Introduction to Amphibious Wetland Excavators (Pontoon Excavators)
Amphibious excavators—also known as swamp or Wetland excavators—are specialized pieces of heavy construction machinery.
Core Structural Features
The upper structure consists of a standard Hydraulic Excavator unit, while the undercarriage is replaced by sealed pontoon floats and widened tracks. The pontoons provide buoyancy, and the tracks allow the machine to traverse silt and shallow water without sinking like a conventional excavator; this enables seamless operation across land, swamps, and shallow water zones.
Key Functions
River Dredging and Desilting
Clearing silt and weeds from riverbeds and ditches, as well as widening and deepening waterways (e.g., excavating silt directly from the river channel); this is the most common application in inland waterway management.
Wetland and Tidal Flat Ecological Restoration
Wetland rehabilitation, swamp excavation, tidal flat development, and reed pond management, helping to preserve wetland water systems.
Hydraulic Embankment Construction
River levee reinforcement, cofferdam excavation, flood control and emergency response, and flood defense operations in low-lying areas.
Pond and Fish Farm Modification
Excavating fish ponds, desilting shrimp ponds, and removing sediment from reservoirs.
Soft-Ground Earthworks
Excavation in swamps and low-lying soft-soil areas; capable of operating on muddy terrain inaccessible to standard excavators.
Advantages
Moves freely through shallow water and silty swamps without the need for support vessels;
Versatile functionality; supports interchangeable attachments such as buckets and Hydraulic Breakers;
Suitable for operations in narrow rivers and wetlands where large dredging vessels cannot enter.
Applicable Scenarios
River management, wetland restoration, hydraulic engineering, tidal flat development, fish pond modification, and flood control/emergency response.
Amphibious wetland excavators utilize a pontoon-track undercarriage to operate in swamps, shallows, and silty river zones. They are primarily used for river dredging, wetland restoration, pond excavation, and embankment construction, making them ideal for soft, water-logged environments where standard excavators cannot operate.
SDLG 135 Wetland excavator for Soft Ground Excavation and Wetland Projects
When I first talk with a customer about a SDLG 135 Wetland excavator, I usually do not start by talking about horsepower, bucket size, or price. I start with the ground.
That may sound a little strange, but it makes sense once you have worked around wetlands, marshes, riverbanks, ponds, drainage channels, and other soft areas. A normal Excavator may have enough digging power, but that does not automatically mean it can work comfortably on weak or waterlogged ground. The machine can sink, lose mobility, become difficult to position, or create deep tracks that make the site even harder to work on.
This is why I look at a Wetland excavator as a complete working system. The crawler undercarriage, track width, machine weight, ground pressure, hydraulic performance, boom and arm, bucket, working reach, and transport arrangement all matter.
The SDLG 135 Wetland excavator is a useful search term for customers looking for an SDLG excavator in the 13-ton-class range or a similarly configured machine for soft-ground work. The exact model, undercarriage, attachment and final specification should always be confirmed before an order because SDLG has different excavator models and configurations for different markets.
At Ganglong Heavy Industry Technology (Hefei) Co., Ltd., my role is not to simply match a customer with a machine name. I look at the working conditions first and then help arrange the suitable equipment, configuration, inspection, shipping, documents, and other parts of the international purchase.
Let me put it simply: wetland work is hard on machines because the ground itself is not reliable.
On dry and compact soil, the excavator's crawler tracks spread its weight over the ground and provide a stable base for digging. When the soil becomes wet, loose, muddy, or saturated with water, the same machine may behave very differently.
The crawler can sink deeper. Turning can become harder. The excavator may move slowly through mud. During digging, the reaction force from the bucket can also cause the machine to shift more than it would on firm ground.
For that reason, I normally pay close attention to the undercarriage when discussing a wetland excavator for soft ground. Depending on the project, a customer may need wider tracks, an extended undercarriage, greater ground clearance, or another low-ground-pressure arrangement.
There is another point that is easy to miss. Wider tracks can help spread the machine's weight, but they can also increase transport width. That means the best configuration for working in a marsh may create a different requirement when the machine has to be moved by road or shipped overseas.
So I never treat one specification as the answer to everything.
Ground pressure is simply a way of looking at how much load the machine puts on the ground. When the machine works on soft soil, reducing the load concentration can help improve mobility.
