01.11.2023

Continental: Acquisition of Vertech AB in Kiruna - further strengthens Industrial Business in Sweden

• Conveyor and Maintenance Company Vertech AB will be integrated into Continental´s industrial solutions branch for Europe
• Kiruna will become Continental’s northernmost location with its important mining area

Continental has acquired the conveyor and maintenance company Vertech AB, based in Kiruna, Northern Sweden.  

31.10.2023

Singapore: tunnelling for "Deep Tunnel Sewerage System" DTSS completed - 19 Herrenknecht TBM and 1 VSM involved

Milestone for the epoch-making "Deep Tunnel Sewerage System" (DTSS) project in Singapore: the five contractors have completed tunnelling works for the second construction phase of the gigantic sewer pipe system.  

31.10.2023

SMT Scharf AG upgrades revenue and earnings guidance on the strength of preliminary Q3 2023 results

•    Consolidated revenue up slightly to EUR 22.4 million in Q3 2023
•    Significant growth in profit from operating activities (EBIT) to EUR 5.9 million in Q3 2023
•    Nine-month consolidated revenue at EUR 54.1 million and EBIT at EUR 4.1 million
•    Guidance upgrade for consolidated revenue to EUR 76.0 million and for EBIT to EUR 4.5 million

SMT Scharf AG (WKN A3DRAE; ISIN DE000A3DRAE2), one of the world’s leading providers of customised transport solutions and logistics systems for underground mining, increased its consolidated revenue slightly by 1.4 % to EUR 22.4 million in the third quarter of the 2023 fiscal year (Q3/2022: EUR 22.1 million), thereby achieving total consolidated revenue of EUR 54.1 million over the course of the first nine months of 2023 (9M/2022: EUR 59.6 million).  

Market-Place-4.0 Skanska Strabag SE Costain Group

30.10.2023

Lift complete! HS2’s next tunnelling machine names revealed

Lift complete! HS2’s next tunnelling machine names revealed (Credits: HS2)

First 1,700-tonne machine has been lifted in parts down into a shaft

HS2 Ltd has unveiled the names of the next pair of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will construct the high speed rail line under the capital. Following a public vote, the names Emily and Anne have been chosen, named after local female icons from history.

Major components of the first machine due to launch have now been lifted into the 25 metre deep ancillary shaft at the HS2 site in Ealing to prepare for the launch. HS2’s London Tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture completed the lift as they prepare for the next stage of tunnelling under the capital.  

The first TBM lowered into the shaft has been named after Emily Sophia Taylor who lived between 1872 and 1956. Emily was a midwife who provided services for women who could not afford maternity care. She helped establish the Perivale Maternity Hospital in 1937 before becoming Ealing’s first female mayor in 1938.

The second TBM’s namesake is Lady Anne Byron, an educational reformer and philanthropist who lived between 1792 and 1860. She established the Ealing Grove School in 1834 – England’s first co-operative school which provided education for the working classes, in an era when it was mainly for the wealthy.

 The two TBMs were manufactured by world-leading experts Herrenknecht in Germany, and weigh 1,700 tonnes each. After being lowered underground into the launch chambers in pieces, they will be reassembled. Each part of the TBM is lifted using a crane, including the 316-tonne front shield and 336-tonne middle shield. Eight back gantries for each machine will also be lifted into place to provide all the systems required for the tunnelling operations underground.

 Speaking about the preparations for the next set of TBMs to be launched in London, Richard Crathern, Head of Delivery for HS2 Ltd said: “We are proud that the TBMs have been given names from women with a connection to the local area who made a difference to previous generations of young people. This next set of TBMs will be contributing to important infrastructure for generations to come as they build Britian’s new high speed railway.”

The machines are earth pressure balance TBMs, designed specifically for the soft ground conditions, specifically London clay. The machines will begin the 3.4mile journey at the start of 2024, travelling under Ealing from the Victoria Road site towards Greenpark Way in Greenford, taking around one year to complete the journey. At Greenpark Way, the machines will be disassembled and removed via another 35 metre deep shaft."

James Richardson, Managing Director of Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture, said: “The London Tunnels programme is reaching its peak delivery stage and we’re excited to name our next two TBMs, Emily and Anne. They will join our first two TBMs, Sushila and Caroline, who are already one year into constructing the section of tunnel between West Ruislip and Victoria Road. We are well on the way to delivering the high speed tunnels into London. Next year we’ll be assembling our final two TBMs that will tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston.”

This section of tunnelling will complete the 8.4mile long Northolt tunnel. The tunnel is being built in two sections. Two TBMs are already boring the western end of the tunnel beginning in West Ruislip working towards Greenford with almost two miles completed so far. The two new TBMs will bore the eastern section. The final section of tunnel from Victoria Road Crossover Box to connect to Old Oak Common Station will be constructed using spray concrete lining.

Before the launch of the TBMs, a blessing ceremony conducted by a local priest will be held – a longstanding tunnelling tradition. A statue of St Barbara, the Patron Saint of tunnelling, will be blessed and placed at the entrance of the tunnel.

Source: HS2

#HS2 #United Kingdom (GB) #major projects #railway #Costain Group #Skanska #Strabag SE #Tunnelling #tunnel boring machines (TBM)

                     

28.10.2023

ArcelorMittal – Statement regarding tragic accident in Kazakhstan

ArcelorMittal can confirm that earlier on the 28th October, a tragic accident occurred at its Kostenco coal mine.