Friday, June 27, 2025
As WODCON XXIV wraps up and our team heads home from San Diego, we want to take a moment to say: Thank you.
Choosing the Right Dredging Accessories: How Cutterheads, Boosters, and Pipe Make or Break Your Job
Choosing the Right Dredging Accessories: How Cutterheads, Boosters, and Pipe Make or Break Your Job
A dredge is only as strong as the system supporting it.
Too often, projects fail—not because the dredge isn’t powerful enough, but because the wrong accessories were selected, installed, or sized incorrectly.
At VMI Dredges, we engineer entire systems to work together: cutterheads, booster pumps, HDPE pipe, pontoons, discharge systems—every component matters.
Today, we’re breaking down how choosing the right dredging accessories can make or break your project's success.
1. The Right Cutterhead: Control Starts at the Cut
Choosing the right cutterhead is mission-critical.
It's the first point of contact with material—and if it can't break up, loosen, and deliver sediment effectively, everything downstream suffers.
Cutterhead types to consider:
🔹 Standard Auger Heads
Best for fine sediment, sludge, soft clays
Used on horizontal dredges for precision work
🔹 Cutter Suction Heads
Ideal for compacted material, clay beds, gravel, and mixed soils
🔹 Environmental Cutterheads
Designed for minimal turbidity, lower shear forces
Essential for contaminated sediment or habitat-sensitive projects
Pro Tip: Always match the cutterhead aggressiveness to your material type to avoid unnecessary wear—or inefficient production.
2. Booster Pumps: Extending Your Reach (and Your Efficiency)
Discharge distance is one of the most misunderstood challenges in dredging.
The farther the slurry must travel—and the denser the material—the harder your system must work to maintain flow.
Adding the right booster pump:
Keeps slurry velocity high enough to prevent settling and blockages
Increases daily production rates
Allows flexibility for longer discharge sites or elevation gains
When to add a booster:
If your total pipeline exceeds 2,000–3,000 feet, or if you’re working with high-solids content (>20% by weight).
3. HDPE Pipeline: The Artery of Your Dredging Operation
HDPE pipe isn’t just a hose, it’s the critical artery that moves thousands of tons of material daily.
Key pipeline considerations:
Wall Thickness (DR Rating): Thicker walls for higher pressure systems
Flotation: Floating pipeline keeps lines organized and reduces drag
Flexibility: HDPE bends with terrain, minimizing stress points
At VMI, we provide high-quality HDPE pipe systems and float kits that ensure durability, flow
efficiency, and easy deployment—no matter the site conditions.
4. Discharge and Placement Systems: Finish the Job Right
Where the material goes matters just as much as how it gets there.
Dredged material might be:
Deposited in confined disposal facilities (CDFs)
Spread for agricultural, industrial, or reclamation uses
Used for shoreline stabilization, beach restoration, or berm creation
Having the right discharge hoses, diffusers, weirs, and placement control accessories ensures that the final stage of your operation runs smoothly—and meets environmental compliance requirements.
5. Support Equipment: The Details That Make a Big Difference
Small accessories can have big impacts:
🔹 Spud Carriages and Winches: For controlled, efficient dredge movement
🔹 Anchoring Systems: For stability in currents and open water
🔹 Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs): For remote cutterhead or pump operations
🔹 Survey and Positioning Systems: For accuracy and documentation
A strong support system means fewer surprises and better project outcomes.
Why VMI Dredges Systems Perform Better
✅ Integrated Solutions: Equipment, pipe, boosters, and accessories engineered to work together
✅ Field-Proven Durability: Tough enough for mining, reliable enough for municipal work
✅ Expert Consultation: We help you configure complete systems—not just sell parts
✅ Global Reach: VMI dredging systems are trusted on projects worldwide
When the accessories match the mission, the results speak for themselves.
Ready to Build a Complete Dredging System?
Don’t gamble your project on mismatched components.
Trust VMI Dredges to deliver a field-proven, production-maximized solution that keeps your team moving—and your goals on track.
