19.09.2023

Cimic´s CPB Contractors selected as preferred bidder for Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop East

Cimic Group’s CPB Contractors has been selected by the Victorian Government to deliver the first major tunnelling package on the Suburban Rail Loop East project, as part of the Suburban Connect consortium, alongside Acciona and Ghella.  

19.09.2023

Work begins in West Northants on HS2’s longest ‘green tunnel’

HS2’s 2.7km Greatworth ‘green tunnel’ will be built on the surface before being covered by earth, trees and shrubs to fit in with the Northamptonshire countryside  

15.09.2023

Sika: Board and Group Management changes - New Growth Strategy 2028

• Thierry F. J. Vanlancker to be proposed as new Chair of the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting 2024
• Paul Hälg has decided to step down after twelve successful years
• Rotation in Group Management ahead of new Growth Strategy 2028  
  
  

Market-Place-4.0 Robbins Company

14.09.2023

Robbins Single Shield TBM - Breakthrough at Railway Tunnel in Turkey

Robbins Single Shield TBM: Breakthrough at Railway Tunnel in Turkey (Credits: Robbins)

In June 2023, a resilient 8.0 m diameter Robbins Single Shield TBM completed its second tunnel at Turkey’s Bahçe-Nurdaği Railway. The machine completed 9.6 km of tunneling, adding on to the 9.2 km it completed in its initial railway tunnel in 2020 – for a total of more than 18 km bored.

“We are very proud to complete this tunnel in difficult rock formations with our excellent team by utilizing an extremely powerful and strong Robbins Single Shield TBM,” said Deniz Şahin, TBM Chief for contractor İntekar Yapı Turizm Elektrik İnşaat San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.

Geology in the second tunnel was comparable to the first, including incredibly hard and abrasive metasandstone with quartz, with an average of 220 MPa (31,900 psi) UCS and a Cerchar abrasion value of 3.87. The rock has some of the most extreme hardness and abrasiveness ever measured in Turkey.

After its first bore in the difficult ground, the machine required some inspection and repairs. “Robbins Field Service was always available when we requested,” said Şahin. “The biggest repairs we undertook with Robbins Field Service technicians were the main bearing seal change and checking and repairing of the TBM before launching it on the twin tunnel after the completion of the first tunnel. Both operations were completed in a short time due to good planning with Robbins technicians.”

The machine began its second bore in February 2021, achieving a best monthly advance rate of 411 m. “During tunneling we performed a normal maintenance program as given in the TBM manual, and the machine had minimum downtime, which shows the durability of Robbins TBM in very hard and abrasive rock,” said Şahin.

“The Robbins TBM has performed extremely well in this project with minimal downtime and good advance rates to complete the longest twin tube railway tunnels in Turkey,” said Yunus Alpagut, Robbins representative in Turkey.

The twin rail tunnels, for owner Turkish State Railways Directorate (TCDD), will provide an economic boost to a region recovering from two consecutively devastating earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.6 that occurred in February 2023. The project site is located very close to the intersection of two large active fault zones, the East Anatolian Fault (EAF) and Dead Sea Fault (DSF).  The tunnels were inspected after the event and were found to have sustained only minor cracking in a few segments. The new rail line will provide service between the towns of Bahçe and Nurdağı, and is part of the TCDD’s plan to overhaul the railway connection in southeastern Turkey by providing a shorter, faster route in one of the country’s busiest railway corridors.

Source: Robbins

#Turkey (TR) #breakthrough #geology #rock excavation #earth quakes #Robbins Company #Tunnelling #tunnel boring machines (TBM)

                     

13.09.2023

Mining and Resources in Europe: The quest for sustainability and innovation as Germany and Finland head down under for IMARC 2023

Germany, often hailed for its technological prowess and commitment to environmental sustainability, finds itself at a crossroads when it comes to its mining and resources future.  

Historically, mining has played a vital role in Germany’s economy, but the industry now faces a multitude of challenges that demand a balanced approach to ensure economic growth and environmental conservation while reducing the country’s reliance on imported resources.