Built for the Long Haul: How VMI Equipment Performs When Conditions Don’t

When winter hits and schedules tighten, dredging operations can’t afford to slow down. The water may be cold, but the work doesn’t wait  and neither does the equipment that keeps it moving.

At VMI Dredges, we understand that reliability isn’t a luxury it’s the foundation of every successful project. That’s why we provide a full range of dredges, booster pumps, HDPE pipe systems, and amphibious equipment to keep your operation running year-round, whether you’re buying or renting.

Built for the Work. Backed by Experience.

VMI designs and manufactures horizontal and cutter suction dredges that are engineered to perform in the toughest conditions. Every system we build undergoes detailed inspection, testing, and field verification before delivery.

Our customers count on dredges that handle abrasive materials, fluctuating depths, and long hours of operation and that reliability extends to every piece of equipment we sell or rent.

That includes our Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavators, available through VMI for sale and rental, giving crews a versatile solution for soft terrain, marshes, and shallow-water support work.  While VMI does not manufacture the Swamp Hoe itself, we supply, maintain, and support these machines with the same attention to quality and service that define our dredging line.

Sales and Rentals That Fit the Job

Every project is different and so are the equipment needs. Some jobs demand ownership; others require flexibility.

That’s why VMI offers both sales and rental options across our full product line.

Available Equipment:

VMI Horizontal Dredges – Compact, efficient systems ideal for ponds, lagoons, and wastewater treatment.

VMI Cutter Suction Dredges – High-production units for deeper or large-scale dredging projects.

                                      

Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavators (for sale and rent) – Perfect for wetland restoration, canal maintenance, and shallow excavation.

Booster Pumps – Extend discharge distance and optimize flow.

HDPE Pipe & Accessories – Durable, field-ready pipeline systems from dredge to discharge.

Whether you’re building your fleet or managing a short-term project, VMI gives you access to proven machines, trusted support, and fast turnaround.

Field Support That Makes the Difference

When you work with VMI Dredges, you don’t just get equipment, you get a partner.

Our technicians and service teams know what “ready for the field” truly means. From setup to operation, we provide the technical support, spare parts, and expertise to keep you running with confidence.

And when conditions are tough, cold, wet, or unpredictable that experience matters.

Looking Ahead

As 2025 comes to a close, VMI Dredges remains focused on what matters most: helping our customers finish strong and start the new year with the right tools in the water. Whether you’re buying, renting, or expanding your fleet, VMI delivers the performance, reliability, and service that keep projects moving.

Because in dredging, there’s no off-season, just another opportunity to prove what you’re made of.

Built to Work. Backed by Experience.

918-225-7000

www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmi-dredges.com

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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 When Every Day Counts: How VMI’s Rental Fleet Keeps Projects Moving

In the dredging world, time lost to downtime can mean missed deadlines, higher costs, and idle crews. That’s why many contractors, municipalities, and environmental teams turn to VMI Dredges’ rental fleet a reliable, ready-to-deploy lineup of equipment built for the work that can’t wait.

From horizontal and cutter suction dredges to booster pumps, HDPE pipe, and amphibious excavators, VMI’s rental options make it possible to get the job done even when owning equipment isn’t the right fit.

Why Rentals Matter in Dredging

Owning a dredge or amphibious excavator is a major investment and not every project justifies it. Short-term work, seasonal jobs, and specialized cleanup projects often call for flexibility instead of full ownership.

VMI’s rental program bridges that gap by giving operators access to high-performance equipment without the upfront cost or maintenance burden. Each rental unit is inspected, serviced, and test-run before it leaves our facility, ensuring the same reliability you’d expect from a new machine.

Whether it’s a two-week emergency pond clean-out or a six-month canal restoration, VMI’s rental fleet is built to perform and built to move.

What’s Available

Our rental inventory includes:

Horizontal Dredges – Efficient, compact systems for ponds, lagoons, and wastewater treatment facilities.

Cutter Suction Dredges – Ideal for deeper or more material-intensive operations.

Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavators – Perfect for soft terrain and shallow-water excavation support.

Booster Pumps – Extend dredging distance and increase production efficiency.

HDPE Pipe & Accessories – For complete system setup from dredge to discharge.

All equipment is prepared, inspected, and maintained by technicians who understand the demands of real-world dredging so when it arrives, it’s ready to work.

Support Beyond the Shipment

Renting from VMI isn’t just about equipment, it’s about backing it with expertise. Our team provides:

• Operation guidance

• Parts and accessories when needed

• Technical support throughout your rental period

We’ve worked with municipalities, private contractors, industrial sites, and environmental agencies, each with unique job conditions, regulations, and timelines. Our experience means you get more than a machine; you get a partner that understands the work.

Flexibility When You Need It Most

Some projects demand quick turnaround, while others face unpredictable weather or changing scope. Rentals make it possible to scale your equipment up or down without major capital commitments.

