Posted on May 18, 2022
The “DEEP CUT” Begins Lake Dredging Season
In April, ODNR placed their latest custom 460SL dredge, DEEP CUT, into operation at Buckeye Lake. An Ellicott field service technician provided start-up support and crew training. The DEEP CUT is the fifth Series 460 dredge purchased by the State of Ohio since ODNR began retiring their older dredge fleet. The new custom 460SL dredge is built to the State’s specifications and will support their annual dredging activities for many years to come.
The new 460SL replaces the BUCKEYE, a 1965 Ellicott® dredge the State has operated for more than a half century. The BUCKEYE, sold as surplus equipment by the State, was recently purchased by a landowner in Connecticut to support a private lake dredging project.
“BUCKEYE” dredge retires from ODNR service
Industrial Minerals Mining
Mineral Tailings Recovery
In March, a Virginia-based specialty mining producer contacted Ellicott in search of a more efficient solution for recovering mineral tailings and settling pond maintenance. A Series 370 Dragon® dredge was selected for the project to replace a very old pump barge that after many years had to be retired. The new 370 dredge requires less maintenance and is more productive. Ellicott is scheduled to provide enhanced on-site dredge training and site planning to further improve site operator skills and efficiency.
Series 1270 Begins Michigan Sand and Gravel Operation
Ellicott recently delivered and provided start-up services for two 18” (450 mm) Series 1270 Dragon® dredges, both involved in the support of the sand and gravel industry.
One unit was delivered to a sand and gravel producer in central Michigan where it will replace mechanical dragline and excavator mining method and allow the user to reach deeper digging depths and on constant basis. The hydraulic cutter suction dredge will greatly simplify the mining operations and reduce the owner’s operational costs. A second Series 1270 is scheduled to ship for delivery in June to this same owner at another location in Michigan.
The second Series 1270 dredge launched is operating near Salem, New Jersey, and replaces a 16” Series 970 the client has operated since 1983. The Ellicott 970 had provided the mine owner with many years of reliable service. While the owner considered refurbishing the 970, purchase of the upgraded 1270 became the more attractive option. The 1270 will dredge up to 50 ft. (15 m) depth and pump silica sand directly to a processing plant which will then be loaded onto rail cars for shipment to buyers throughout the Eastern United States.
Market Outlook
Ellicott Dredges continues to produce its full product line for inventory including upgraded dredges with Tier 3 marine compliant engines. The Tier 3 marine engines feature closed-loop cooling systems, offer less complexity, and require less on-board space than Tier 4 engines. The following new models are in production: 360SLM, 460SLM, 370M, 670M, and 1270-T3.
