Jim Horton entered the dredging industry in 1984 as Vice President of H&H Pump Company in Mississippi. From there Jim went on to start IMS in 1986. Jim’s relentless pursuit of becoming the world’s leading portable auger dredge supplier started to take form in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s as IMS captured market share from established competitors with new innovations.
The introduction of the patented Starwheel Drive self-propulsion system and Jim’s focus on international markets solidified IMS as a global player in the one-truck transportable dredging market. In 2003 IMS became part of the Ellicott Dredge group of companies which is now the largest portable dredge builder in the world. Jim was responsible for the inception of the Model 7012 HP Versi-Dredge which has gone on to become the most popular 10×12 (254mm x 305mm) dredging system in the world. He will retire on March 31, 2015.