IPS to Supply TBM Specialists to Skanska Vinci JV for Hallandsas TunnelOn Friday 8th April, 2005, a Letter of Intent for the supply of TBM specialists has been signed between IPS and Skanska Vinci HB. The agreement deals with the completion of the Hallandsas rail tunnel project in Sweden. The Hallandsas project will be using a highly sophisticated Herrenknecht hardrock mixshield TBM (machine S-246), diameter 10,530 mm without hard facing. The pressure on parts of the drilling route is expected to be around 8 bar! The drive is approximately 2 x 5.6 km in length, 10.12 m OD x 9.04 m ID, through gneiss. The cutter head power is 4,000 kW with a total thrust of 207,800 kN, a nominal torque of 20,300 kNm and a breakout torque of 26,000 kNm. The tunnel will be lined with 540 mm-thick concrete segments. It has been agreed that IPS will supply the key personnel for the TBM. The tailskin has already arrived. Most of the parts will arrive in May 2005. The cooperation between Vinci and IPS started with the drilling of the Pannerdensch Canal tunnel in the Netherlands in 2001. The drilling of the Pannerdensch Canal also was a very special project due to the crossing through a sandpit. The whole project was completed several months ahead of schedule. IPS is looking forward to realising the Hallandsas project in pleasant cooperation. Click se/26. Visit www.ipspersonnel.nl, or click on their logo alongside, and www.banverket.se/hallandsas and www.herrenknecht.com16/05.