01.04.2021 (391 Clicks)
China’s Largest Robbins Crossover TBM launches on Intercity Railway
Machine will encounter Rivers, Weathered Ground and More in Guangzhou Bore
The largest ever Crossover (XRE) TBM in China launched in late March 2021 in Guangzhou for contractors Sichuan Jinshi Heavy Equipment Leasing Co., Ltd and CREC Bureau 2. Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA) was utilized to build the 9.16 m (30 ft) diameter Robbins TBM, taking just five months from the start of assembly to machine launch. The hybrid machine is boring the 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long Pazhou Line Lot PZH-1 of the Pearl River Delta Intercity Railway Project, which will offer better commutes for Guangzhou residents traveling to and from University City.
The machine will encounter various ground types during its bore, from moderately to strongly weathered argillaceous shales and sandstone to mixed face conditions. Much of the rock is fractured, while the quartz content is as high as 50 percent. 'Not only are there poor ground conditions such as soft to hard uneven, fractured zones and full-face hard rock, but these sections appear to alternate frequently, which is the biggest challenge of the project. It will be a test of performance and tunneling efficiency for the machine,' said Yongsheng Qi, Project Manager for Robbins China. The tunnel is also expected to cross under rivers and other bodies of water with a cover of 20 to 31 m (65 to 100 ft). The ground strata connects to the river and is highly permeable, resulting in expected water pressures above 7 bar. The project's success lies in stabilizing the water pressure at the face while ensuring acceptable advance rates and construction safety.
The Crossover TBM features both hard rock and EPB modes and is optimized for the rapidly changing ground found on the project. An adaptable cutterhead design and two-speed gear reducers known as the Robbins Torque-Shift system enable efficient tunneling in hard, mixed, and soft ground. An adaptable screw conveyor can be mounted in the center or bottom of the mixing chamber depending on the mode. To combat high water pressures the machine is fitted with high pressure seals and can statically hold up to 30 bar. The XRE TBM began its excavation in EPB mode and will shift to hard rock mode to continue excavation after 1.5 km (0.9 mi) has been bored.
The unique project is one of several mixed ground operations using Robbins Crossover TBMs in China. Two 6.91 m (22.6 ft) diameter XRE machines are currently boring sections of the Chongqing Metro Phase 2 in ground conditions ranging from weathered mixed granite to weathered pegmatite and adamellite. The project is under the same contractors as the Pearl River Delta bore. 'At the Chongqing Metro project, we won the trust of the contractor with the performance of the Crossover machines; to date the highest monthly advance rate in Chongqing is 365 m (1,197 ft). This is one of the main reasons the contractor again selected a Robbins Crossover TBM for the Pearl River Delta project,” observed Qi.
With rates at Chongqing Metro as a precedent, the Pearl River Delta tunnel is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021 and put into operation in 2023.
Source: Robbins
Robbins, China, Tunnelling, TBM, Crossover, XRE, Sichuan, Jinshi, CREC, hardrock, EPB, Pearl River, Delta, tunnel







01.04.2021 (605 Clicks)
Stephan von der Heyde appointed to the Management Board of Ed. Züblin AG
- New Züblin board member for Germany, Benelux and Scandinavia
- Stephan von der Heyde to succeed Ulrich Weinmann
>> Read More >>
31.03.2021 (364 Clicks)
Epiroc to acquire the Mining Electrification Solutions Provider Meglab
Epiroc, a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, has agreed to acquire Meglab, a Canadian company with expertise in providing electrification infrastructure solutions to mines. The solutions support mining customers in their transition to battery-electric vehicles.
>> Read More >>
31.03.2021 (304 Clicks)
Anglo American Collaboration on Feasibility Study for South Africa’s Hydrogen Valley
Anglo American announces a collaboration agreement to complete a feasibility study to develop a “hydrogen valley” anchored in the platinum group metals-rich Bushveld geological area in South Africa. Spearheaded by South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the collaboration agreement also includes energy and services company ENGIE, the South African National Development Institute (SANEDI) and clean energy solutions provider Bambili Energy (Bambili).
>> Read More >>
31.03.2021 (433 Clicks)
LKAB’s Exploration Results confirm Potential for Production of phosphorus Mineral Fertiliser and Rare Earth Elements
After having dramatically ramped up exploration activities, LKAB can now present the positive result: significant phosphorus mineral resources. “With a circular business model, we have the potential to supply European farmers with fossil-free and cadmium-free phosphorus mineral fertiliser, and the cleantech industry with rare earth elements” says Leif Boström, Senior Vice President Business Area Special Products, LKAB.
>> Read More >>
31.03.2021 (385 Clicks)
Extraordinary General Meeting of BAUER AG approves Capital Increase
The Extraordinary General Meeting of BAUER Aktiengesellschaft today voted with the required majority to approve the agenda items up for resolution, thereby supporting the proposals by the management.
