Custom Dredge Works
Custom Dredges

Powered by a Cat® C32 Industrial Engine

POWER PROFILE: Custom Dredge Works Custom Dredges
POWER PROFILE: Custom Dredge Works Custom Dredges

JUST ADD WATER

Dredger

In the early 1980’s, a metalworks business was created called MidWestern Metals (MWM). This company transformed into an expert metal fabrication shop, completing projects for Ford Motor Company, Dearborn Midwest Conveyor and the U.S. National Guard Helicopter Division, among others. When a local mining operation asked the company to overhaul and upgrade a dredge, a new company Custom Dredge Works was formed in 2001. In the two decades since, the operation has grown into one of the U.S.’s leading manufacturers of state-of-the-art custom dredges. They’re used to harvest valuable minerals, create or deepen ports and waterways, assist with flood or erosion control, remove contaminated materials from areas affected by chemical spills or stormwater surges and much more.

Custom Dredge Works logo
Custom Dredge Works logo

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

  • Today, Custom Dredge Works manufactures cutterhead suction, chain ladder, deep digging and electric-powered dredges — along with booster pumps and dewatering bucket wheels — for dredging contractors and mining operations in every U.S. state and around the world.
  • Custom Dredge Works tailors every dredge to the owner’s preferences including cab size, controls, lights, cranes, pumps, winches and even the color scheme. Owners have their choice of diesel, electric or natural gas engines as well.
  • Having a wide range of Cat® industrial power engines to select from makes it easy for the company to give dredge owners exactly what they need.  Cat engines are recommended due to availability of replacement parts and serviceability at dealers around the world.
  • When properly maintained, the lifespan of CDW dredges can reach up to 40 years, meaning the engines powering them need to stand the test of time. Using Caterpillar’s global dealer network allows for reliable support in maintaining optimal uptime for equipment and getting jobs done no matter the location.

CHECK THE SPECS

CONTACT CUSTOM DREDGE WORKS

CONTACT YOUR CAT DEALER

of
of
Video 1
Video 2

Cat® Engine Overview

  • The Cat® C32 industrial engine is offered in power ranges up to 1200 hp (895 kW) and peak torque 5500 Nm (4056 lb-ft) and allows for platform downsizing while maintaining reliability and durability.
  • The C32 engine is ideal for tough industrial and construction applications such as dredges, chippers, grinders, emergency water pumps and rock drills among other applications requiring continuous peak performance under the most demanding conditions.
  • The key to success for any machine is avoiding downtime as much as possible. Thanks to the DEF-free, dual-can DOC with transparent regeneration offered by the 32 engine, operators can stay focused on being productive for the long haul.
  • When it comes to making the engine installation process smoother for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), look to the C32 engine. Using innovative technology solutions, the C32 was created to eliminate the need for thermal management and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), reducing the size of the overall engine package. And thanks to flexible aftertreatment mounting options, installing such a large engine just got a lot less complicated.
  • Optimized to meet some of the most demanding operating cycles of just about any machine, the DEF-free Cat C32 helps owners and operators save on operating costs while also remaining maintenance-free for the engine's lifetime.

 

of
C32 Industrial Engine

Compare Models

  • C27
    Maximum Power
    1050 hp
    783 kW
    Maximum Torque
    3448 lb-ft @ 1200 rpm
    4674 Nm @ 1200 rpm
    Emissions
    U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final
    U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final

    C27

    Learn More
  • C32
    Maximum Power
    1200 hp
    895 kW
    Maximum Torque
    4056 lb-ft @ 1200 rpm
    5499 Nm @ 1200 rpm
    Emissions
    U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final
    U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final

    C32

    Learn More
  • 3516E
    Maximum Power
    2100 hp
    1566 kW
    Maximum Torque
    8275 lb-ft @ 1200 rpm
    11220 Nm @ 1200 rpm
    Emissions
    U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final, EU Stage V
    U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final, EU Stage V

    3516E

    Learn More

POWER PROFILE

CUSTOMER:

Custom Dredge Works

PRODUCT:

Dredger

LOCATION:

Topeka, Kansas

SCOPE OF ENGINE USE:

Cat® C9-3512 Industrial Engines

CAT DEALER:

Foley Inc.

FLOATING AN IDEA

A love of cars led CJ Jones to open a metalworks business in North Topeka, Kansas, in the early 1980s. He built MidWestern Metals (MWM) into an expert metal fabrication shop, completing projects for Ford Motor Company, Dearborn Midwest Conveyor and the U.S. National Guard Helicopter Division, among others.

CJ’s son, John, was determined to become a stockbroker after college — but after a single day on the job, he realized his heart was still in the shop with his dad. It wasn’t long before he found himself joining MWM and looking for a niche of his own. He found it when a local mining operation asked the company to overhaul and upgrade a dredge.

