On September 29th, at the Ingenbohl construction site, approximately 70 kilometers from Zurich, Switzerland, a new double-shield hard Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), designed and manufactured by China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation Limited (CRCHI), officially commenced its excavation work. After completing the initial guided tunnel stepping process, the machine's cutter head reached the tunnel face, marking a significant milestone. This is the first time Chinese-made TBM equipment has been used in Switzerland.

The TBM is part of the Akson drainage project located in Ingenbohl, which features a water conveyance tunnel approximately 1.2 kilometers long. The project is expected to be completed by 2025. Upon completion, the tunnel will connect Ingenbohl with Brunnen Lake, significantly enhancing the area’s drainage capacity to 2,800 cubic meters per hour.

The TBM itself measures about 110 meters in length and has a total installed power of 1,700 kilowatts. It is equipped with advanced features, including anchor drilling rigs, concrete spraying systems, drilling and detection devices, and support systems. To ensure safety and compliance with Swiss engineering standards, it also includes emergency shelters and other essential safety facilities, tailored specifically for the project’s construction requirements.

For further information please visit the CRCHI website https://en.crchi.com/ 41/24.