Twenty years of TerratecIn 1990, Tony Peach and Al Jones, after long experience working on projects around the world with The Robbins Company and its affiliates, decided to move to Australia. They incorporated Terratec in Tasmania, with the objective of supporting the requirements of tunnelling contractors and mining companies in the Asia Pacific region for special and custom made boring equipment.Terratec leased a building near Hobart that was large enough to cope with all sizes of TBM and raise boring machines, and close to the harbour for ease of shipment. 6.0 m Double Shield TBM for Sydney For the last 20 years, the development of new boring technologies and improvement of existing methods has been a constant philosophy at Terratec. As a result, the company is amongst the top ten in Australia for percentage of revenue expenditure into research and development. These new ideas and designs have been incorporated into the development of new products, which have improved rates of production in the mines and tunnels where they have been installed. The Terratec patented Continuously Advancing Conveyor System was developed for use with TBMs in extremely long tunnels. The first of these units was commissioned at Australia's Blue Mountain Project in 1993, where the TBM established world records of 172 m in a day and 2,076 m in a month. These records are still unbeaten in their class. Later on, in 1998, the Terratec TDR-2000 drill was designed and manufactured as the largest down reamer in the world. Down Reamer TDR-2000 Perhaps the most progressive of all Terratec inventions is the Oscillating Disc Cutter System. For this 1995 R&D project, a full-scale prototype was designed and manufactured in cooperation with the Centre of Mining Technology and Equipment of Australia (CMTE). This prototype proved its effectiveness by demonstrating an ability to cut rock up to 10 times more efficiently than conventional disc cutters. Terratec now has regional offices in India for the South Asia market, and in Hong Kong to serve China and other South East Asian countries. An office in Panama is strategically located for both North and South America markets. A network of local representatives covers the rest of the world. Sales into Europe, USA, Canada and China have established the quality and reliance of Terratec equipment, and the brand is now highly regarded worldwide. Along the way, the company has developed a reputation for quick and efficient response to problems of changing geology and site conditions, and offers rapid and positive after sales service. 3.0 m Open Type TBM for Portugal Today, Terratec is well placed in a growing market - a market that demands the highest quality and reliability of equipment, to provide fast and efficient execution of tunnelling and shaft boring projects anywhere in the world