The project was so successful the mine requested that MWM build a facsimile of the existing dredge and then a second dredge from scratch. With that, a new company — Custom Dredge Works — was formed in 2001. In the two decades since, the operation has grown into one of the U.S.’s leading manufacturers of state-of-the-art custom dredges. They’re used to harvest valuable minerals, create or deepen ports and waterways, assist with fl ood or erosion control, remove contaminated materials from areas affected by chemical spills or stormwater surges and much more.

Today, from land-locked Topeka, Kansas, Custom Dredge Works and its team of 100-plus employees manufacture new cutterhead suction, chain ladder, deep digging and electric-powered dredges — along with related equipment like booster pumps and dewatering bucket wheels — for dredging contractors and mining operations in every U.S. state and around the world.

THE CHOICE IS CLEAR

In his metalworks shop, CJ Jones had been a faithful Cat® customer for decades, but the first dredge he and his son overhauled was equipped with another brand’s engine. “We had to jump through a lot of hoops with them,” he says. So when Custom Dredge Works began building dredges from scratch, the company turned to its preferred manufacturer, Caterpillar, to supply engines for both dredges and the booster pumps that power them.

Options across the board. As the name makes clear, Custom Dredge Works tailors every dredge to the owner’s preferences. That includes cab size, controls, lights, cranes, pumps, winches and even the color scheme. Owners have their choice of diesel, electric or natural gas engines, too. “We recommend Cat® diesel engines due to the availability of replacement parts and serviceability via Cat dealerships and certifi ed repair shops in most locations around the globe,” John Jones says.

Partners in power. Once a client makes the decision to power a dredge with Cat engines, Custom Dredge Works collaborates with its local Cat dealer, Foley Equipment, to choose the right model for the application. The wide range of Cat industrial power engine options available — along with solutions for varying emissions strategies — makes it easy for the company to give dredge owners exactly what they need. Most larger dredges feature C27 or C32 industrial engines, with smaller C9s or C13s providing supplemental power. So far, the most Cat engines used on a single dredge is four: two C32s plus a C9 and a C7.1 marine generator set.

Built to last. Dealer service and support are major reasons Custom Dredge Works prefers Cat power but so is longevity. The company describes its dredges as “built like a tank,” and when properly maintained, their lifespan can reach up to 40 years. The engines powering them need to stand up to tough conditions and work reliably day in and day out. With Caterpillar’s global dealer network, the company knows dredge owners will have the support they need to maintain optimum uptime and get the job done no matter the location.

"WE RECOMMEND CAT® DIESEL ENGINES DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS AND SERVICEABILITY VIA CAT DEALERSHIPS."

 

DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION
OF POWER PROFILE

Want to share this story? Download a PDF of this Cat® Industrial Engine power profile.

Download Power Profile
Download PDF
Download PDF

POWER PROFILE IMAGE GALLERY

of
of
of
of
of
Video 1
Video 2
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3

Related Power Profiles

See what other Cat® industrial engine customers have to say about our engines and related products, and the support they receive from the Cat dealer network.

WANT TO READ MORE POWER PROFILES?

Read more Cat power profiles and discover how Cat industrial engines help customers succeed.

See more
See more Power Profiles
See more Power Profiles

Cat® Industrial Engine Support

Your Cat dealer is your go-to resource for everything from installation support to troubleshooting to in-the-field service. With 171 dealers serving 192 countries, the expert assistance you need is always close at hand.

Customer Value Agreements (CVAs)

We also offer support. Long before a product ever rolls off your assembly line, our application teams — both at the factory and at your local Cat dealer. We may be an engine supplier, but supplying an engine is just part of our commitment to you.

Learn more
Customer Value Agreements (CVAs)
Customer Value Agreements (CVAs)

Digital Services

Gain the insight you need to make decisions on the fly to secure the health of your equipment and minimize nonproductive time.Through Cat digital services, you gain access to robust software and hardware solutions designed to maximize fleet efficiency - backed by Caterpillar’s unmatched network of experts. 

Learn more
Digital Services
Digital Services

Why Use Genuine Cat Parts?

Looking for 24/7 access to information on the Cat parts, tools and materials you need to get the job done? You'll find it on the new parts.cat.com. 

Learn more
Why Use Genuine Cat Parts?
Why Use Genuine Cat Parts?

Contact your local dealer

Want to learn more about Cat industrial engines or related products or services?

Contact dealer

TIPS AND INFORMATION

INDUSTRIAL POWER E-NEWSLETTER

Sign up for our e-newsletter for more customer profiles, along with the latest industry news and expert tips.

Sign-up