The Asia-Pacific leg of the inaugural Caterpillar Global Dealer Technician Challenge was held in Melbourne last week, aiming to find the most proficient specialists in the region.
This event, for independent Cat dealers that choose to participate, is designed to showcase how skilled technicians are part of a high-tech, high-impact, high-demand career.
Caterpillar Global Service Vice President Henry Venneman said the hands-on, skills-based competition will test the technicians’ agility, resilience and versatility.
“These trained experts are on the front line of support, working to keep machines and engines up and running to help ensure our customers’ critical projects are completed,” he said.
The Challenge will take place over a series of regional and semifinal competitions around the world. The top 10 finalists will have the opportunity to compete in the finals in March 2026 at CONEXPO/CON-AGG in Las Vegas.
The four-day Asia-Pacific round involved seven Cat dealers, with Australian representatives from Victoria, WA and Qld-NT all vying to win.
The full list of participants for this first regional qualifier were:
- William Adams (Vic) – Ben Peters
- Hastings Deering (Qld/NT) – Rhys Bishop
- WesTrac (WA) – Leon Archibald
- Terra Cat (NZ) – Brenton Page
- Tractors Singapore – Seng Kin Wai
- Tractors Malaysia – Umar Zakir Bin Lamiron
- Trakindo (Indonesia) – Aditya Pandu Winata
The winners were Leon Archibald (1st); Rhys Bishop (2nd); and Brenton Page (3rd), who have all booked their tickets for the semi-final in Malaga, Spain.
Cat dealers globally are experiencing a growing opportunity for technicians. By the end of 2026, it is estimated that Cat dealers may need to hire more than 44,000 technicians. This competition is also designed to help raise awareness of the opportunities in this career field.
“There are thousands of opportunities available globally for those who are interested in a hands-on career,” Venneman said. “Cat dealers are often looking for individuals who are problem solvers, mechanically inclined and tech savvy.”
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