SYSTEM
HDS Belgium · System Configurations
Pump +
Cutterhead
Complete Systems
Any HDS submersible dredging pump combined with any EXHYC hydraulic excavator cutterhead — deployed on a backhoe, on a pontoon, or at depth. Single machine, multiple configurations. Up to 780 m³/h from one excavator arm.
8
System Configs
780
m³/h Max Output
40 m
Proven Working Depth
1 or 2
Pump × Cutter Options
Workflow
How the System Works
The excavator positions the entire assembly. The cutterhead fluidises the soil. The pump moves it — up to 500m away through PE pipe.
□️
Mount on Boom
HDS pump + EXHYC cutterhead bolt to the excavator quick-coupler via universal frame. Hydraulic hoses connect to the auxiliary circuit.
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Cutterhead Spins
The EXHYC radial piston motor drives the cutter at 30–100 RPM depending on soil type. Hard clay, compact silt, or loose sand — tunable from cab.
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Slurry Forms
The spinning blades fluidise compacted material into a pumpable slurry at the suction inlet — no separate agitator needed.
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Pump Discharges
The HDS pump moves slurry up to 780 m³/h through 6", 8", or 10" discharge pipe — distances up to 500m via PE pipeline.
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Deposit or Pump-Away
Slurry is deposited on shore, pumped to a settling basin, or discharged to a barge. Continuous dredging from a single excavator.
Quick Reference
Pump × Cutterhead Selector
Every HDS pump works with every EXHYC cutterhead. Choose the pump for your required flow and head; choose the cutter for the soil hardness and cutting width you need.
| Pump ↓ · Cutter → | EXHYC 4200 Ø800mm · 9T · 4200 Nm |
EXHYC 4500 Ø1000mm · 18T · 4500 Nm |
EXHYC 4500-1200 Ø1200mm · 21T · 4500 Nm |
Max Flow | Max Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDS 110 62 KW · 6"/8" |
✔ | X | X | 405 m³/h | 21 m |
| HDS 125 78 KW · 6"/8" |
✔ | X | X | 450 m³/h | 28 m ★ |
| HDS 125L 78 KW · 8" only |
✔ | X | X | 550 m³/h | 22 m |
| HDS 160M 120 KW · 8" |
✔ | X | X | 450 m³/h | 37 m ★ |
| HDS 160 103 KW · 10" |
✔ | X | X | 780 m³/h ★ | 22 m |
All combinations supported via universal HDS mounting frame. ★ = maximum in that column. Gold ✔ = most commonly deployed combination.
8 Proven Configurations
All System Configurations
From a single backhoe with one pump and one cutter to triple-cutterhead deep-water rigs and full diesel pontoons — every configuration below has been deployed on real projects.
Most Common
Photo Zone
HDS 110 + EXHYC 4200
HDS 110 + 1× EXHYC 4200
Standard Excavator Unit
The most widely deployed single-machine dredging system worldwide. 62 KW pump with Ø800mm cutterhead for canal maintenance, port sediment removal, and general dredging on 20-tonne class excavators. Compact, proven, and easy to set up.
405 m³/h
Max Flow
21 m
Max Head
20T
Excavator
Mid-Range
Photo Zone
HDS 125 + EXHYC 4200
HDS 125 + 1× EXHYC 4200
Mid-Range Excavator Unit
78 KW balanced pump with Ø800mm cutterhead. The 28m head pressure makes this the go-to choice for longer pipeline runs and elevated discharge points. Fits 20–25 tonne excavators.
450 m³/h
Max Flow
28 m
Max Head
20–25T
Excavator
High Volume
Photo Zone
HDS 160 + EXHYC 4200 · Hitachi Zaxis 350LC
HDS 160 + 1× EXHYC 4200
High-Volume Excavator Unit
103 KW 10-inch pump with Ø800mm cutterhead for maximum single-unit flow rate. Up to 780 m³/h from one excavator arm. Deployed on Hitachi Zaxis 350LC for large harbour and river dredging.
780 m³/h
Max Flow ★
22 m
Max Head
30–35T
Excavator
Hitachi Zaxis 350LC — harbour maintenance
Dual Cutter
Photo Zone
Pump + 2× EXHYC 4200 · left + right rotation
HDS Pump + 2× EXHYC 4200
Dual Cutterhead Configuration
Two EXHYC 4200 cutterheads — one left-hand, one right-hand rotation — mounted either side of the pump suction. Doubles cutting width, dramatically improves slurry feed in dense clay and compacted silt. Works with any HDS pump.
2× Ø800
Cutting Width
L + R
Rotation
Any
HDS Pump
Double Pump
Photo Zone
2× HDS + EXHYC 4200 · CAT 330D / CAT 333
2× HDS Pump + EXHYC 4200
Double Pump — CAT 330D / CAT 333
Two HDS submersible pumps and one EXHYC 4200 cutterhead mounted on a single CAT 330D long-reach excavator or a pontoon-mounted CAT 333. Doubles total pumping capacity from a single machine with one hydraulic circuit.
