Guy, The VMI Dredge Guy sharing quotes and knowledge about dredging and the dredge industry
GUY SAYS . . . DREDGING KEEPS THE FLOOD AT BAY!
From concept to completion, every dredge we produce is built for maximum efficiency, reliability, and longevity. Whether it’s a cutter suction dredge, horizontal dredge, or amphibious excavator, our process ensures that every machine is up to the challenge.
Every dredging project is different. Some jobs require deep digging power, others need precision in tight spaces, and some demand high-production capacity over long distances. That’s why our manufacturing process starts with engineering.
3D Modeling & Prototyping: Our engineers use advanced 3D software to design every component, ensuring structural integrity and performance efficiency.
Power & Hydraulic Calculations: Every dredge is built to optimize horsepower, pump efficiency, and hydraulic performance for maximum productivity.
A dredge is only as good as the materials used to build it. That’s why we use high-grade steel, heavy-duty components, and precision welding to fabricate durable dredges that last.
No matter the size large or small every weld goes through a battery of tests from visual to air testing.
Step 3: Assembly – Where the Power Comes Together
Once the main components are built, it’s time to assemble the dredge. This step involves fitting the cutterhead, hydraulic system, and power unit onto the hull or frame.
Hydraulic Systems Installed: Our dredges use advanced hydraulic circuits that power cutterheads, winches, and pumps with precision control.
Engines & Power Units Mounted: We equip our dredges with high-performance engines from Cummins and John Deere, ensuring consistent power output.
Electrical & Control Systems: From basic manual controls to fully automated dredge systems, we install user-friendly interfaces that give operators total control.
Every system is tested before final assembly, ensuring seamless integration and smooth operation.
Dredges operate in harsh environments, and corrosion is always a factor. That’s why every VMI dredge is coated with industrial-grade protective coatings that prevent rust and wear.
Sandblasting & Surface Prep: Every dredge is sandblasted to bare metal before painting, ensuring a perfect bond.
Epoxy Coating: Our dredges get marine-grade coatings below the waterline for maximum corrosion resistance.
Custom Paint Options: Whether you want VMI’s signature blue or your company’s colors, we offer custom paint jobs that protect and personalize your dredge.
A properly coated dredge lasts longer, resists rust, and stands up to extreme conditions.
Before a dredge leaves our facility, it goes through rigorous testing to ensure it’s ready for real-world operation.
Hydraulic Pressure Testing: Every pump, motor, and control circuit is tested for leaks, pressure, and performance.
Cutterhead Rotation & Suction Tests: We check the cutter’s efficiency, torque, and slurry flow to ensure maximum material movement.
Operational Walkthroughs: Every dredge is run through its full range of functions, ensuring that controls, power, and hydraulics operate flawlessly.
Our commitment to quality control means zero compromises on performance—because when you need a dredge, you need it to work right, every time.
Once a dredge passes final inspection, it’s prepped for shipment, delivered, and set up on-site. Our team offers training, operational support, and on-site assistance for an additional cost to ensure your crew is ready to run it.
Transport & Setup: We coordinate shipment and delivery, making sure the dredge arrives fully equipped and ready to work.
Operator Training: Whether you’re new to dredging or a seasoned pro, we offer training on controls, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Ongoing Support & Maintenance: Need replacement parts? Technical support? We’re here to keep your dredge running for years to come.
At VMI, we don’t just build dredges—we build solutions.
50+ Years of Expertise: Manufacturing high-quality dredges since 1972.
Custom Solutions: From small-scale projects to large mining operations, we design dredges that fit your job.
Durability & Performance: Every dredge is built tough, efficient, and ready for the most demanding jobs.
Unmatched Support: From initial setup to long-term maintenance, we’re with you every step of the way.
A VMI dredge isn’t just a piece of equipment—it’s an investment in reliability, efficiency, and long-term success.
Need a Dredge? We’ve Got You Covered.
Whether you need a horizontal dredge, cutter suction dredge, or amphibious excavator, VMI Dredges has the equipment and expertise to get the job done.
Call us today to discuss purchasing or renting a dredge for your operation. 918-225-7000
Email us for a custom quote. sales@vmi-dredges.com
Visit our website to see our full lineup of dredging solutions.
Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmidredges.com
Did you know? VMI Dredges’ team of experts is always here to back you up from planning to operation to maintenance. Whether you’re tackling a tough project or just need pro-level advice, we’ve got you!
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Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmidredges.com
💥 TITAN-SIZED MOMENT at AGG1 💥
🎥 LAST DAY AT AGG1 | VMI DREDGES
#ThrowbackThursday
A blast from the past! This vintage shot captures one of VMI’s early dredges, a reminder of where it all began. From these roots, we’ve continued to push the boundaries of dredging innovation. The industry has evolved, but one thing hasn’t changed—VMI’s commitment to building reliable, high-performance dredges.
Who’s got stories from the early days? Let’s hear them! 👇 #DredgingEquipment#VMIDredges #BuiltToDredge #ThisIsHowYouDredge
AGG1 is in full swing here in St. Louis, and VMI Dredges is ready to connect.
Let’s talk dredges, production, and what’s next in dredging technology.
Oklahoma-Based Dredger Manufacturer VMI Has Sold Seven Vessels To Overseas Buyers In The Past Year
Two of VMI's MD-815 dredgers were bought by Maxitool, an engineering and mining services company from Cairns, Queensland. The rugged machine features a full-width flow-through horizontal cutterhead and a recessed impeller pump for pumping - a closed vane impeller pump for pumping to higher elevations and longer distances is an option.
Maxitool uses its VMI dredgers to dewater tailing dams. They're also used to perform maintenance work for process ponds, waterways and marine channels all around Australia.
🚨 We are in ST. LOUIS! 🚨
AGG1 Expo is LIVE, and Booth 6868 is where the dredging action is going down. 💥
🎥 Plus, catch our video wall in action and don’t forget to grab a VMI Dredges Swamp Hoe T-Shirt or VMI Dredge Titan T-Shirt!
Whether you're here to explore new equipment, ask the tough questions, or just see how VMI turns mud into money...
➡️ BOOTH 6868. Let’s talk dredging.
#ThisIsHowYouDredge #VMIDredges #AGG1 #WorldOfAsphalt #StLouisStrong #DredgingDoneRight #Booth6868 #IndustrialInnovation #DredgeLife
GUY SAYS . . . CLEAR WATER, STRONGER ECOSYSTEMS!
Built for high-production dredging, cutter suction dredges (CSDs) are some of the most versatile and powerful machines in the industry. From mining operations to coastal restoration, these dredges are designed to move massive amounts of material with precision and efficiency.
A cutter suction dredge is a hydraulically powered dredge that uses a rotating cutterhead to break up material before pumping it through a pipeline. Unlike plain suction dredges, which rely solely on suction power, CSDs cut through compacted sediment, clay, and sand, making them ideal for more demanding dredging applications.
Cutterhead loosens material for better suction
Hydraulic or mechanical power drives the cutting action
Material is pumped through a pipeline for transport
Capable of handling tough, abrasive materials
Whether it’s sand, clay, gravel, or sediment, a cutter suction dredge is built to move it.
The mining industry relies heavily on cutter suction dredges for efficient material extraction. Instead of traditional excavation, a CSD can pump large volumes of sand and gravel directly to processing plants, reducing the need for costly hauling and handling.
Used for:
Extracting aggregates for construction
Harvesting sand for cement production
Mining gravel for infrastructure projects
With the ability to cut, suction, and transport material all in one, a cutter suction dredge maximizes production while reducing operational costs.
Waterways don’t maintain themselves. Over time, sediment buildup reduces depth, creating navigational hazards for boats, barges, and commercial vessels. Cutter suction dredges are the go-to solution for maintaining ports, harbors, and rivers, ensuring safe passage and continuous operation.
Deepening shipping channels
Clearing harbors and docks
Maintaining inland waterways
With the ability to operate continuously, a CSD can keep major waterways open without shutting down traffic.
Every year, storm surges, erosion, and rising sea levels pull millions of cubic yards of sand off the world’s coastlines. Without intervention, beaches disappear, storm protection weakens, and communities are left vulnerable.
Used for:
Beach nourishment & erosion control
Storm protection & flood prevention
Rebuilding damaged shorelines
Without dredging, many coastal towns and tourist destinations wouldn’t exist as they do today.
