkable machines ever developed at the nursery: the RJT tree spade.

Together with colleagues Riny and Toon, Jos designed and built a machine that was well ahead of its time. What started as a practical solution to a challenge at the nursery grew into a technical masterpiece that is still in use today. The RJT marked a major step forward in lifting and moving large trees and played an important role in the further professionalization of Van den Berk. The machine drew attention across the sector and also inspired other nurseries. Jos remains modest about it. As so often, he sees it mainly as a matter of thinking things through together, getting on with it, and building it.

Drawn on the shop floor

The RJT, named after its builders Riny, Jos, and Toon, isn't a machine you simply order from a catalogue. It came out of necessity. The existing tree spades could no longer handle the ever-larger trees. Lifting heavy trees with cables and wooden rigs was labor-intensive and risked damaging the trees. A better solution was needed. Where others might have brought in an engineering firm, Jos and his colleagues started with a piece of chalk on the shop floor. "We just drew a little ring on the ground. Smallest size, largest size... and that's how the RJT project began." That approach may be what defines Jos best: not endless talk about possibilities, just getting started.

A 24-ton puzzle in steel

After more than 3,000 hours of building, the result was an impressive 24-ton machine, purpose-built for lifting and moving the heaviest trees on the nursery. The machine could lift root balls up to 2.50 meters in diameter and offered five different spade sizes. This made it possible to lift trees far more efficiently and safely than before.

The RJT was built from parts sourced from all over. The 20-ton axles came from a mobile crane, the cab was found in Germany, and various structural parts were given a second life in the project. Together with specialists, calculations were made for the hydraulics, cylinders, and structure, while most of the welding and construction work was done right at the nursery itself.

Under the hood lies impressive engineering. Four separate hydraulic systems handle driving, steering, and operating the machine. The drive system alone runs at a pressure of 400 bar to get this enormous machine moving. Safety played a key role throughout. The RJT was ultimately awarded an official CE certification, backed by extensive technical calculations and structural documentation.

Craftsmanship from the field

Jos's craftsmanship runs deep, rooted in practice. From a young age he'd rather sit on a tractor than in a classroom. Years in steel construction gave him the technical knowledge, the field gave him the experience. "You need to know what a tree does," he explains. "How it reacts when you grab it. You don't learn that from a book."

Over the years he helped build binding machines, spade buckets, conveyor belts, tools for lifting trees, special cranes, and countless other solutions that made the work at the nursery easier. Those innovations often came about simply because existing methods weren't efficient enough.

The man behind the steel

Anyone who sees Jos standing next to the RJT today sees someone who remains notably modest about what he has built, even though the machine is, for many, a symbol of his craftsmanship and ingenuity.

Although the technology has since moved on and regulations have grown stricter, Jos keeps thinking about improvements. Asked what he'd do differently now, he doesn't need long to answer. "A heavier engine. More horsepower." That answer perhaps says it all. Even with a machine that has proven its worth for years, Jos still sees possibilities.

But in the end, for him it isn't just about the technology. It's about building together, solving together, moving forward together. "I don't need a pat on the back. I've always enjoyed doing it." And maybe that's exactly why so many colleagues appreciate him. Not just for what he has built, but above all for who he is. A man who always sees possibilities. Who's happy to think along. Who shares his knowledge. And who, without many words, has contributed to the development of the nursery as we know it today. And so there he stands. Among the trees, next to a machine that still does what it was once designed to do. A machine of steel. Built by people. With Jos Heijmans as one of the driving forces behind it.

Technical Specifications: The RJT Tree Spade

Total weight: 24 tons.

Capacity: root ball diameter up to 2.50 meters, across five spade sizes.

Engine: 180 hp (Jos still dreams of 280 hp).

Hydraulics: 1,000 liters of oil, with a drive system running at 400 bar.

Special features: automatic stabilization, crab steering, anti-slip, and a cab that rotates 180 degrees.

Origin: assembled from parts sourced from mobile cranes, telescopic cranes, and a German cab.

Certification: fully certified with an official CE mark.