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WesTrac technician takes top spot at global competition semi-final
WesTrac Field Service Technician Leon Archibald will show off his skills on the world stage, after taking out first place at the semi-finals of Caterpillar®’s inaugural Global Dealership Technician Challenge in Malaga, Spain.
Leon represented the Australia-New Zealand-Indonesia region during the five-day competition, where he outperformed nine other technicians from Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Oceania.
Leon’s win has secured his spot among Caterpillar’s global top 10 and a place in the final, held over two weeks in Illinois next year, with the winner announced at the CONEXPO showcase in Las Vegas in March 2026.
Reflecting on his win, Leon said it came as a shock.
“You don’t get scores, feedback, or hints; you just finish and wait,” Leon said. “So, when they told me I was heading to the 2026 Finals, it was surreal.”
The semi-final challenge involved two blocks of three-hour assessments each day, with multiple faults layered into each station, testing competitors’ knowledge and abilities in a range of different skill sets.
Leon said technicians were briefed at each station then timed, with their every move being monitored by judges. “Your laptop was plugged into a big screen and assessors were right beside you, watching everything you did,” Leon explained. “You’d fix one issue, test again, and another fault would appear. It was relentless.”
All competitors were faced with similar problems to identify and solve, but Leon said the support from his branch, family and mentor Peter Bardwell made all the difference.
“We all do similar work and talk about similar things, so it felt familiar, but then you realise these are the best from their region and you’re one of them,” Leon said.
“I’ve developed a lot over my career and I’m grateful for the support from my Perth branch team, family and Pete.”
Leon said competing in the Global Dealership Technician Challenge had opened his eyes to what’s possible for WesTrac mechanics.
“Day-to-day work can feel routine, but this shows you the opportunities out there,” he said.
WesTrac CEO, Jarvas Croome, said Leon’s achievement showcases the career pathway potential for those who join WesTrac through its apprenticeship program.
“Leon started with us in 2008 as an apprentice and has since grown into an incredible Plant Mechanic in the WesTrac Field Service team,” Jarvas said.
“Congratulations to Leon, and on behalf of the entire team at WesTrac, we wish him every success as he prepares to represent WesTrac on the world stage in 2026.”
Leon’s journey throughout the challenge is a shining example of the opportunities available at WesTrac. It highlights WesTrac’s commitment to providing their team with continuous ways to expand their knowledge, further their careers, and build on their learning and development.
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As one of the largest authorised Cat equipment dealers in the world, WesTrac provides customers with a wide range of mining and construction equipment as well as comprehensive whole-of-life management solutions designed to make owning and operating equipment as easy, profitable and safe as possible. With more than 4,500 staff, WesTrac is focused on long-term customer relationships and a dedication to customer service, safety, quality and the environment.
To achieve this, we commit to building better together through collaboration and collective action. Helping customers achieve their own ESG objectives to reduce emissions through product advancements and technology solutions. This shared goal of a sustainable future for all is why we are focused on Responsibility, Advancement, Community, Inclusivity, Development and Solutions, as a means to deliver long-term positive success for the environment, customers, team members, stakeholders and the wider community.
Community development and support is an important part of the WesTrac philosophy, and we are proud to support local activities, events and charities in the regions we are based. As part of SGH Ltd, WesTrac also has strong alliances with other leading Australian businesses, including Seven West Media, Boral, Coates and SITECH.
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