Cat crowns Global Operator Challenge champion at ConExpo

Australia’s Patrick Doheny was named world champion at Caterpillar’s Global Operator Challenge final at ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas. Photo: Caterpillar

More than 5,500 machine operators worldwide have been competing in the Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge since last spring.

At ConExpo-Con/Agg, Cat named one operator world champion.

Patrick Doheny of Australia beat out nine finalists from around the world in the final round of the Global Operator Challenge at Cat’s Operator Stadium in Las Vegas. Cat awarded Doheny with a trip for two to a location where Caterpillar has one of its worldwide production facilities.

“I am beyond thrilled to have earned the title of the best Caterpillar machine operator on the planet,” Doheny says. “Kudos to Caterpillar for hosting such an incredible event to highlight the importance of our profession. It is truly a dream come true to see your life’s passion be rewarded in such an amazing way.”

Caterpillar’s year-long Global Operator Challenge included operators from nearly three dozen countries. Cat says the challenge highlights how construction machine operators masterfully guide Cat machines and use the latest technologies to get jobs done.

“Caterpillar created this competition to celebrate machine operators who build our world, advocate and drive awareness for their trade, and highlight solutions that address jobsite challenges,” says Jason Hurdis, execution lead for Caterpillar’s Global Operator Challenge and global market professional. “All of the competitors – and especially our nine finalists – showed tremendous skills and abilities operating the latest Cat construction machines and technologies, maneuvering through some difficult challenges and showing the world the invaluable role they play in infrastructure creation.”

The nine finalists in Caterpillar’s Global Operator Challenge represented Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Poland, Sweden and the U.S. Photo: Caterpillar

Cat’s competition

According to Cat, the challenge kicked off last spring with more than 10,000 operators worldwide signing up to compete.

After a pre-qualification phase, the first round featured 5,500 contestants who competed in local events organized by 77 Cat dealers across 32 countries.

Round 2 took place last fall and consisted of four regional events that were held in the U.S, Brazil, Spain and Japan. The competitions included digging a trench, loading a precise amount of dirt, and hauling or maneuvering machines through obstacles.

The third and final rounds were held at ConExpo-Con/Agg. Grouped into teams of three – Team Americas, Team Europe and Team Asia – the nine finalists competed individually and as teams as they faced three challenges in a specially constructed stadium featuring stands, fans, big-screen TVs and play-by-play announcers.

The top three individual finalists of Cat’s Global Operator Challenge were (from left): Łukasz Mokrzyński from Poland in third place, John Schiedeck from the U.S. in second place and Patrick Doheny from Australia in first place. Photo: Caterpillar.

The nine finalists were Doheny, Sebastian Behr (Germany), Pontus Ericksson (Sweden), Łukasz Mokrzyński (Poland), Fernando Do Nascimento (Brazil), Masato Imai (Japan), Nick Thompson (Australia), and Matt Ferris and John Schiedeck (U.S.).

Operators completed the challenges using Cat construction machines integrated with the latest machine-control and payload technologies, including Cat Payload, Grade and Command; Cat Grade Assist; rearview cameras; return to dig; and return to carry.

The finals kicked off with a “Fork ‘n Loader” challenge by which each operator used the Cat 950 wheel loader to load and move material through specified locations on the course.

Additionally, the “Backhoe Services” challenge had operators using both ends of the Cat 420 XE backhoe to open a small box and precisely place small objects inside. This challenge was designed by Jaus Neigum, the 2020 Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge world champion.

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