This is one reason wide-track and long-track configurations are often discussed for wetland applications. The tracks create a larger contact area, helping the excavator stay closer to the surface instead of cutting deeply into weak soil.
But ground pressure is only part of the story. Machine balance, operating weight, track design, hydraulic performance, operator skill, and site preparation all have an effect.
A wetland excavator does not only need to travel. It also needs to dig.
When the bucket enters the ground and starts pulling material, the excavator needs a stable base. If the machine moves too much, digging becomes less controlled. This can reduce productivity and make precise work more difficult.
That is why I always ask customers whether the excavator will work from a prepared bank, travel directly through the wetland, operate beside a pond, or work inside a drainage area. These details can change the recommended setup.
The word “135” in the product search phrase usually gives buyers a quick idea of the machine class they are looking for. But I would not use the number alone to confirm a technical configuration.
SDLG's official product information shows several crawler excavator configurations for different applications and markets. For example, one SDLG excavator listing published by its EMEA site shows an engine power of 80 kW, maximum digging force of 79.5 kN, maximum digging radius of 8,330 mm, maximum digging depth of 5,530 mm, and maximum wading depth of 596 mm. These figures demonstrate the type of technical information available for SDLG Excavators, but they should not automatically be treated as the specification of every machine described online as “SDLG 135.”
Another SDLG official product page lists a crawler excavator with 21,500 kg operating weight, 127 kW rated power, 1.1 m³ bucket capacity, 140.1 kN maximum excavation force, 9,940 mm maximum digging radius, and 6,730 mm maximum digging depth. Again, this is a reference model published by SDLG rather than a claim about the SDLG 135 wetland configuration.
I include this distinction because it matters on a B2B product page. It is easy to copy a specification from one excavator and attach it to another model. That may make a page look complete, but it can create a problem when a buyer checks the actual machine.
| Reference SDLG Excavator Data | Published Specification | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Reference machine A | 80 kW engine power | Shows available power level for a crawler excavator configuration |
| Reference machine A | 79.5 kN maximum digging force | Useful when considering soil and digging resistance |
| Reference machine A | 8,330 mm maximum digging radius | Important for drainage channels and bank work |
| Reference machine A | 5,530 mm maximum digging depth | Useful for excavation depth planning |
| Reference machine A | 596 mm wading depth | Relevant to water-related working conditions |
Source: SDLG official product information. These are reference specifications and are not presented as universal specifications for every SDLG 135 Wetland excavator.
For an actual purchase, we confirm the model plate, engine, hydraulic configuration, undercarriage, attachments, dimensions, and other specifications before the commercial order is finalized.
The basic working principle is the same as a normal Hydraulic Excavator.
The engine provides power. The hydraulic system turns that power into movement. Hydraulic pumps send oil through the system, and hydraulic cylinders move the boom, arm, and bucket. The travel system moves the crawler tracks, while the swing system allows the upper body to rotate.
What changes in wetland work is the way we use the machine.
Instead of simply driving anywhere and digging immediately, I look at where the machine should travel, where it should stop, and how the digging sequence should be planned.
The operator first chooses a stable working position. On soft ground, this may be more important than the digging point itself.
If the excavator is positioned too close to a weak bank, the soil can deform under the machine's weight. If it is too far away, the bucket may not reach the target area. Finding the right balance is part of practical wetland excavation.
The boom and arm control the bucket position. Smooth hydraulic movement helps the operator place the bucket where it needs to go.
Fast movement is not always better. In soft ground, controlled movements can help keep the machine stable and reduce unnecessary shock loads.
Wet mud, clay, sand, vegetation, gravel, and mixed material behave differently.
A bucket that works well for one material may not be the right choice for another. Bucket capacity, tooth design, shape, and weight can all affect the digging cycle.
After the bucket is filled, the upper structure swings toward the discharge location. This could be a truck, stockpile, embankment, barge, or another designated area.
In wetland work, the discharge location should be planned carefully. There is little value in digging efficiently if the excavated material has nowhere practical to go.
After completing a section, the excavator moves to the next position.
This sounds simple, but soft ground can make travel one of the hardest parts of the job. That is why the crawler configuration and site route deserve as much attention as digging performance.
