Michels Corporation, a global leader in energy and infrastructure construction, set its sights on a key priority: improving equipment reliability and operator productivity for underwater activities. Dredging, in particular, became a touchpoint for the team at Michels. And by expanding its marine capabilities and integrating advanced technology solutions, Michels successfully enhanced efficiency and precision in its operations — one bedrock at a time.
The adoption of the Trimble® Marine Construction System (TMC) played a pivotal role in overcoming harsh underwater conditions, leading to significant achievements in complex projects such as the Missouri River Bedrock Removal. This strategic investment not only improved project execution, it also positioned Michels to meet the growing demands of its customers with increased reliability and productivity.
Charting new waters
Headquartered in Brownsville, Wisconsin with offices in North America, Australia and Germany, Michels' marine division specializes in marine construction, shoreline restoration and trenchless crossings. “While Michels has performed marine work for many years, our company leaders saw an opportunity to expand our services to best serve our current and future customers,” said James Dunkley, senior manager, hydrographic surveys at Michels.
Placing rock along the shoreline
Michels owned a range of marine equipment, including excavators, cutter suction dredges and hydrographic survey vessels. To enhance efficiency and precision, Michels sought technology solutions that would save time, energy and money. Dunkley emphasized the importance of integrating systems and installing sensors efficiently. With this goal in mind, Michels partnered with Fabick Cat® and SITECH® Mid-America Marine Positioning, leveraging their expertise for installation and service.
Michels' first major investment was TMC, a platform designed for marine construction. The TMC system was tested in challenging environments, including the Missouri River Bedrock Removal Project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project involved excavating 120,000 cubic yards of material to ensure safe navigation on the Missouri River.
The TMC screen shows the surveyed seafloor and the target depth for accurate dredging.
Capturing the 3D edge
A 95-ton Cat 395 excavator, equipped with sensors and TMC, was used to break and remove underwater rock. The TMC system provided real-time data on equipment positioning, even underwater. Dunkley noted, “These are pretty inhospitable conditions — and many machine and sensor systems would not work in these harsh conditions.”
The TMC system performed continuously without downtime, improving field efficiency and project execution. Dunkley highlighted the importance of having a reliable system and expert support, stating, “When we have an experienced crew, significant amounts of specialized equipment and a system that performs well combined with experts like Noah Frank from Mid-America as our North Star to back it up, we set ourselves up in a position to meet our customers’ goals and succeed as a team.”
Since the initial project, TMC has become integral to Michels' marine fleet, enabling the company to handle increasingly complex projects. One notable project involved dredging 7,400 cubic yards of sediment and reconstructing 2,400 linear feet of beachfront in Wells Harbor, Maine. The TMC system improved operator visibility and productivity, eliminating the need for rework.
Dunkley concluded, “Having operator guidance underwater that is reliable and easy to use has increased opportunities for this growing segment of our business. The TMC system as a whole is robust in harsh underwater conditions and the installations are robust and professional and the software is user-friendly and diverse for many applications.”
In short, Michels' investment in technology and expert support has significantly enhanced its ability to grow its marine services.
Learn more about this exciting project in this recent Dredgewire story.
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