France has always had strict regulations on water ecological protection and industrial safety. Whether it’s reservoir sediment reducing storage capacity or chemical residues in industrial tanks creating cleaning risks, traditional manual dredging struggles to balance safety, efficiency, and environmental protection. Since 2025, customers from Poland, Spain, France, Italy, and other European countries have purchased YG’s sludge cleaning robot, mainly for lake sediment management, urban waterway maintenance, wetland dredging, and ecological restoration projects. This article uses two real French customer cases to show how they achieved efficient, safe, and eco-friendly dredging in different scenarios.
YG Sludge Cleaning Robot Parameters
The YG series offers models from YG500 to YG1200, with key parameters as follows:
| Model | YG500 Electric | YG600 Electric | YG700 Electric | YG800 Electric | YG900 Electric | YG1200 Electric |
| Robot Dimensions | 1500×500×650 mm | 1500×600×650 mm | 1600×700×650 mm | 1600×850×700 mm | 1650×960×750 mm | 1900×1200×750 mm |
| Slurry Pump Model | 3E-100Z170 | 3E-100Z170 | 4E-250ZJ45 | 4E-250ZJ45 | 4E-250ZJ45 | 4C-200Z125 |
| Cleaning Width | 500 mm | 600 mm | 700 mm | 800 mm | 900 mm | 1200 mm |
| Track Speed | 3–15 m/min | 3–15 m/min | 3–15 m/min | 3–15 m/min | 3–15 m/min | 3–15 m/min |
| Robot Weight | — | — | — | — | — | 500 kg |
| Pump Inlet Size | 3 inch | 3 inch | 4 inch | 4 inch | 4 inch | 5 inch |
| Pump Flow Rate | 100 m³/h | 100 m³/h | 160 m³/h | 160 m³/h | 200 m³/h | 200 m³/h |
| Pump Head | 0–30 m | 0–30 m | 0–25 m | 0–25 m | 0–25 m | 0–25 m |
| Hydraulic Station Dimensions | 2200×1200×1700 mm | 2200×1200×1700 mm | 2200×1200×1700 mm | 2200×1200×1700 mm | 2200×1200×1700 mm | 2120×1240×1200 mm |
| Main Motor Power | 18 kW | 18 kW | 22 kW | 22 kW | 22 kW | 45 kW |
| Hydraulic System Pressure | 0–16 MPa | 0–16 MPa | 0–16 MPa | 0–16 MPa | 0–16 MPa | 0–16 MPa |
| Max Particle Size | 15 mm | 15 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm | 50 mm | 60 mm |
| Winch Speed | 0–10 r/min | 0–10 r/min | 0–10 r/min | 0–10 r/min | 0–10 r/min | 0–10 r/min |
| Standard Hydraulic Hose Length | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m |
| Control System | Wireless Remote Control | Wireless Remote Control | Wireless Remote Control | Wireless Remote Control | Wireless Remote Control | Wireless Remote Control |
| Lighting System | 2× Underwater LED Lights | 2× Underwater LED Lights | 2× Underwater LED Lights | 2× Underwater LED Lights | 2× Underwater LED Lights | 2× Underwater LED Lights |
All models come standard with wireless remote control and dual underwater LED lights, standard hydraulic hose length 50m (30–50m optional), and max operating depth from 30m to 90m.
Case 1: Reservoir Dredging – 5,000 m³ Removed in 15 Days
Customer background: A customer in a region of France faced a dual challenge – reservoir sediment reducing storage capacity, and industrial tanks with heavy deposits affecting production efficiency.
Construction challenges: The reservoir bottom had complex terrain with rocks and obstacles, and large conventional equipment could not access shallow areas. The industrial tanks had narrow inlets, and residual chemicals made manual cleaning hazardous. The customer urgently needed equipment that could adapt to complex underwater terrain and work remotely in dangerous environments.