📞 Contact Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager: 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmi-dredges.com
#ThisIsHowYouDredge
#DredgingAccessories
#BoosterPumpSolutions
#PipelinePerformance
#VMIDredges
Did You Know We test every dredge in our testing pond before it leaves our facility?
Did You Know?
https://youtube.com/shorts/3CU5ugOSpUk?feature=share
We test every dredge in our testing pond before it leaves our facility? We don’t just test for functionality - We test for excellence! For us, pond testing isn’t just a quality assurance step, it’s a promise of performance, built and tested by the experts at VMI Dredges.
#VMIDredges #dredgemanufacturerer #dredgingequiupment #dredgesales #dredgerentals
Thursday, June 26, 2025
#ThrowbackThursday No hype. No drama. Just out here doing the work.
#ThrowbackThursday
No hype. No drama. Just out here doing the work.
Time passes.
The mission doesn’t.
#ThisIsHowYouDredge #BuiltToLast #VMIDredges #Throwback
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Day 2 at WODCON and we’re just getting started.
Proud to stand among the best in the industry and even prouder to support it as a Gold Sponsor.
From advanced dredging solutions to bold innovation, we’re here to talk shop, solve challenges, and move this industry forward.
Come see us at Booth 620. Let’s talk dredging.
#WODCON #GoldSponsor #VMI #ThisIsHowYouDredge #DredgingInnovation #Booth620
It didn’t arrive. It transformed.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
WODCON 2025. San Diego, California!
🚨 WODCON 2025. San Diego, California! 🚨
From the bay to the booth, VMI Dredges is locked in and ready to talk all things dredging, innovation, applications, equipment, and everything in between.
💥 Booth 620 is where the real work gets done.
🛠️ Cutting-edge dredges.
🌎 Global impact.
⚙️ Solutions that move more than just mud.
🎥 And yes - you’ve GOT to see our new video. It’s turning heads.
https://youtube.com/shorts/1Bit6nK21dQ?feature=share
Come meet the team. Come talk tech.
Come see why #ThisIsHowYouDredge.
📍 WODCON XXIV | Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel | Booth 620
#VMIDredges #DredgingEquipment #ThisIsHowYouDredge #WODCONXXIV
Monday, June 23, 2025
Guy Says . . . Some folks take vacations to the coast.
https://youtube.com/shorts/-N3xRW64jIU?feature=share
Sunday, June 22, 2025
VMI Dredges Heads to San Diego for WODCON XXIV: Showcasing Innovation, Power, and American Engineering
VMI Dredges Heads to San Diego for WODCON XXIV: Showcasing Innovation, Power, and American Engineering
Every few years, the dredging world gathers under one roof—and this year, that roof stretches over the blue skies of San Diego, California. WODCON XXIV, the 24th installment of the World Dredging Congress, is more than just a conference. It’s the global hub of ideas, equipment, and engineering excellence that shape the future of dredging. And VMI Dredges is proud to be part of it.
We’ll be exhibiting at Booth #620 from June 23-27, 2025, ready to connect with dredging professionals, contractors, engineers, and government officials from across the globe.
Why WODCON Matters
Hosted by the Western Dredging Association (WEDA), WODCON is the only global event dedicated exclusively to dredging and maritime construction. With attendees from over 30 countries and dozens of technical sessions, this event is where serious conversations happen—about environmental restoration, sediment management, mining, infrastructure resilience, and the equipment that makes it all possible.
At WODCON, technology meets trenchwork. Vision meets experience. And theory meets results.
That’s exactly where VMI Dredges belongs.
What We’re Bringing to the Table (and the Booth)
At VMI, we’ve spent over 50 years designing, building, and delivering dredges that are engineered to work harder, last longer, and perform better. We understand that when your dredge isn’t running, your project isn’t running either.
At WODCON XXIV, we’ll be highlighting:
✅ The Titan Series with TIMS (Transformable Integrated Modular System) – Our newly launched cutter suction dredge line, built with durability, modularity, and production power in mind. Designed for deeper digging, tougher sediment, and maximum uptime.
✅ Horizontal Dredge Solutions – Compact, efficient, and designed for minimal manpower and low turbidity. Perfect for ponds, lagoons, and tight-access jobs.
