Elastec Introduces Spill Response Unit For Hard-to-Reach Places

In response to challenges of responding to spills in the environmentally sensitive regions of Alaska Elastec / American Marine has developed a vacuum system that can be towed by all terrain vehicles including most ATV’s and utility vehicles.

The company introduced its new line of off-road oil spill response equipment at the International Oil Spill Conference held in Savannah Georgia on May 4 through 8. Soon after the machinery returned to the Elastec plant in Carmi Illinois it was called into action. A spill from a ruptured crude oil pipeline had found its way into a local lake.

Oil was concentrated in an earth dam and recovered into the 110 gallon tracked vacuum tank. The walking beam suspension allows the equipment to traverse the rough ground with ease.

This new system can reach sites not accessible to vacuum trucks. It has a three-cylinder diesel engine driving a powerful pump that can generate more than 300cfm of airflow and 15 inches of vacuum. This enables it to suck up oils mud sludge and other liquids. It is fitted with a safety relief valve cyclonic separator and exhaust. Both the vacuum pump unit and tank are mounted on all-terrain tires with walking beam suspension.

The components are within the towing limits of most utility vehicles. Both units have a low center of gravity and optional tracks can be added for soft ground snow or sand.

The vacuum tank can be removed and the chassis used as a trailer for other equipment.

The system is ideal for working in remote areas such as oil fields pipeline routes railroads and shorelines or where smaller quantities of oil need to be recovered.

The primary focus was oil spill response but municipalities and industry are already seeing the benefits of the equipment for cleaning out drains sumps separators and even portable toilets.