NFM Technologies Delivers First TBM for Canton MetroNFM Technologies, the Wirth Group's sister company, has delivered during week 47 the first of two TBMs for the Canton metro in China. The first 6.28 m-diameter EPB shield machine to arrive in Canton left out the NFM workshop in Le Creusot, France in early October.The 470-tonne machine was shipped from Antwerpen (Belgium). The second TBM is scheduled to arrive in December. Both machines will then be assembled and tested before beginning their job in the first half of 2004.The machines are equipped with a 900 kW installed power, a maximum thrust of 36,000 kN and a torque of 4,850 kN at normal speed. Thirty-six 17" disk cutters and/or picks will be used. The back-up system is equipped with foam injection, back grouting, segment erector and guidance system. The erector will provide for the tunnel lining with 300 mm concrete segments. The overall length with the back-up is 75 m.They will drive two parallel tunnels, 1,928 m in length, for Line 3 of the Canton metro. This extension of the metro line connects Hanxi and Shiqiao stations. Geology will mainly consist of soft sands and sandy clay as well as chalk and silt. The rock's compressive strength is expected to be around 139 MPa, most probably containing water at a pressure of max. 3 bar. The line is scheduled to start operation in 2007. Visit www.nfm-technologies.com and www.wirth-europe.com/NFM/NFM.htm 50/03.