2× Pump
Output
1× Cutter
EXHYC 4200
30–40T
Excavator
CAT 330D / CAT 333 — long-reach or pontoon mount
40m Deep · NEMO 33
Photo Zone
HDS 125L + 3× EXHYC 4200 · Uccle, Belgium
HDS 125L + 3× EXHYC 4200
Deep Construction — 40m (NEMO 33)
Three EXHYC 4200 cutterheads with water jetting attached to an HDS 125L high-flow pump, used for emptying tubular piles and deep-water excavation at NEMO 33 — the world's deepest indoor swimming pool — in Uccle, Belgium. Operating depth: 40 metres.
40 m
Max Depth ★
3× Cutter
+ Water Jet
550 m³/h
Max Flow
NEMO 33, Uccle, Belgium — tubular pile excavation
Pick Your Components
Pumps & Cutterheads
Every pump and every cutterhead in the HDS range is compatible. Mix and match based on your required flow rate, discharge distance, soil hardness, and cutting width.
Choose Your Pump →
HDS 110
405 m³/h · 21m head · 6"/8" · 760 KG
62 KW
HDS 125
450 m³/h · 28m head · 6"/8" · 760 KG
78 KW
HDS 125L
550 m³/h · 22m head · 8" only · 830 KG
78 KW
HDS 160M
450 m³/h · 37m head · 8" · 770 KG
120 KW
HDS 160
780 m³/h · 22m head · 10" · 900 KG
103 KW
+
Choose One Or Two Cutterheads →
EXHYC 4200
Ø800mm · 9 teeth · 405 KG · 40–50 RPM
4200 Nm
Can't decide?
One EXHYC 4200 is sufficient for sand. Two EXHYC 4200 for compacted clay, mud.
Machine Compatibility
Compatible Excavators
HDS systems are deployed on all major excavator brands in the 20–70 tonne class. Any machine with an auxiliary hydraulic circuit of 250 BAR and adequate flow can drive the cutterhead.
Caterpillar
CAT 320D · CAT 330D · CAT 333 · CAT 336 · CAT 345 · CAT 390
20–90T class
Hitachi
Zaxis 210 · Zaxis 350LC · Zaxis 470 · EX series
20–50T class
Komatsu
PC200 · PC300 · PC360 · PC450 · PC650
20–65T class
Volvo
EC220 · EC300 · EC380 · EC480 · EC750
20–75T class
Doosan
DX225 · DX300 · DX340 · DX420 · DX530
22–53T class
Liebherr
R920 · R940 · R950 · R970
20–70T class
Hyundai
HX220 · HX300 · HX380 · HX520
22–52T class
Requirements
Two auxiliary circuit: max. 250 BAR for excavator / cutterhead & max. 300 ~ 350 BAR for HDS dredging pump· min. 120 L/min oil flow · Standard quick-coupler · Auxiliary valve proportional or on/off
All brands accepted
Where It Works
System Applications
The pump + cutterhead system covers every dredging and excavation application where a hydraulic excavator can be positioned near or above the work area.
Port & Harbour
Berth maintenance, navigation channel deepening, quay wall desilting. Works alongside mooring vessels with minimal disruption.
River & Canal
Flood-risk channel maintenance, irrigation canal desilting, inland waterway navigation depth restoration.
Sand & Gravel Mining
Aggregate extraction from riverbeds and marine deposits. Continuous operation with high-solids content slurry handling.
Sheet Piling & Piles
Emptying of steel tubular piles and sheet pile cells during construction. Deep configuration proven at 40m (NEMO 33).
Dam Desilting
Removal of sediment from dam reservoirs to restore storage capacity and protect hydro power turbines. Reference: Botocan Dam, Philippines.
Industrial Ponds
Cooling water ponds, settling basins, effluent lagoons, and industrial water retention areas. Compatible with chemically aggressive liquids.
Environmental
Contaminated sediment removal, wetland restoration, and lake rehabilitation. Precision positioning via excavator arm reduces over-dredging.
Land Reclamation
Large-area fill operations pumping sand and silt slurry to reclamation zones up to 500m away through PE pipeline.
Hard Clay & Compact Soil
SPT N-Value up to 55 (5000 Gr/cm²). The EXHYC cutterhead handles material that standard suction dredges cannot lift.
Pontoon Dredging
Full pontoon systems without an excavator — pump and cutterhead on catamaran hull or ladder arm. Self-propelled or spud-pole guided.
□ HDS System Brochure 2027
Complete system configurations, all pump + cutterhead combinations, power pack pairings, and pontoon layouts. 8.3 MB PDF.