YG solution: The YG team recommended the YG900 electric sludge cleaning robot based on the customer’s needs. This unit has a cleaning width of 900mm, a pump flow of 200 m³/h, and a max particle size of 50mm, allowing flexible obstacle avoidance in complex underwater terrain. Equipped with a wireless remote system and underwater camera, the operator worked entirely from a surface console without entering hazardous areas.
Process: After learning about the product on the YG website, the customer had detailed discussions with the sales team. The YG technical team provided customized operation plans for both reservoir and tank conditions. For the reservoir, the robot used its tracked chassis to move steadily in shallow water, breaking and suctioning compacted sediment with a chopping-suction head. For the tanks, the robot entered through narrow openings and performed thorough cleaning.
Results: In the reservoir project, the sludge cleaning robot handled 200 m³/h and removed about 5,000 m³ of sediment in 15 days – 8 times more efficient than manual dredging. For tank cleaning, it completely cleaned two large tanks in a single day, greatly reducing downtime. The customer reported easy operation and low failure rates, and plans to use this underwater dredging robot in future river cleanup and other tank maintenance projects.
Case 2: Industrial Tank Cleaning – Explosion-Proof Configuration for Chemical Safety
Customer background: Another French industrial customer had long struggled with sediment buildup in multiple large storage tanks on site. Residual chemicals made manual cleaning extremely risky, and each cleaning required several days of production shutdown.
Construction challenges: The tanks were confined spaces where flammable gases might be present, requiring high explosion-proof performance. Tank entries were small, so the equipment had to be compact. The customer needed a robotic tank cleaning equipment that could complete cleaning without stopping production, or with minimal downtime.
YG solution: The YG team equipped a sludge cleaning robot with an explosion-proof motor; both the power unit and control cabinet were explosion-protected, allowing safe operation in confined spaces with flammable gases or dust. The compact body allowed entry through small openings, and an optional high-pressure pump enhanced the cleaning of compacted deposits. The entire tank cleaning robot system consisted of the underwater unit, surface power and control unit, and material conveying pipelines – all operated remotely from a surface console.
Process: YG customized an explosion-proof configuration and specialized end tools for the chemical residues. After delivery, YG sent technicians to France for on-site installation guidance and operator training. The robot entered through the manhole, then, under wireless remote control, it broke, stirred, and suctioned the tank bottom deposits. The slurry was piped to downstream treatment equipment for solid-liquid separation.
Results: After this underwater dredging robot was put into use, the customer completely eliminated personnel entry into tanks, reducing safety risks to zero. Cleaning efficiency increased several times over traditional methods – a single unit replaced the work of dozens of workers. The zero-emission electric design also fully met French environmental regulations. The customer was satisfied with YG’s after-sales response and plans to incorporate more tanks into routine robot-cleaning maintenance.
Electric vs. Diesel: How to Choose the Power for Your Sludge Cleaning Robot?
The YG underwater dredging robot is available in both electric and diesel versions. The choice depends on the actual working conditions:
The electric version is suitable for:
- Factories and plants with a stable power supply – low noise does not disrupt nearby production.
- Reservoirs, landscape lakes, and other areas with strict emission requirements – zero emissions prevent secondary water pollution.
- Urban or scenic areas where noise is a concern. All YG500–YG1200 models have electric options, with main motor power from 18kW to 45kW.
The diesel version is suitable for:
- Remote field operations or temporary sites without stable power.
- Large dredging projects that need high power output and long continuous operation. Diesel versions can provide 76kW or even 123kW for heavy-duty work.
In short: choose electric if power is available, diesel if not; electric in urban areas, diesel in the field; electric for environmental priority, diesel for power priority.
Choose YG to Make Underwater Dredging Easier
From removing 5,000 m³ of sediment from a French reservoir to explosion-safe tank cleaning, YG’s sludge cleaning robot has proven its reliable performance in several European countries. Products are available in electric and diesel versions, with an IP68 waterproof design for stable deep-water operation, and a wireless remote system keeps operators away from danger. Whether you face dredging challenges in reservoirs, rivers, industrial tanks, or wastewater treatment plants, we can provide a tailored solution.
For more product details or a customized dredging plan, feel free to contact the YG team anytime!
