Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge semi-finals begin

Caterpillar’s bigger and better Global Operator Challenge has entered one of its final stages of competition, with the first semi-final round, the European round, successfully held in Malaga, Spain, from October 5 to 6.

There are four regional semi-final rounds– Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific – which will all be held in the month of October.

A total of 84 operators were picked from preliminary heats around the world to participate in the regional semi-finals, and from there, they will compete to be one of nine finalists to represent their country and region in the finals to be held in Las Vegas next March.

Five Australian operators have successfully moved on to the Asia Pacific semi-finals that will be held in Japan on October 19 and 20.

The challenge began earlier this year with over 10,000 operators around the world registered to take part in the competition, according to global marketing manager for Caterpillar, Jessica Nunley.

“After dealer qualification, 3,500 machine operators competed in the first round, and 84 of those have advanced to compete in one of our regional semifinal events held this month in Spain, the United States, Japan and Brazil,” she said.

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The Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge puts machine operators’ skills and precision to the test as they navigate a series of tricky challenges with Cat equipment.

“These operators come from many different industries, and each have their preferred piece of equipment to operate, but they have one thing in common. They are leaders in their field and can apply their operating skills to a range of equipment,” said global marketing manager for Caterpillar, Matt Smith.

“The dealers did a great job turning out the best operators, and now Caterpillar will put them to the test at our demonstration centers around the world.”

During each portion of the Global Operator Challenge, participants execute a variety of tasks, such as digging a trench, loading a precise amount of dirt, and hauling or manoeuvring the equipment through a variety of obstacles. Scoring is based on the operator’s skills, efficiency, as well as his or her competence in using integrated technology to enhance the machine’s performance.

“Because this is a global competition, we want to make certain that spectators all over the world can follow along with the action,” Nunley said.

“We will be posting live competition updates and sharing the operator’s machine expertise on our regional social media pages during every challenge.”

The competition schedules, locations and social media pages to watch to follow the action live are:

Europe regional semi-final

Malaga, Spain, October 5 to 6, 2022.

Follow the action at facebook.com/CatConstructionEMEA

Three finalists from Europe will move on to the global final.

North America regional semi-final

Clayton, North Carolina, United States

Eastern Challenge - October 18, 2022

Western Challenge – October 20, 2022

Follow the action at facebook.com/CatConstructionTrades

Two finalists – one each from the East and West – will advance to the global final.

South America regional semi-final

Piracicaba, Brazil

October 29, 2022

Follow along at facebook.com/CatConstruccion

One finalist from South America will move on to the global final.

Asia Pacific regional semi-final

Chichibu, Japan

October 19-20, 2022

Follow along at facebook.com/CatConstructionAU

Three finalists from Asia Pacific will move on to the global final.

All nine winners of the regional semi-finals will then converge in Las Vegas in March 2023 at Caterpillar’s outdoor Festival Grounds exhibit F4455 at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction trade expo for the final showdown.

The winner of the competition will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to one Caterpillar location worldwide.

For more information about the Global Operator Challenge, visit cat.com/operatorchallenge