Industrial processes often result in heavy sludge buildup in ponds, basins, and lagoons. Over time, this sludge can clog operations, create environmental risks, and reduce water treatment efficiency.
Used for:
Cleaning wastewater treatment ponds
Removing contaminated sediments
Managing industrial byproducts
By maintaining clear and functional ponds, companies avoid costly shutdowns and stay in compliance with environmental regulations.
Cutter suction dredges play a key role in land reclamation, helping create new land from water. Many of the world’s biggest cities—including Dubai, Singapore, and the Netherlands—use CSDs to reshape coastlines, build new islands, and expand urban areas.
Creating land for construction
Filling low-lying areas with dredged material
Building ports, airports, and industrial zones
With their high production capacity, CSDs quickly move the material needed for large-scale development.
CSDs aren’t just another dredge—they’re a powerful, high-production tool that keeps industries moving.
Continuous Operation: No stopping for material removal.
Handles Tough Materials: From soft sediment to compacted clay and gravel.
Versatile Applications: Used in mining, construction, restoration, and maintenance.
Cost-Effective: Moves more material, faster, reducing downtime and labor costs.
For high-volume, high-efficiency dredging, a cutter suction dredge is the ultimate tool.
As demand for mining, coastal restoration, and waterway maintenance continues to grow, the need for powerful, reliable dredging equipment has never been higher. The next generation of cutter suction dredges is faster, more efficient, and easier to operate, ensuring that dredging projects stay on time and on budget.
At VMI Dredges, we specialize in manufacturing and renting high-performance cutter suction dredges for mining, industrial, and environmental applications. Whether you need a compact dredge for a small-scale project or a heavy-duty machine for large-scale excavation, we’ve got you covered.Need a cutter suction dredge for your operation? Contact us today to learn more about our available dredges and sales and rental options.
DID YOU KNOW?
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Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmidredges.com
#ThrowbackThursday
International Businessmen Visit VMI
VMI, Inc. of Cushing hosted a group of international businessmen who traveled from London to Stillwater in 24 hours, arriving in Cushing in time for a late lunch and tour of the VMI operation Wednesday. The group hosted by VMI owner and CEO Gene Maitlen, was here "confirming what we already knew," according to Alastair J. Morris with Balfour Engineering Consultants headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan. (Morris is originally from London, England.) The group has purchased three dredges for an enormous civil works project in Karachi, Pakistan. The projected cost is $30 million and the project is funded by the Asian Development Bank and the government of Pakistan is providing local funding.
Alauddin Babar, Chief Executive of Pak Massif International, PVT. Ltd., explained the project is one of the biggest ever in Karachi and consists of designing and constructing a water and sewage treatment plant, replacing old water mains, and involves pollution networks, all which will accomodate "roughly 150 million gallons of water a day. Before the project is completed, we will need the capacity to treat 300 million gallons a day," he said. He spoke on the population of Karachi, saying, "in 1947 there were studies on population growth and in 1952 the projection was for a population of three million people by 1980. But in 1980 there were already five million. Today, 30 million people live there."
Morris said, "this project has priority because of the condition in Pakistan." The engineer and Deputy Project Manager Imran Asif was part of the group, and his wife traveled with him. He said, "the dredges are just what we need, specifically for waste water sludge. We need a specialized form of dredging."
VMI dredges will be shipped by ocean freight in one shipment, completely assembled. Each dredge is approximately nine feet wide and 40 feet long, or as Babar said, "2.7 meters wide and 9.5 meters long. They weigh nine metric tons."
Robert Wagoner from the United Kingdom is the international sales consultant who connected everyone together on the purchase of the dredges. Maitlen said, "he sells all over the world. Last time I talked to him he was getting ready for a flight to South Africa."
John G. Robin, Jr. President of International Trade Consultants of Oklahoma City was instrumental in working with VMI, Inc. and the foreign parties. Syed Iftikhar Hussain of Karachi, is the Project Coordinator with China Petroleum Engineering Construction Corporation (CPECC) which is very active in Pakistan. Liu Chen Lin of Beijing, China is the contractor with CPECC working on the project.
All members of the group complimented VMI for having the equipment that would meet their specifications in the construction of Karachi project. They plan to return in about six months.
GUY SAYS . . . DREDGING UP SOME LUCK!