For soft ground, I often discuss wide or extended crawler tracks with customers. The basic idea is easy to understand: a larger contact area can help spread the machine's weight.
However, track width should not be selected only from a brochure. I need to know the actual soil conditions, expected travel route, transportation limits, and working space.
Wetland areas may contain mud, roots, rocks, vegetation, and uneven ground. Suitable ground clearance can help reduce the chance of the lower machine structure contacting obstacles.
Again, this does not mean that the highest possible clearance is always the right answer. Machine geometry needs to be considered as a whole.
Excavation depends heavily on hydraulics. A good hydraulic system gives the operator smooth control of the boom, arm, bucket, and other attachments.
This becomes especially useful when the machine is working in water conservancy projects, dredging operations, drainage construction, and environmental projects where controlled movement is important.
The operator spends many hours inside the cab. Simple controls, good visibility, comfortable seating, and clear information can make a real difference during long working days.
I do not think comfort is just a luxury. When the operator can see the working area and control the machine naturally, the whole working process becomes easier.
A wetland excavator can become much more useful when the attachment matches the job.
Depending on the project, customers may consider digging buckets, Mud Buckets, Dredging Buckets, Hydraulic Breakers, grabs, or other tools. Not every attachment is suitable for every SDLG model, so compatibility should be confirmed before ordering.
One of the biggest advantages of a properly configured wetland excavator is the number of jobs it can cover.
Wetland construction may involve excavation, soil movement, drainage, access preparation, and land shaping. A suitable excavator can help complete these jobs while reducing the need to bring several different machines to the site.
Dredging is another common application. Ponds, canals, drainage channels, small waterways, and riverbanks can collect mud and sediment over time.
The excavator can remove this material and place it in a designated discharge area. The final bucket and working equipment should be selected according to the material and required reach.
Water conservancy projects often involve working around water. Canal maintenance, riverbank work, drainage improvement, reservoir-related earthmoving, and flood-control projects can all require excavation machinery.
The key is to match the excavator to the actual access conditions. A machine that works well on a firm bank may need a different configuration if it must travel directly across soft terrain.
In farming areas, drainage channels can become blocked by sediment, vegetation, and soil.
A wetland excavator can help reopen channels and maintain water flow. This is especially useful in areas where ordinary wheeled machinery cannot move easily.
Environmental projects can involve wetland restoration, pond maintenance, vegetation removal, sediment handling, and waterway improvement.
These jobs often require careful excavation rather than aggressive digging. The operator may need to remove a specific layer of sediment while keeping surrounding ground disturbance under control.
Municipal drainage and infrastructure projects sometimes take place in low-lying or waterlogged areas. Excavators can be used for drainage channels, pipeline trenches, culverts, earthmoving, and related site work.
Some mining and industrial projects have soft or waterlogged sections that ordinary equipment cannot easily access.
In these cases, a suitable crawler excavator can help with earthmoving, drainage, material handling, and site preparation. The actual machine configuration should be checked against the mine's ground conditions and safety requirements.
| Application | Typical Work | Important Equipment Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Wetland construction | Earthmoving and site preparation | Ground pressure, stability, travel ability |
| Dredging | Mud and sediment removal | Reach, bucket, working depth |
| Water conservancy | Canal and riverbank maintenance | Working reach, hydraulic control |
| Agriculture | Drainage channel cleaning | Access width and mobility |
| Environmental projects | Wetland and pond restoration | Controlled digging and suitable attachments |
| Municipal engineering | Drainage and infrastructure work | Transport and working-space requirements |
Source: Application guidance is based on the supplied wetland excavator product requirements and SDLG's published excavator application information. SDLG's official pages list applications including construction, farmland, municipal engineering, urban construction, and other working conditions depending on model.
When a customer asks me for a wetland excavator, I normally compare the required working conditions instead of comparing model names alone.
For example, an excavator used mainly for drainage channels may need a different working setup from a machine used for pond dredging. A customer working beside a river may care more about reach, while a contractor working across a marsh may care more about low ground pressure and mobility.
