One of the key drivers for to maximize dredging efficiency of a Trailing Suction Hoppedredger(TSHD) is minimum dredging cycle time and hopper loading time. Hopper loading time is strongly determined by the performance of the underwater excavating mechanism;the draghead.

By combining sufficient surface contact pressure with riverbed or seabed, adequate cutting force and injection of jetwater, the draghead is the ultimate tool to liquefy densely compacted soils on riverbeds and seabeds.As dredging and soil conditions often vary throughout a dredging job, the dredge operator requires that the draghead can be adjusted to cope with these variations, still enabling maximum performance.