Tunnelling for the Guangzhou metro: Herrenknecht tunnel boring machines crossed beneath sensitive inner-city areas, important streets, as well as river areas.
76 machines for superlative metro construction
In China, new metro networks are being planned on a large scale and then built without delay. No less than 76 tunnel boring machines by Herrenknecht are excavating their way through the underground of the fast-growing metropolis of Guangzhou. The soil formations encountered are manifold: varying degrees of weathering and rock strengths, quicksand and granite as well as underground water deposits. The Herrenknecht TBMs are coping with these conditions very well. Some of them are involved in driving several lots. The S-241, for example, has completed seven missions. Machines adapted to specific projects are equipped with a wear-resistant cutting wheel, among other features. Potential uses of classical Earth Pressure Balance Shields are being enhanced by injection systems for soil conditioning or overcut drilling, facilitating safe and precise excavation of tunnel tubes also in mixed soil conditions. The working processes of mechanized tunnelling and additional tools (e. g. forward planning of ring segment sequences for the installation of segments) support jobsite teams in building metro tunnels of optimum quality.
Guangzhou, China
Project background
Since 1997, Guangzhou has been building its metro network at high speed. In the year 2019, a total of 14 lines with over 400 km of metro line are in operation – reaching as far as the airport and the neighboring city of Foshan. A total of 888 km and 18 lines are to be completed by 2023.
Project highlights
Cutting-edge technology: The Herrenknecht plants in China reliably deliver tunnel boring machines and additional equipment – in all diameters and for all areas of application.
Herrenknecht in Asia: always close to the customer
Herrenknecht provides a wide spectrum of solutions in China. Sales, service, manufacturing and assembly capacities allow for a direct support of projects and short delivery times in the Asian Pacific region. Guangzhou is the biggest location in China. Here, the tunnel boring machines are assembled, commissioned, or rebuilt, while excavation tools are manufactured and sold. With around 900 members of staff in China at nine locations, we offer an all-around service – quick, reliable, and on time.
For the metro system in Guangzhou, Herrenknecht made an outstanding contribution. Herrenknecht provided us reliable services.
Zhu Weibin, Vice General Manager, Guangzhou Metro Bane NOR
The endless city
The Pearl River Delta is developing into the largest conurbation in the world. The companies Herrenknecht (Guangzhou) Tunnelling Equipment Co., Ltd. (1) and Guangzhou Herrenknecht Tunnelling Machinery Co., Ltd. (2) are delivering the tunnelling technology needed for the construction of the Delta’s underground infrastructure. Together with the other Herrenknecht locations in China and Asia, we create comprehensive equipment and service packages according to our customers’ requirements.
| Column 0 | Column 1 |
|---|---|
| Tunnelling length |
over 230km (in total) |
| Geology |
Soft ground Heterogeneous groundVarying layers/degrees of weathering of granite, sandstone, claystone, siltstone limestone, clay, sand, gravel, marl |
| Contractors |
Contractors are numerous Chinese constructions companies |
| Machine data | 68x EPB Shield: Diameter: 6,250 mm Lining method: Segmental lining 8x Mixshield: Diameter: 6,250 mm Lining method: Segmental lining |
We are ready!