✅ Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavators – Adaptable machines that give operators the power to dig and dredge in the harshest swamp and wetland environments.
✅ Booster Pumps, HDPE Pipe, and Accessories – Everything you need to keep the material moving from source to site.
✅ Parts, Service, and Support – Because we know a machine is only as good as the people backing it. And we’ve got your back.
Built in America. Shipped Worldwide. Engineered to Last.
While the world brings its best to San Diego, we’re bringing the grit and ingenuity that’s been forged in Oklahoma and proven in projects across six continents. Our equipment is 100% designed and manufactured in the United States, with customization and support tailored to meet the realities of field operations.
Whether you're restoring wetlands, deepening a marina, or handling industrial tailings, VMI Dredges gives you the tools to do it efficiently—and get the job done right.
Let’s Talk Dredging
If you're attending WODCON XXIV, we invite you to stop by Booth #620 and see what sets VMI apart. Ask about our new builds, discuss your upcoming projects, or simply meet the team behind the machines.
Can’t make it to WODCON this year? No problem. Contact us any time at (800) 762-2257 or visit www.vmi-dredges.com to request a quote, download brochures, or chat with our team.
The World Digs Deeper at WODCON. So Do We.
We’re proud to stand alongside industry leaders, innovators, and partners who are building a better future through dredging. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about moving material—it’s about moving the world forward.
See you in San Diego.
Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmi-dredges.com
Friday, June 20, 2025
What Sets a Field-Proven Dredge Apart: How Quality, Service, and Reliability Drive Success

What Sets a Field-Proven Dredge Apart: How Quality, Service, and Reliability Drive Success
In dredging, it’s simple: equipment that works harder and lasts longer wins.
At VMI Dredges, we design and build machines that aren’t just tough on paper—they’re field-proven across real-world applications, from mining pits to marinas, wastewater plants to environmental restoration sites around the world.
Today, we’re breaking down the key traits that separate high-performance dredges from equipment that costs you time, money, and opportunity.
1. Engineered for Real-World Durability
Dredging environments are some of the harshest on earth: abrasive sediment, fluctuating water levels, corrosion exposure, and nonstop operational pressures.
A true field-proven dredge is designed to handle it all, including:
Abrasion-resistant pumps
Reinforced structural frames
Heavy-duty hydraulic systems
Optimized balance for shallow or deep conditions
When conditions get tough, durable design keeps projects moving.
2. Designed with Operator Efficiency in Mind
A dredge is only as effective as the operator behind it.
At VMI, we engineer our equipment for easy operation, fast learning curves, and efficient production.
🔹 Logical, streamlined control systems
🔹 Accessible service points for quick maintenance
🔹 Customizable features to match site conditions
Result: Faster deployment. Less downtime. Greater productivity.
3. Reliable Service and Parts Support
Downtime costs operators around the world millions every year.
Fast, knowledgeable support isn’t optional, it’s critical.
Whether your dredge is working in Texas, Canada, Southeast Asia, or Europe, you need a partner who can keep you operating—and VMI Dredges delivers.
4. Customizable Solutions for Any Environment
No two dredging projects are the same.
We understand the difference between a sediment-heavy reservoir and a compact industrial basin. That’s why VMI offers modular, adaptable dredging systems to fit your application.
Options include:
Horizontal dredges for precision work
Cutter suction dredges for high-production operations
Amphibious excavators for soft terrain access
Booster pumps for extended discharge distances
Accessories and pipeline solutions tailored to your project
Result: Dredging systems that fit the job without compromise.
5. Proven Performance, Worldwide
VMI equipment is engineered for real-world demands and is trusted by operators worldwide, including:
Mining sites reclaiming millions of tons of tailings
Industrial ponds maintaining critical operational capacity
Ports and harbors restoring navigational depths
Environmental sites rehabilitating ecosystems
Across industries and continents, VMI dredges are proving their value every day.
Why Choose VMI?
