Thompson Tractor's "Thompson Technology" event in Montgomery showcased Cat GCI machines with 3D automatics for testing. Customers experienced various technologies like Topcon 3D on Cat equipment, safety features, Vision Link technology, and Mobile Track Solutions' 3D system on a scraper. The event also featured trucks such as a Hi-Vac X13 hydro excavator and Autocar dump trucks.
Thompson Tractor held its first "Thompson Technology" event of the year April 17, 2025, at its Montgomery, Ala., branch.
This event marked the first of four technology demonstrations planned for 2025, each showcasing core Cat GCI Technology machines — including track-type tractors and excavators — as well as various machines featuring complementary technologies.
Key highlights at the Montgomery event included formation of an excavator dirt mound where customers could test out the 3D automatics on excavators — simulating a deep load out cut. Also featured were several track type tractors equipped with Cat factory 3D and other technologies, such as steer assist. A D3 track type tractor and a 330 excavator were equipped with Topcon 3D for contractors who prefer that source or technology for their 3D. This shows the flexibility of the Cat machines and that any of the 3D technologies work well on Cat's platforms.
Also demonstrating flexibility was a Cat factory 3D-equipped 320 excavator that had a 450 MHz radio. This is not the normal 900 MHz radio used on Cat factory 3D and Trimble 3D machines. It is a different frequency that is mostly used on Topcon base stations.
"We wanted to show that our machines could utilize this frequency and work perfectly while receiving all the benefits of the Cat next gen excavators" said Brian Laughlin, Thompson CAT manager of specialty products. "We worked with SITECH and had a 120 motor grader equipped with 3D. A 265 skid steer loader with GB124 grader blade equipped with 3D showed a mini version of a grader blade with GPS. A Cat 980 wheel loader was displaying some factory Cat safety technologies — showing off its rear object detection system and surround view cameras. These Cat safety technologies are becoming a hot item with our quarry and aggregate customers."
In addition to showing customers Cat safety technologies, Thompson Tractor technology specialists, including Stephen Rylee, were on hand to walk customers through Vision Link technology options and show VL productivity and how it can benefit customers' needs.
"On the allied side, we had a Mobile Track Solutions [MTS] 3630 SB tractor and a 28-yard scraper that had a 3D system attached to it," Laughlin said. "This system indicated to the operator when they were above, below or at grade. There was a lot of interest in this machine throughout the day."
The event wasn't limited to earthmoving technology. Thompson Truck Source showcased a Hi-Vac X13 hydro excavator mounted on a truck chassis, designed for precise excavation around fiber optic lines. Also on display was an Autocar dump truck, reflecting Thompson's recent dealership additions. Simon Jones, vocational truck and trailer sales representative, was available throughout the event to answer customer questions. CEG
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(L-R): Thompson Tractor representatives and their customers catch up on the industry news, including Toby Shields, Phillip Bonner and Bailey Newton of Thompson Tractor; Dave Wenger and his son, Carson Wenger, of Pull Pan Dave, Newbern, Ala.; and Charlie Stevens, Thompson Tractor. (CEG photo)
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