The 15.62 m-diameter, 4,500 t, 12,000 kW Herrenknecht EPB is under assembly at site for a July, 2011 start on the 2.5 km-long Sparvo tunnel first drive north. The machine is the largest ever built, and features a 1.6 m-diameter screw conveyor to handle muck from its 16-channel intake. The 70 cm-thick concrete segments weigh up to 16 t apiece. The conveyor system is from H+E Logistiks, VMT supplied the navigation system, and Euroform supplied the segment formwork. For 10-year project history visit tunnelbuilder archive it/21. More from www.herrenknecht.com/news/press-section/gigantic-tbm-for-italy.html. 22/11.