SDLG's published product data also show that excavators can differ considerably in working dimensions and power. This is why I recommend treating public specifications as a starting point and confirming the final machine before purchase.
| Reference | Operating Weight | Rated Power | Bucket Capacity | Max. Digging Radius | Max. Digging Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDLG reference excavator A | Not stated in retrieved page | 80 kW | Not stated | 8,330 mm | 5,530 mm |
| SDLG reference excavator B | 21,500 kg | 127 kW | 1.1 m³ | 9,940 mm | 6,730 mm |
Source: SDLG official product pages. The figures above are published reference data for specific SDLG excavators and should not be copied as the fixed specification of the SDLG 135 Wetland excavator.
This is how I prefer to handle machinery specifications. If the customer needs an exact number, we check the exact machine configuration and documentation rather than guessing from the product keyword.
Water depth is especially important.
Some customers say, “The machine only needs to work in shallow water.” But “shallow” can mean very different things from one project to another. The machine's actual wading capability, ground condition underneath the water, slope, current, and access route all need to be considered.
One SDLG official reference page publishes a wading depth of 596 mm for its listed excavator configuration. This is useful as an example of how SDLG publishes model-specific technical information, but it should not be treated as a universal water-depth rating for every SDLG excavator.
If the excavator works from a riverbank or pond edge, reach can become very important. A longer boom and arm can allow the machine to work farther away from the crawler base.
But longer reach can also affect lifting capacity and machine balance. That is why I would never recommend simply adding a longer arm without checking the complete configuration.
When customers purchase an excavator from China for an overseas project, the process normally involves much more than machine selection.
At Ganglong Heavy Industry Technology (Hefei) Co., Ltd., we work with our international trade team to coordinate equipment supply for customers in different regions. Our group was founded in 2013 and covers construction machinery, mining machinery, agricultural machinery, attachments, equipment sales, leasing, customization coordination, testing, and international trade.
For a SDLG 135 Wetland excavator, the production or preparation period depends on the actual model, machine availability, configuration, attachment requirements, order quantity, customization, inspection needs, and shipping schedule.
I prefer to confirm the delivery schedule before the customer places the final order rather than giving one fixed number that may not apply to every configuration.
Before shipment, we can arrange inspection of the machine's appearance, engine, hydraulic system, crawler undercarriage, working equipment, electrical system, and basic operating functions.
We also check the accessories and documents against the confirmed order. Depending on the customer's requirements, manuals, spare parts, certificates, inspection records, and other documents can be prepared as part of the delivery package.
For international machinery orders, T/T is commonly used. A deposit is normally arranged before production or order processing, and the balance is paid before shipment according to the agreed commercial terms.
The exact payment arrangement depends on the final quotation, order, machine configuration, and contract.
For complete excavators, sea freight is normally the practical choice for international transportation.
The final method depends on machine dimensions, destination port, shipping schedule, container or flat-rack availability, and local transport requirements.
Smaller spare parts and accessories can usually be sent by air or express when appropriate.
An excavator is not normally packed like a small industrial product. The machine needs to be securely fixed for transportation, with exposed areas protected against dust, moisture, impact, and handling during shipment.
Loose accessories and spare parts are normally packed separately in cartons, wooden cases, or other suitable packaging. The exact packing method depends on the machine, shipping route, and customer requirements.
| Order Stage | Our Main Work | Customer Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Project discussion | Confirm ground, application, reach and attachment needs | Better equipment matching |
| Machine confirmation | Check model and configuration | Clear commercial specification |
| Inspection | Check engine, hydraulics, undercarriage and operation | Basic condition confirmed before shipment |
| Documents | Prepare manuals and required export documents | Easier delivery and operation |
| Packing | Secure machine and separately pack loose parts | Better protection during transportation |
| Shipping | Arrange sea freight or other suitable transport | Complete international delivery process |
Buying an excavator internationally is not only about finding a machine at a good price. The real work often starts after the customer has decided to buy.
Someone needs to confirm the exact model. Someone needs to check the configuration. Someone needs to arrange inspection. Someone needs to prepare export documents. Someone needs to communicate with the shipping company. And if a customer needs spare parts or attachments, these also need to be coordinated.
This is where our experience at Ganglong becomes useful.
Ganglong Heavy Industry Technology (Hefei) Co., Ltd. was founded in 2013. Together with Hefei Ganglong International Trade Co., Ltd., we are affiliated with China Construction Machinery (Group) Co., Ltd.
Our business covers equipment R&D, manufacturing-related activities, testing, customization, sales, leasing, and international trade. We supply construction machinery, mining machinery, agricultural machinery, and matching attachments.