Dredging is a demanding industry that relies on equipment functioning at peak performance. Whether you're using a horizontal dredge, cutter suction dredge, or amphibious excavator, proper maintenance is essential to maximize efficiency, extend equipment lifespan, and prevent costly downtime. In this guide, we’ll cover the key aspects of dredge maintenance, from daily inspections to long-term upkeep strategies.
Dredges operate in tough conditions, dealing with abrasive materials, harsh environments, and heavy workloads. Without regular maintenance, wear and tear can lead to:
Reduced efficiency and performance
Unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs
Increased fuel and operational costs
Shortened equipment lifespan
By following a structured maintenance plan, dredge owners and operators can keep their equipment running smoothly and avoid unnecessary setbacks.
Performing daily maintenance ensures small issues don’t turn into major problems. Before starting operations each day, conduct a thorough inspection of these critical areas:
1. Engine & Power System
Check all fluid levels.
Inspect engine for leaks.
Clean or replace air filters as needed.
Ensure batteries are charged and terminals are corrosion-free.
Conduct a full greasing of all bearings, joints, and moving parts.
Check alignment of shafts and bearings to prevent premature failure.
2. Pump & Piping System
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Inspect the dredge pump for wear on impellers and liners.
Check for clogs or blockages in suction and discharge pipes.
Lubricate bearings and rotating components to reduce friction.
Ensure the suction mouth is clear of debris.
Monitor dredge pump pressure and efficiency to detect early signs of wear.
3. Hydraulic System
Check hydraulic fluid levels and top off if needed.
Inspect hoses for cracks, leaks, or bulging.
Change hydraulic filters as needed.
4. Cutterhead or Auger System
Inspect cutter teeth or auger blades for excessive wear.
Ensure the drive system is secure and well-lubricated.
Check for obstructions that could cause damage.
5. Safety & Operational Components
Test emergency stop functions and alarms.
Inspect cables, winches, and lifting mechanisms.
Check navigation lights, if applicable.
In addition to daily checks, more in-depth maintenance should be conducted on a weekly and monthly basis.
Inspect the dredge hull or pontoons for damage or excessive wear.
Test control systems and sensors for proper functionality.
Inspect the electrical system for loose connections or frayed wiring.
Perform a deep cleaning to remove sediment buildup on key components.
Beyond routine inspections, there are several key strategies to ensure your dredge remains in peak condition for years to come.
1. Keep a Detailed Maintenance Log
Documenting maintenance activities helps identify recurring issues and ensures timely service. Keep track of:
Oil changes and fluid top-offs
Replaced parts and wear components
Performance metrics (fuel efficiency, pressure readings, etc.)
Repairs and modifications
2. Train Operators on Proper Use & Handling
Many maintenance issues arise from improper operation. Ensure all dredge operators are trained on:
Efficient and safe dredging techniques
Recognizing early warning signs of equipment failure
Proper startup and shutdown procedures
3. Schedule Preventative Maintenance
Don’t wait for problems to arise—schedule periodic professional inspections. A trained technician can:
Conduct a full dredge performance evaluation
Identify early-stage wear on key components
Make recommendations for upgrades or replacements
4. Winterizing Your Dredge (If operating in cold climates)
Before winter storage, take these precautions:
Drain water from pumps, piping, and tanks to prevent freezing.
Store batteries in a temperature-controlled environment.
Apply corrosion inhibitors to exposed metal parts.
Cover or shelter your dredge to protect it from harsh weather conditions.
Even with routine maintenance, some issues require expert attention. Contact a professional if you notice:
Significant loss of dredging performance
Unusual vibrations or noises during operation
Frequent hydraulic leaks or pressure drops
Engine overheating or excessive smoke
VMI Dredges offers comprehensive support and parts to keep your equipment running at its best. If you need expert advice or replacement components, contact our team today.
Dredge maintenance isn’t just about avoiding downtime—it’s about maximizing efficiency, extending equipment life, and ensuring safe operations. By implementing a proactive maintenance routine, operators can keep their dredging projects running smoothly while reducing long-term costs.
Need service or parts? Visit https://vmidredges.com/DredgeParts.html or call us at 918-225-7000.
Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmidredges.com
Guy Says . . . “Dredging isn’t just about moving materials. It’s about rebuilding environments, restoring ecosystems, and reshaping what’...