✅ Tough, reliable equipment for real-world operations
✅ Responsive support that keeps projects moving
✅ Smart, adaptable dredge designs for changing conditions
✅ A long track record of success across industrial, municipal, and environmental sectors
At VMI, we don't just deliver dredges. We deliver confidence.
📞 Ready to power up your dredging project? Contact Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager: 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmi-dredges.com
#ThisIsHowYouDredge
#DredgingSolutions
#FieldProvenPerformance
#VMIDredges
#ReliableResults
Thursday, June 19, 2025
#ThrowbackThursday Some things don’t need explaining. You just know it when you see it.
#ThrowbackThursday
Some things don’t need explaining.
You just know it when you see it.
Built for the work.
Built to last.
#ThisIsHowYouDredge #VMIDredges #Throwback #DredgingLife
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the man, the myth, the welding legend, Don Williams!
https://youtube.com/shorts/JTnBfIdkw8s?feature=share




Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Friday, June 13, 2025
Built to Work: Why Equipment Uptime Is the True Measure of a Dredge's Value
Built to Work: Why Equipment Uptime Is the True Measure of a Dredge's Value
In dredging, downtime isn’t just a hassle, it’s lost revenue, missed deadlines, and rising costs.
When your dredge is sitting idle, your project is burning cash.
At VMI Dredges, we know that uptime is everything. That’s why we engineer every machine to operate longer, with less maintenance, and with higher field reliability than anything else in its class.
Today, let’s talk about why uptime is the metric that matters and how VMI helps you maximize it.
The Real Cost of Downtime
Downtime doesn’t just delay a project.
It triggers a domino effect of operational problems:
🔹 Increased labor costs (crews waiting to work)
🔹 Contract penalties for missed milestones
🔹 Equipment rental fees for backup solutions
🔹 Regulatory fines for environmental violations (in certain dredging projects)
🔹 Loss of client confidence—and future business opportunities
Bottom Line: Every hour your dredge is down is money flowing the wrong direction.
What Drives Uptime in Dredging Equipment?
1. Simplicity of Design
Overcomplicated machines break down faster.
VMI dredges are designed with rugged, straightforward systems that are easy to operate, easy to service, and built for real-world conditions not laboratory-perfect environments.
2. Heavy-Duty Materials
From abrasion-resistant dredge pumps to reinforced auger and cutter assemblies, VMI builds equipment to outlast the sediment, the water, and the weather.
3. Easy Access for Maintenance
Fast maintenance = faster return to operation.
VMI dredges are designed with accessible service points, minimizing the need for disassembly and reducing the risk of field repairs getting bogged down.
4. Operator Training and Support
Even the best equipment needs skilled hands to maximize its potential.
VMI offers operational training, start-up support, and troubleshooting expertise giving your crew the tools to keep production running at full capacity.
How VMI Delivers Maximum Uptime
✅ Field-Tested Designs: Every VMI dredge is tested under real operating conditions—no guesswork, no lab-only results.
✅ Responsive Parts Support: Fast access to critical components keeps downtime to a minimum.
✅ Durability by Design: Heavy-gauge pontoons, reinforced dredge arms, powerful pumps built to take abuse and keep working.
✅ Remote Assistance: Our service experts can often diagnose and troubleshoot issues without waiting days for an onsite visit.
If It’s Not Working, It’s Not Winning
You don't buy a dredge to sit on the sidelines—you buy it to work.
At VMI Dredges, we engineer uptime into every weld, every bolt, every system.
When you invest in VMI, you’re investing in equipment that shows up, stands up, and outworks the competition.
📞 Ready to keep your project moving? Contact Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager: 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmi-dredges.com
#ThisIsHowYouDredge
#BuiltForUptime
#DredgingWithoutDelays
#VMIPerformance
As WODCON XXIV wraps up and our team heads home from San Diego, we want to take a moment to say: Thank you.
As WODCON XXIV wraps up and our team heads home from San Diego, we want to take a moment to say: Thank you. To everyone who stopped by Boo...

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https://youtube.com/shorts/2XYporcw1w8?feature=share 🎓 From Yale High to VMI Pride 💪 Today we celebrate one of our own Logan Tyler Brit...