When it comes to loyal Cat customers, it’s hard to find a better ambassador than Paul Hamel. An excavation entrepreneur from the Lachute area, he’s worked extensively across Quebec. Since launching his own business in 1988, he’s worked on countless construction and development projects, including roads, pipelines and sewer systems, just to name a few. And on every construction site, one thing remained constant: he was at the controls of a Cat.
“I bought a Caterpillar because of the service and the overall quality of their machines.” Those 15 words perfectly encapsulate his history with the brand. At the very start of his excavation career, Paul picked a yellow Cat and hasn’t changed colours since.
Over his decades in the field, he’s logged more than 40,000 hours on excavators, mostly on the Cat 320 and the Cat 235. Even today, he “still gets goosebumps” whenever he lays eyes on the Cat 235. Now retired, he continues to work his land every chance he gets—always operating his beloved Cat.
Two years ago, Paul treated himself to a Cat 305 Mini Excavator to tackle various landscaping and earthmoving projects across his several hundred acres of land. Among other things, he uses his 305 to build and maintain ATV and snowmobile trails, cut firewood and tend to his maple grove. All with the same kind of enthusiasm and precision he displayed on construction sites back in the day.
For Paul, his mini excavator is still very much a Cat: a rock-solid, precise machine whose cutting-edge technology makes it a pleasure to operate.
What does Paul enjoy the most about his 305 Mini Excavator? All the different features that help him save time and boost efficiency, including:
Even after working decades in construction, he’s still impressed by Cat technology. In his view, the company remains a step ahead when it comes to performance and engineering.
Part of why Paul Hamel has stayed loyal to Cat all these years is the field support he’s received, first from Hewitt, then from Toromont Cat.
“I never had to wait for anything (for parts or service). [...] Toromont would come by to change the oil at night or on the weekend. I didn’t even have to stop working.”
For an entrepreneur, every hour counts, and losing time because a machine is down just isn’t an option. Paul enjoyed quick, reliable service on all kinds of construction sites, and for him, the math added up. By purchasing new machinery from Toromont Cat, he received outstanding after-sales service and maximized his return on investment thanks to a robust warranty and the wide availability of replacement parts.
“If bad luck ever hit, Toromont came right away to fix my machine, and I’d be back to work in no time.”
When asked what he’d say to someone who wants to get into excavation, Paul answers with conviction:
“If you want to go out on your own, you’re better off buying or renting new machinery. And just as important, you need to choose the right colour (a yellow Cat) from the start!”
For Paul Hamel, Cat is much more than a brand. It’s a reliable, high-performing partner for any project, offering machines that combine power, technology and operator comfort, and are backed by after-sales service that responds quickly to any problem or emergency. Today, he continues to use his Cat 305 Mini Excavator to maintain and enjoy his property, convinced that the reliability and performance of Cat machines make all the difference.
Do you own land and want a compact machine that can handle any task? Consider the full line of Cat compact machines, renowned for their legendary reliability.