We also offer our own HKLOONG-branded excavators, loaders, Backhoe loaders, and swamp excavators. At the same time, we arrange complete machine sales and leasing services involving domestic and international brands such as Hitachi, SANY, Lonking, Hyundai, XCMG, SHANMON, and LOVOL.
For SDLG equipment, our position is straightforward: we act as the equipment supplier and international trading partner. We do not present ourselves as the original SDLG manufacturer.
I think this kind of clarity is important for B2B buyers. When you receive a quotation, you should know which company manufactures the machine, which company supplies it, what is included, what is optional, and what the delivery terms actually mean.
Our international trade team has experience serving customers across Asia, Africa, America, and other regions. That means we are familiar with the practical questions that come with international machinery transactions, including shipping, documentation, payment arrangements, machine inspection, spare parts, and destination requirements.
It is a product search term used for an SDLG excavator in the approximately 13-ton class or a similarly configured excavator intended for wetland and soft-ground applications. The exact model and specification should be confirmed according to the machine available for the customer's market and project.
A suitably configured crawler excavator can work in muddy conditions, but the actual suitability depends on soil strength, water depth, track configuration, ground pressure, slope, machine weight, and working method. For very soft ground, I recommend confirming the site conditions before selecting the final configuration.
The basic excavation system is similar, but a wetland excavator is selected or configured with greater attention to soft-ground mobility, stability, track contact area, ground pressure, and working access. Depending on the project, the difference may come from the undercarriage, working equipment, or complete machine setup.
Yes, an excavator can be used for dredging mud and sediment in ponds, canals, drainage channels, and other water-related projects when the working reach, bucket, machine position, and site conditions are suitable.
Track options depend on the exact SDLG model and available configuration. Wider tracks may help spread the machine load on soft ground, but they also affect transport width and operating conditions. We confirm compatibility and transport requirements before including this type of configuration in an order.
Depending on the excavator model, customers can discuss buckets and other hydraulic attachments for different applications. Attachment weight, hydraulic flow, connection dimensions, and machine balance all need to be checked before installation.
There is no fixed production period for every SDLG 135 Wetland excavator. The actual schedule depends on model availability, configuration, order quantity, attachments, customization, inspection, and shipping arrangements. We confirm the expected schedule before the order is finalized.
Complete excavators are generally transported by sea. Depending on the machine dimensions and destination, the shipping arrangement may use containerized transport, flat-rack equipment, or another suitable method. Spare parts can normally be shipped separately by air or express.
T/T is a common payment method for international machinery orders. A deposit is normally arranged before production or order processing, while the balance is paid before shipment according to the agreed contract.
Yes. We can arrange checks of the machine appearance, engine, hydraulic system, undercarriage, working equipment, electrical functions, and basic operating performance before shipment. Accessories, spare parts, manuals, and required documents are also checked against the confirmed order.
No. Ganglong supplies and arranges construction machinery from different brands as well as HKLOONG-branded equipment. For SDLG machines, we act as the supplier and international trading partner, rather than claiming to be the original SDLG manufacturer.
When I help a customer select a SDLG 135 Wetland excavator, I always come back to the same point: start with the working ground.
If the project is in a marsh, riverbank, pond, drainage area, or other waterlogged location, the machine needs to do more than dig. It needs to stay stable, move safely, reach the working area, handle the material, and eventually leave the site without creating a transportation headache.
SDLG's official product information provides model-specific technical data for its excavator range, including digging force, digging depth, digging radius, power, dimensions, and other specifications. These figures are useful when comparing equipment, but the final machine specification should always be confirmed for the exact model and configuration being purchased.
At Ganglong Heavy Industry Technology (Hefei) Co., Ltd., we keep the buying process practical. We discuss the working conditions, confirm the machine and configuration, arrange inspection, prepare the required documents and accessories, and coordinate international transportation.
If you are searching for an SDLG 135 Wetland excavator, SDLG wetland excavator for soft ground, SDLG excavator for dredging, or a crawler excavator for marsh and waterlogged areas, send us the basic project information. The more we know about the ground, working depth, required reach, attachment, destination, and transport conditions, the easier it is for us to discuss a suitable machine and delivery plan with you.
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