United Construction & Forestry gave contractors and equipment operators an opportunity to get behind the controls of John Deere's newest excavators during a Demo Day Aug. 14, 2026, at the dealership's Clifton Park, N.Y., location.
The event was the final stop in United Construction & Forestry's three-event August Demo Days series, following events Aug. 5 in North Oxford, Mass., and Aug. 11 in Pembroke, N.H.
Featured throughout the series were the new John Deere 210P, 230P and 260P excavators. Customers were encouraged to climb into the machines, dig and experience firsthand the new operator, safety and machine-control technology Deere has incorporated into the excavators.
United also brought its technology specialists to the events, allowing customers to go beyond simply operating the machines and learn how the various features could be applied to their own jobs.
“We're not just out here letting customers dig holes,” said Nick Moore, technology manager of United Construction & Forestry and United Ag & Turf. “We're out here making sure each customer gets an opportunity to walk through every single machine function to really highlight some of the things these machines can do.”
Moore added that the objective was to show contractors how the technology could translate into practical benefits.
“It's not just run the machine,” he said. “It's really learning about what this can bring to your operation.”
New Operator Environment
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One of the first differences customers noticed was inside the cab.
According to Paul Beaupre, technical support specialist of United Construction & Forestry, the redesigned operator station has been one of the most significant changes.
“The operator station has been the biggest upgrade of the machine,” Beaupre said.
The new cab provides additional room and includes an air-suspension seat, heating and climate-control features and increased adjustment of the seat and armrests.
Deere's G5 display also has been incorporated into the excavators, putting machine settings and technology within easy reach of the operator.
“The customers seem to really like that new screen,” Moore said. “It loads quick, it's fast, it's very responsive when you touch it.”
The controls also can be customized for individual operators. Operator profiles can store preferred control patterns and button configurations, making it easier for multiple operators to use the same machine.
“You can customize all but two buttons on the sticks inside the cab,” Moore said.
Beaupre noted that changing control patterns also can now be accomplished through the monitor rather than requiring the operator to leave the cab and manually change the machine.
Focus On Jobsite Safety
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Safety technology was another major focus of the Clifton Park demonstrations.
The excavators incorporate camera and object-detection technology designed to increase an operator's awareness of people and obstacles around the machine. Sensors can provide audible and visual warnings when someone enters the excavator's working area.
Another feature receiving considerable attention was Deere's Virtual Fence technology.
Virtual Fence allows an operator to establish boundaries that limit the excavator's movement. Maximum height, digging depth and swing parameters can be established depending upon the job.
Moore said one customer attending the Clifton Park event performs considerable work inside large structures and immediately recognized the potential.
“They really liked the fact that they could put some max-height settings in the machine and not let the boom go any higher than they wanted to for safety,” Moore said.
The technology also can be useful when working near overhead power lines, underground utilities or active traffic.
For example, an operator working alongside a road can establish a swing boundary to help prevent the excavator from entering the travel lane. A height restriction can be established beneath overhead utilities, while a depth limit can assist when excavating near underground infrastructure.
“You can control how far the machine swings [and] how deep the machine can dig based on the track,” Moore said.
Technology for Productivity
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Grade-management technology also played an important role in the demonstrations.
Depending upon configuration, the excavators can incorporate technology ranging from basic grade-assistance functions through integrated 3D machine control.
“It's the whole package,” Moore said. “These machines can have some of the simple functions, but they also are loaded with options.”
The technology can allow operators to work more independently from information available inside the cab, reducing the amount of traditional grade checking required outside the machine.
Beaupre said United also is seeing increased interest in combining machine-control technology with tiltrotators.
“It's been a game changer, what guys are doing out there in the field,” he said.
For an owner-operator or contractor with a smaller crew, that combination can be particularly valuable by allowing an excavator and its operator to accomplish more without requiring additional personnel on the ground.
Another feature demonstrated was the machine's payload weighing capability. When loading trucks, an operator can establish a target weight and monitor the amount of material being loaded from the cab. The information also can be retained for later review.
United's specialists also demonstrated Easy Control, a feature intended to provide smoother machine movement during lifting and placement applications, such as positioning catch basins.
Rather than simply explaining these features, United allowed customers to experience them from the operator's seat.
That hands-on approach was a central part of all three Demo Days.
Customers could operate the machines and then talk directly with United's sales and technology personnel about the applications that were most relevant to their businesses.
Moore said contractors have been particularly receptive to the safety technology as United has demonstrated the new excavators throughout its territory.
“We've shown this to a lot of customers across different locations, and they've been really impressed with some of the features,” he said.
Among the contractors who had an opportunity to get a closer look at John Deere's new P-Tier excavators were Bob Drew and his son, Dilen, of Drew Corporation in Center Lovell, Maine.
The Drews attended a similar United Construction & Forestry event in New Hampshire and came away impressed with both the operator environment and the technology built into the new machines.
“The cabs were extraordinary,” Bob Drew said. “The visibility, the comfort and the placement of the controls were all impressive. Compared with machines we've operated in the past, it was a huge improvement.”
The Drews were particularly interested in the machines' new technology and safety features, including the ability to establish operating limits for digging depth, boom height and swing area.
“Overdigging can be a significant problem on a project,” Drew said. “Being able to set limits on how deep the machine can dig, how high the boom can go or how far it can swing can really help, especially when you have a less-experienced operator in the cab. It can eliminate a lot of potential mistakes.”
They also were impressed with the new monitors and the ease with which operators can change machine settings, including switching control patterns through the monitor rather than making the mechanical or hydraulic changes that could be required on older machines.
“Now you can make those changes right through the monitor,” Drew said. “You touch the screen, select the controls you want and you're ready to go. It makes things much simpler for the operator.”
Even features such as integrated Bluetooth stood out to the Drews.
“We've all been in a machine trying to deal with a phone while we're operating,” Drew said. “With the Bluetooth system, communication is seamless. It keeps your hands where they should be and your attention where it should be — on operating the machine.”
