On Sept. 27, Carolina Cat hosted an operator challenge at its South Charlotte location. It's all part of the 2019/2020 Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge Competition. Operators will test their skills against those of fellow operators around the world to determine who can claim the title of "best." In each stage of the competition, operators will be challenged to test their agility, mental toughness and versatility, as well as their competence in using integrated technology to enhance machine performance, such as Cat Production Measurement and Cat GRADE systems.

Operators qualifying in the local heats conducted by Cat dealers around the globe will participate in regional semi-final competitions that are to be held in Japan, Brazil, Spain and the United States during October and November 2019. The winners in each regional semi-final will take part in the global finals that will take place at ConExpo-Con/AGG, Las Vegas, in March 2020. The crowned champion will be awarded an all-expense, "VIP" trip for two to a global Caterpillar facility of his or her choice.

The Caterpillar 2019/2020 Global Operator Challenge will be the largest-ever competition of its type, following in the success of the European "New Range-New Rules" competition in October 2018 at the Caterpillar Demonstration & Learning Center in Malaga, Spain. In Malaga, 18 operators from 10 nations across Europe, the Middle East and Eurasia were in the final competition; German operator Sebastian Behr took the top prize. CEG

An operator tests his skills with the Next Generation Cat 320 excavator.  

(L-R) are Michael Craig, Javier Padilla, Charles George, Michael Deal, Mike Parker, Jerry Kates, Dwayne Rogers, Logan Puckett, Rusty McConnell and Bryant Severt, all of Diversified Utility Group Inc. in Indian Trail, N.C.  

This operator from Concord, N.C., passes through the last segment of the obstacle course.  

Hayden Connell, Kenny Smith and Austin Hardy, all of P3 Services in Charlotte, wait to test the E-fence feature on the Next Generation Cat 320 excavator. Using the system’s E-fence feature enables the machine to work safely under structures or near traffic by preventing any part of the excavator from moving outside operator-defined set points.  

Austin Hardy of P3 Services in Charlotte, N.C., gets the feel of the new Cat 259D3 compact track loader, prior to starting the obstacle course.  

Its standard, suspended undercarriage system of the Cat 259D3 provides superior traction, flotation, stability and speed to work in a wide range of applications and underfoot conditions.  

The Cat 320 excavator’s simple-to-use technologies like Cat GRADE with 2D, Grade Assist and Payload are all standard equipment from the factory to boost your operator efficiencies.  

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