Field Report:  Shanghai, China

In December 2000, IMS delivered a Model 4008 VERSI-DREDGE to Hao Miao Engineering Company of Shanghai, China.  Their dredge was sold to the Chinese client through IMS' Chinese Representative, the Dynason Company, Inc.  The dredge is being used to deepen several canals near the East Sea and also to clear aquatic vegetation using the patented WEEDMASTER^® cutterhead.  Heavy vegetation was encountered throughout the canals consisting of cattails and bamboo.  The dredge successfully chopped the vegetation into 1- to 3-inch pieces.  The dredge was pumping 40% solids up a 5-meter rise and through approximately 500 meters of discharge pipe.

The client is very pleased with their new Model 4008 and made several comments regarding the stability and strength of the machine.  According to IMS Service Division Manger, Michael Young, "at one point, while dredging in the canal, we hit a piece of 2" x 3/16" flat bar.  When we raised the cutterhead, we found that it had wrapped the 4-foot long bar around itself 3 times."  Other obstacles that the dredge encountered were jackets, rice sacks, tires, fishnets, canvas, and even a 4-foot square steel access door.  Regardless, the 4008 overcame the obstacles with only a chipped excavator tooth.  Durability is something that IMS takes very seriously with their dredges.