The Department of public works and asset management of the City of Edmonton placed an order with Lovat for the purchase of a new MP159SE series 25500 TBM, 4.03 m in diameter, equipped with Lovat ripper teeth, scraper teeth and a four-spoke cutting head design for soft ground excavation. The cutting head is powered by a 600 kW hydraulic drive system with maximum torque of 3,000 kNm at 1.9 rpm. The TBM has been provisioned for the future installation of a screw conveyor to allow operation in earth pressure balance mode. The TBM will be used to bore the Mill Woods double barrel replacement storm trunk at a length of 1,750 metres and a maximum slope of 0.10%. The entire tunnel alignment is below groundwater level in impermeable soils with a depth of cover varying from 30 to 37 metres. The subsurface profile along the tunnel alignment consists of variable thicknesses of low strength clay shale and sandstone. Edmonton will utilize financing from Caterpillar Financial Services for the purchase of the TBM. This facility is now available to all Lovat customers. Click here. Lovat is also supplying technical assistance for TBM assembly, testing and the initial drive. The TBM is scheduled to be delivered mid 2009. Visit www.lovat.com 41/08.