JESCO held a Methods of Excavation Days event Sept. 13 and 14, 2023, at the Operators and Engineers Local 37 Training Center in Sparrows Point, Md.

The event showcased several models of John Deere and Ditch Witch equipment for Local 37 members and contractors, including the Deere 60G mini-excavator, 650K dozer and 245P excavator, and the Ditch Witch W12 hydro vacuum excavator, HX50 vacuum excavator, HX30G vacuum excavator and SK3000 skid steer.

"We are showcasing all the different equipment that JESCO has to offer, such as our John Deere excavators, skid steers, dozers, and our Ditch Witch line, including vacuum excavators and skid steers," said Warren Hagenbuch, general manager of the underground division, JESCO.

Tom McGrail, operations manager of JESCO, added, "The event is great to give people views of the different technologies out there and provide options that they may have not realized before," said Mike Funk, union training director, Operating Engineers Local 37 training school, agreed.

"It's a great relationship between us and John Deere, Ditch Witch and JESCO," he said. "And this event lets our members see the latest and greatest of the new equipment. It is good for relationship purposes among all contractors."

Funk also spoke of the importance of seeing and learning about the latest technology available on equipment and how that can help its members do their jobs more productively and efficiently.

"This is a great chance for our members to learn new things and see new equipment because on some job sites it's not always the latest machines being used, but you need to see this technology, to see what it can do for future jobs," he said.

Derrick Ward, precision construction and technology manager of JESCO, said union members and contractors were being provided an opportunity to see how Topcon technology can help them in their day-to-day activities.

"This is an opportunity for contractors to get out and see some of the equipment," he said. "We have different pieces of equipment that we are using. We are using a Topcon base and rover kit and we are showing how to check grades with the Rover out in the field. We have the John Deere 245P excavator with the X53x Topcon Automatic Excavator system on that. We are showing people how to dig into a trench and use automation. This helps them to dig and stay on grade as well as the 650K Smart Grade Dozer, which they are using to grade a simulated road here."

"The union halls are training their members in this technology because the companies have the equipment with this technology and when they need operators, their members will need to have a good knowledge of how this works," he added. CEG

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