Komatsu crowns Allen Cherrington of Columbus Equipment Company as its 2026 Advanced Technician Competition (ATC) champion

March 23, 2026 -- Komatsu honored the precision, skills and commitment of diesel technicians in its dealer network with the 2026 North America Komatsu Advanced Technician Competition (ATC) — held at Komatsu’s Cartersville Customer Center in Cartersville, Georgia. The competition spanned two days as ten technicians were scored in the areas of technical capability, quality of work, and safety.

Allen Cherrington of Columbus Equipment Company (Ohio) won the event and was crowned champion. Jorge Moreno of Lyle Equipment (southeastern U.S.) came in second place, and Nathan Specht of Komatsu Company-Owned Dealer East (Komatsu East) finished third.

Earning a spot in the championship was its own competition as technicians from throughout North America participated in formal prequalifying events. Ultimately ten technicians made their way to Cartersville to go head-to-head in events that ranged from machine inspection and troubleshooting techniques to customer relations and safety.

“Pride in craftsmanship and the resulting success that it helps deliver for fleet managers and business owners is the driving force behind every technician in the Komatsu network — but bragging rights and being recognized among the best are great prizes as well,” said Griffin Reome, Director of Technical Workforce Development, Komatsu. “The real success here is shining a spotlight on the passion and discipline, and the resulting job satisfaction, that comes with being a technician in the heavy equipment industry.”

“Allen, Jorge and Nathan — and all ten finalists — are showcasing how important these careers are. And that these jobs are something to aspire to for anyone who is technically minded, loves building things, and appreciates real craftsmanship and the power of heavy equipment.”

Each winner of the Komatsu ATC received a selection of Komatsu-branded prizes and merchandise. In addition, the top two finishers earned an exclusive “Day in the Life” experience with the opportunity to see how a pit crew operates up close at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, United States, made possible through Komatsu’s ongoing partnership with the Atlassian Williams F1 Team.

“Speed, precision, talent, and the combination of peak human performance with extreme technical excellence — we couldn’t think of a better way to honor these technicians,” said Reome.

About Komatsu

Komatsu develops and supplies technologies, equipment and services for the construction, mining, forklift, industrial and forestry markets. For more than a century, the company has been creating value for its customers through manufacturing and technology innovation, partnering with others to empower a sustainable future where people, business and the planet thrive together. Front-line industries worldwide use Komatsu solutions to develop modern infrastructure, extract fundamental minerals, manage forests and create consumer products. The company's global service and distributor networks support customer operations to help enhance safety and promote productivity while working to optimize performance.

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