>> Read More >>
30.03.2021 (702 Clicks)
Skanska promotes Joe Lindemann to Vice President of Operations in North Texas
Skanska USA has announced that Joe Lindemann, an industry veteran with 38 years of experience in commercial construction, has been promoted to vice president of operations in North Texas.
>> Read More >>
30.03.2021 (437 Clicks)
Queensland Resources Sector powers on
A quarterly report into the performance of Queensland’s resources sector due for release mid-April will show Queenslanders can continue to rely on resources to help the state recover from Covid-19.
>> Read More >>
29.03.2021 (374 Clicks)
Asite achieves BSI Kitemark for BIM Software
In a landmark achievement for the pioneering software company, the Asite CDE is one of the world’s first to achieve certification to the new BSI Kitemark for BIM software
>> Read More >>
29.03.2021 (382 Clicks)
Metso Outotec delivers Technology to Copper Electro Refinery in China
Metso Outotec has won an order from a Chinese copper producer to deliver tankhouse material handling equipment for the expansion of a copper electro refinery in China. The order value, which has been booked in Metals Q1/2021 orders received, is not disclosed.
>> Read More >>
23.12.2022
Pula Group’s Graphite Project positions Tanzania in the World’s Clean Energy Transition
Tanzania hosts world-class graphite deposits and the Pula Group leads with a profitable and socially responsible model for exploration.
...#The Pula Group #Mining #Energy
23.12.2022
Mine Water as a Resource for Critical Raw Materials in Germany
The new IAW33 research project being carried out by the Research Centre of Post-Mining at TH Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences (THGA) is looking at the possibilities for extra...
#RAG Aktiengesellschaft #Mining #abandoned mining #environment protection
18.07.2022
World’s first Deployment of a full-face Tunnelling Machine with Mineral oil-free Hydraulics
A full-face tunnelling machine running on biodegradable hydraulic fluid has now been used to drive a steeply inclined tunnel in a water conservation area. This article reports on the project and rel...
#SaarGrundbau GmbH & Co. KG #Fluid Competence GmbH #Herrenknecht AG #Tunnelling #Supply tunnels #water hydraulics
13.04.2023 - 14.04.2023
ICSMGE 2023: 17. International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
17.04.2023 - 21.04.2023
Hannover Messe 2023
19.04.2023 - 20.04.2023
MINEX Kazakhstan 2023
02.05.2023 - 03.05.2023
12th Annual Conference Mining Technology in India

World’s longest Railway Tunnel Project – supported by innovative Conveyor Digitalisation and reliable Engineering
17. October 2022 (1029 Clicks)
The consortium BTC Brennero Tunnel Construction and the Hosch Group jointly delivered on a world-class tunnelling project by combining excellent engineering with the innovative remote monitoring system Hoschiris Discover.
#Brennero Tunnel Construction (BTC) #HOSCH-Foerdertechnik Recklinghausen GmbH #Tunnelling #Traffic tunnels #Conveyor technology #Digitalisation
>> read more >>
RAG-Technikchronik - Buch 6: Management- und Bildungssysteme für technische Prozesse
02. April 2019 (3881 Clicks)
Das Buch 6 der Reihe „Dokumentation der technischen Entwicklung bei der RAG“ stellt die Entwicklung der Management- und Bildungssysteme für technische Prozesse, also z.B. zur Effizienzsteigerung, zum Arbeits-, Gesundheits- und Umweltschutz sowie zur Ausbildung und beruflichen Fortbildung, bei der RAG dar.
#RAG Aktiengesellschaft #Mining #underground mining #abandoned mining
>> read more >>
02.03.2023 (227 Clicks)
Metso Outotec wins Order for Iron Ore Pelletizing Plants in China
Metso Outotec has signed a contract with Beijing Shougang International Engin...
#Metso Outotec #Chengde Zhaofeng Iron and Steel Group, Co. Ltd #Mining #processing
>> read more >>
06.03.2023 (187 Clicks)
Atlas Copco’s portable air compressors: designed for toughness
The first of its kind in the company’s facilities in Antwerp, the new a...
#Mining #Geotechnics #Energy #surface mining, quarrying #underground mining
>> read more >>
13.03.2023 (165 Clicks)
Sandvik introduces Toro LH518iB with AutoMine
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is introducing Toro™ LH518iB with Aut...
#Sandvik Mining and Construction Central Europe GmbH #Mining #surface mining, quarrying #underground mining #Machinery for Mining and Construction #Digitalisation
>> read more >>
08.03.2023 (163 Clicks)
CSIRO launches CarbonLock to tackle climate change
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has announced the launch of...
#Mining #Tunnelling #Geotechnics #Energy
>> read more >>