James Dick – Floating Grab Dredge Development
Client: James Dick Construction Ltd.
Location: Caledon Sand and Gravel, Ontario, Canada
Industry: Aggregate & Mining
Project Type: Custom Equipment Design & Manufacturing for Dredging Operations
Project Duration: 3 Years (2 Years Design + 1 Year Manufacturing)
Project Overview
Assinck Limited successfully designed and built a groundbreaking Floating Boom Grab Dredge – a first for the Canadian aggregate industry. As the only Canadian company to develop this type of dredge, Assinck stands alongside only two other global pioneers: one in Germany and one in the United States.
The client approached Assinck due to the long lead times from global suppliers and the desire for a locally designed, cost-effective solution. Additionally, many aggregate sites in Canada are operating under older licenses with diminishing reserves, making the ability to dredge below the water table a key strategy for maximizing resource extraction. The project not only offered an innovative solution to a critical industry need but also provided environmental and economic advantages.
Project Highlights
The Assinck Tilting Boom Grab Dredge is a robust, high-performance machine equipped with advanced features designed to maximize efficiency:
- 7-yard hydraulic clamshell bucket for high-capacity material handling
- Processing capacity of 400 tons per hour of seven-inch minus material
- Hydraulic tipping self-cleaning grizzly
- Heavy-duty scalping screen for precise material separation
- Fines recovery system using hydrocyclone technology to optimize fine material recovery
- Advanced PLC system with an intuitive Human-Machine Interface (HMI) – user-friendly
- Joystick-controlled PLC positioning winches with self-spool fairleads for enhanced control
- Integrated material processing plant featuring a floating conveyor system
- Robust slew bearing system designed to accommodate complex operating angles
Collaborative Effort
The success of this project was the result of tireless teamwork across several key departments within Assinck Limited. The ambitious project demanded long working hours, multiple iterations, and close collaboration across the organization.
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Leadership Team:
Led by Dean Glenn, Vice President of Assinck Limited, the leadership provided unwavering support and strategic direction throughout the project. Dean’s vision ensured the project aligned with Assinck’s long-term goals while overseeing resource allocation to keep the project on track. -
Engineering Team:
The design phase of the project took nearly two years of continuous back-and-forth discussions, prototyping, and refinement. Engineers faced numerous technical challenges, and the long working hours spent perfecting every detail were a testament to their dedication. The team’s innovative approach led to the development of the dredge’s advanced systems and its high operational capacity. -
Project Team:
Oversaw the meticulous execution of each phase of the project, ensuring that every component—from design to testing—was completed with precision. The entire team worked closely together, sometimes under tight deadlines, to meet the client’s needs and ensure the dredge met all performance expectations. -
Sales Team:
Played a vital role in understanding the client’s requirements and ensuring that the final product matched those specifications. They also ensured effective communication between Assinck and the client throughout the process. -
Plant Team:
After nearly a year of design work, the plant team took on the responsibility of manufacturing the dredge. Their skills and expertise ensured that the dredge was built to the highest standards, with rigorous quality control at every stage.
Challenges and Solutions
The project was undoubtedly one of the most challenging Assinck has undertaken. The design and manufacturing process spanned nearly three years in total: two years spent in design and after numerous design revisions and iterations, and an additional year spent in fabrication and assembly.
The engineering team faced several setbacks, including prototype failures and unexpected technical issues. Each challenge required the team to adapt and find creative solutions. These challenges included refining the dredge’s complex system, optimizing its efficiency, and ensuring the durability needed for demanding operational environments. Late nights and long hours were necessary to meet the client’s requirements, but the project ultimately resulted in an innovative and highly efficient dredge.
Through perseverance, creativity, and commitment, Assinck was able to create a product that exceeds industry standards, offering superior operational performance and efficiency.
Conclusion
The Floating Grab Dredge is a remarkable accomplishment showcasing our capacity for innovation, engineering excellence, and dedication to providing the best solutions to the aggregate industry. Despite the challenges—including nearly three years of hard work, countless hours of design and prototyping, and overcoming technical hurdles—the final dredge exceeds expectations in terms of both performance and efficiency.
This project not only helps our client extend the life of their aggregate reserves but also further cements Assinck’s reputation as a leader in the development of cutting-edge dredging technologies. Through hard work, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to excellence, Assinck Limited continues to deliver high-quality, industry-leading solutions.