And when paired with VMI’s manufacturing and engineering support, rental customers get access to the same innovation, reliability, and craftsmanship that define every VMI dredge in the field.

At VMI, our mission is simple: keep you working.

We’re here to make sure it performs when it matters most.

Built to Work. Backed by Experience.

918-225-7000

www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmi-dredges.com

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 Tackling the Tough Terrain: VMI’s Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavator Rentals

When the job site looks more like a swamp than a construction site, traditional heavy equipment can only go so far. That’s where Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavators come in, purpose-built to perform in soft terrain, shallow water, and conditions that would stop standard excavators in their tracks.

VMI Dredges doesn’t manufacture these machines, but we know their value and that’s why we keep them in our rental fleet. They’re one more way we help customers take on challenging jobs and keep projects moving where others can’t.

What Is a Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavator?

A Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavator is a modified excavator equipped with sealed pontoons and wide tracks, giving it buoyancy and stability on soft or submerged ground. These machines are engineered for low ground pressure and steady operation in areas with poor footing — such as ponds, marshes, retention basins, and wetlands.

Typical applications include:

• Pond and lagoon cleaning

• Canal and drainage maintenance

• Wetland restoration

• Flood control and storm cleanup

• Sediment and vegetation removal

They’re often used alongside dredges to clear shallow areas, shape banks, or remove material where a dredge can’t physically reach.

Why Contractors Choose Amphibious Excavators

Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavators offer unmatched mobility and reach in wet environments. Their extended arms and floating pontoons allow operators to work both from shore and directly within flooded zones safely and efficiently.

These machines save time and reduce the need for temporary access roads, barges, or dewatering efforts. In short, they help crews get more done with less setup, which is why they’ve become a go-to solution in environmental and industrial maintenance.

VMI’s Rental Advantage

VMI Dredges understands that not every project requires owning specialized equipment outright. That’s why our rental program includes Swamp Hoe Amphibious Excavators, alongside our lineup of horizontal dredges, cutter suction dredges, booster pumps, and HDPE pipe systems.

What You Can Expect

Field-Ready Equipment: Every unit is inspected, serviced, and tested before it leaves our facility.

Flexible Terms: Short-term or long-term rentals available to match your project scope and duration.

Support When You Need It: Our team assists with logistics, setup, and operational questions to ensure you’re up and running smoothly.

Nationwide Availability: We supply customers across the United States and internationally.

VMI’s goal is to make equipment access simple, reliable, and backed by real dredging expertise.

Working Smarter in Wet Conditions

Amphibious excavators aren’t about flash,  they’re about function. They let operators reach areas other machines can’t, making them an essential part of dredging support, storm water management, and environmental cleanup.

And when paired with VMI’s dredging systems, they help form a complete solution from shore to sediment.

At VMI, we believe equipment should work as hard as you do. Whether you need to dredge, excavate, or restore, we have the tools to make it happen.

Built to Work. Backed by Experience.

918-225-7000

www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmi-dredges.com

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Precision Never Freezes

Winter doesn’t pause production. It just sharpens it.

When the air bites and breath fogs in the shop, the sound of grinders and welders doesn’t fade, it carries. The cold has a way of stripping everything down to truth: tolerances, technique, focus. Nothing hides in cold air.

Inside, sparks cut against steel like orange fireflies. The metal pops as it cools, small reminders that heat and precision live side-by-side. Every move matters more in the cold. Every pass has weight. There’s no rushing steel when it’s forty degrees on the floor.

The Discipline of Temperature

Cold tests the work long before it ever hits the field. It reveals who’s dialed-in and who’s guessing.

Hydraulic fittings tighten differently, expansion rates shift, and welds demand absolute control. That’s not a problem it’s part of the process. At VMI Dredges, temperature is just another variable to engineer against.

Blueprints don’t account for wind chill, but experience does. You learn which metals wake up slow, which paints flash faster, and which coatings can take a beating when the air’s dry and sharp.

That’s what winter gives back: feedback you can feel in your hands.

Machines Built in Reality

By the time a dredge leaves our floor, it’s already been tested where it matters most, in the precision of

 

its build. Every weld, every joint, every tolerance has already proven itself before it ever touches water.  The same cold that numbs fingers in Cushing makes a dredge tougher for the job sites in Alaska, Michigan, or wherever the water hardens first.

That’s not luck that’s design proven by environment.

We don’t wait for warmer weather. We build through it. Because the world’s waterways don’t stop for winter, and neither do we.

Precision Never Freezes

Every spark, every cut, every finished hull carries the same standard: perform when it’s uncomfortable.

That’s not marketing it’s manufacturing reality.  And around here, reality is the only thing worth building for.

918-225-7000

www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmi-dredges.com

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