Remote Technology. Practical Asset Information.
Valmar selects the technology to suit the asset and the job rather than forcing every project into one method.
VAC Boss
VAC Boss is Valmar's potable-water robotic cleaning system for suitable drinking water tanks and reservoirs. Its role is controlled floor cleaning and sediment removal while supporting a methodology designed around hygiene, disinfection, water quality and asset operation.
- Remote robotic operation from above the water.
- Designed for submerged floor cleaning on smooth concrete and lined floors.
- Sediment removal with controlled pumping through a wide adjustable suction head.
- Live visual monitoring during operation - low-light video, adjustable camera and twin lights.
- Can support cleaning without a full drain-down where conditions permit.
- Sanitation and disinfection controls incorporated into the potable-water methodology.
VAC Boss specification
| Vehicle | Tethered four-wheel-drive crawler with differential steering and adjustable suction head |
|---|---|
| Primary application | Controlled removal of settled sediment and soft deposits from drinking-water reservoir floors |
| Operating depth | Up to 50 m |
| Tether | 100 m, neutral buoyancy in freshwater |
| Camera | 1080p at up to 30 fps, 0.01 lux, adjustable tilt |
| Lighting | 2 x 1,500 lumen subsea lights, 5,700 K, 135° beam |
| Suction system | External pump, hose and adjustable 485 mm cleaning head |
| Turbidity | Integrated real-time turbidity sensor with live topside NTU display and data logging, before, during and after cleaning |
| Communications | Real-time Ethernet-over-tether control and video |
| Water temperature | 2-40°C conservative component envelope |
| Hygiene basis | Cleanable, non-shedding, corrosion-resistant wetted surfaces compatible with the approved disinfection SOP; cleaned, disinfected and released under a documented potable-water equipment procedure before entry |
| Recovery | Rated recovery point and independent recovery line; the tether is not the primary lifting device |
VAC Boss - the four-wheel-drive crawler with its camera mast, lights and wide suction head.
Sludge Boss
Sludge Boss is Valmar's wastewater robotic cleaning system for heavier sludge and sediment applications in suitable tanks, ponds, lagoons and treatment environments.
- Remote operation in submerged wastewater environments, controlled from above the water.
- Designed for sludge and settled-solids removal - a low-profile tracked platform with three independently positioned suction intakes.
- Cleaning plan based on pre-inspection and sludge assessment.
- Pumping to an agreed containment or removal pathway.
- Video verification of completed areas where visibility permits.
Sludge Boss specification
| Configuration | Tracked, tethered vacuum crawler; mission fit-out is site-specific |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 850 mm L x 750 mm W x 300 mm H |
| System weight | 145 kg |
| Depth rating | 300 m |
| Power and runtime | Topside power via tether; continuous while powered |
| Drive | Tracked skid-steer crawler |
| Control | Tethered control, topside laptop, ArduPilot-based control stack |
| Vacuum system | 3-to-1 manifold, 3 x 2 in front intakes, 3 in rear male camlock outlet; external topside pump selected to suit the duty |
| Head control | Linear actuator-controlled lift and tilt |
| Vision and lighting | Front camera, underwater LED work lights |
| Materials | Aluminium and epoxy-coated steel |
| Deployment | Crane, davit, ramp or controlled pond-edge launch |
Final pump selection, hose lengths, suction performance and deployment method are confirmed against pond geometry, sludge characteristics, liner condition and the approved slurry discharge route.
Download the Sludge Boss technical data sheet (PDF)
Download the oxidation pond cleaning brochure (PDF)
Sludge Boss - the tracked vacuum crawler with its three front suction intakes and rear discharge.
ROV inspection systems
ROV systems provide live and recorded visual access to submerged areas. Depending on the asset and agreed scope, inspection may be combined with photographic records, sediment observations, turbidity monitoring or other available instrumentation.
The inspection ROV goes in first on almost every job. It is small enough to pass through a standard hatch, carries its own lighting, records high-definition video and stills, and reports depth and water temperature on the footage so a finding can be located again later. What it produces is described on the ROV inspection and condition assessment page.
Every system is selected against the asset. Reservoir depth, dimensions, access arrangement, floor or liner type and sediment condition decide which equipment goes in and what pump-and-hose duty it needs - which is why the first question we ask is always about the asset, not the equipment.
Looking up a tank's internal ladder from the ROV, with the hatch open above.
Other Services
Remote inspection and cleaning for drinking water, wastewater, fire water and industrial water assets across New Zealand. Every job starts with an inspection, so the method is chosen from what is actually inside the asset.
Drinking Water - VAC Boss
Potable-water ROV inspection and robotic sediment removal, with asset-specific hygiene, disinfection and water-quality controls. Read more
Wastewater - Sludge Boss
Remote inspection and sludge removal for wastewater tanks, ponds, lagoons, wet wells and treatment assets. Read more
Fire Water Tanks
Condition inspection, sediment assessment and cleaning options that support fire-water system maintenance and asset records. Read more
ROV Inspection & Condition Assessment
High-definition video, photographic records and observations of submerged components, sediment and visible defects. Read more
Industrial Water Infrastructure
Remote inspection and cleaning for process water, raw water, settling tanks and difficult-to-access submerged assets. Read moreNeed to know what is happening inside your tank or reservoir?
Start with an inspection. We can help establish the condition of the asset and recommend a practical next step based on what is actually found. Tell us what the asset is, roughly where it is and what you need to know, and we will come back to you.
027 313 0280- marcus@valmar.co.nz
- Based in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty - working across New Zealand
- Drinking water, wastewater, fire water and industrial water assets
Helpful to have on hand: the asset type and approximate size, depth, access arrangement, floor or liner type, and whether it can stay in service. If you do not know yet, that is fine - the inspection is how we find out.