Industrial Tractor Co. recently hosted an open house at its Jacksonville office to introduce John Deere’s new J Series backhoes and the new Total Machine Control (TMC) system.

The TMC system is a major upgrade to the control systems on John Deere’s line of backhoes. It features an electric over hydraulic control system to provide greater control options for the operator.

John Deere representatives said the system takes the best features of wheel loaders and excavators and combines them on a backhoe. Some of the features include control of both the backhoe and loader functions from one set of joysticks on a rotating operator console. Also included is the ability to operate the controls with the seat facing in any direction, which is especially helpful when digging off to the side of the machine.

On hand from Deere to help promote the new TMC system were Mark Germain, Mike Festing-Smith, Tory Hartwig, Kevin Johnson, Terry Green, Lori Johnson and Tim Hilton.

The one-day event included a barbeque lunch, equipment display, door prizes and a demonstration of the TMC system.

Lori Johnson, John Deere backhoe specialist, was on hand to narrate the demonstration and point out the many new features of the J Series and TMC system as a 410J was put through its paces. The demonstration included showing the new transmission control functions, the functions of the TMC systems, such as setting the loader height and backhoe swing to a fixed location.

Customers came in from as far away as Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., to see the new machines and watch the demonstration.

Industrial Tractor Co. represents the John Deere construction line, Hitachi excavators, ASV tracked loaders, Bomag compaction equipment and PSI motorgraders in northeastern Florida, and southeastern Georgia and South Carolina from eight locations.